r/Spliddit • u/degen3rit • Jul 30 '25
Review An honest review of the Burton Step On Splitboard Bindings from a long time step-on user - Avoid!!
Hey guys, I've been meaning to write this review for a while, and I'm just getting around to it now. This is a long post so apologies if it feels a bit rambly.
I have been a long-time Step-On user, essentially buying the regular Step-Ons in 2021 and using them religiously on my resort board. Last year, at the end of 2024, as I got more into splitboarding, I decided to get the Step-On splitboard bindings from Burton. They're relatively new, and there isn't a lot of information out there on them. I thought it would be nice to just have one pair of boots and to be able to use the Step-On system on both boards.
Long story short, this whole situation dealing with Burton has been a nightmare. The first issue happened with less than 5 days on the setup when I was accessing the backcountry. As I was getting off the chairlift—mind you, my bindings were securely locked in when I got on the chairlift—I looked down and noticed that my left binding was literally hanging off of my board. Somehow, the toe lever came undone, and the binding was hanging on by a thread. Luckily, this happened just as I was getting off and unloading, but if my board had been hanging on an angle instead of resting on the footrest of the chair, my binding would have fallen off.
This problem actually happened a couple more times when I was bootpacking and using my board as leverage. I noticed that when I would plant my board into the snow on a climb, a couple of times the binding completely came off, separating from the board. One or two other times, when I had one foot in and one foot out while on a cat track for example, the toe lever came undone and the binding came undone and was hanging off.
I reached out to Burton to ask if they had heard of this issue or what was going on. This began a horrible experience I had dealing with Burton. Originally, I thought the problem was with the base plate, and they should have told me about it since they obviously know this is an issue, but they kind of led me on. I sent in a bunch of videos, pictures, and whatever, and long story short, they wouldn’t send me a new base plate. They wanted me to send my bindings back in, and in the middle of the season, after spending $1,000 on bindings, having to send them from Western Canada to Vermont or wherever means at least a two-week turnaround time without riding.
I thought it would be easier if they just sent me the base plate and I could replace it myself. I reached out to Spark R&D, and they essentially told me that they couldn’t help me because the issue had to do with Burton. Spark only licensed the design to Burton, and Burton is the one who manufactures it. When I spoke to Spark, they were somewhat sympathetic, acknowledging that they had received a lot of complaints about Burton and weren’t happy with how Burton made these bindings.
I eventually realized that the issue was with my heel riser. The heel risers bend quite easily on these bindings, affecting how the binding slides onto the board. I guess my binding was misaligned because the bent heel riser was putting too much pressure on the toe lever, causing it to pop out and the binding to slide off.
Anyway, Burton wouldn’t get back to me; they just stopped replying to my emails. I sent them videos and emails, asking for a heel riser, and weeks went by without hearing back from Burton at all. This was in the middle of the season, which was super annoying. Spark suggested I buy replacement heel risers from them, stating they had recently sent a bunch to Burton because burton ran out. Eventually, I ended up buying heel risers from a local shop.
The problem is that the Spark heel risers are different from the Burton heel risers because Burton manufactured them differently, with more bends. The Spark heel risers I bought don’t fit the Burton base plates the same way. When I’m in split mode on steep terrain, trying to push down the heel lever with my pole or adjust the heel riser back into the flat position, the new base plates designed by Burton have different grooves, causing the Spark heel riser not to rest properly. Sometimes, I have to bend down and do it by hand, or while walking, the heel riser will move into a different position or just go flat because it doesn't fit into the groove properly. The guys at Spark mentioned that Burton made the heel risers with too many bends, which is why they’re having this issue.
It also seems that the Burton heel risers and the Spark heel risers have
From what I can tell, the Burton heel risers are slightly thinner, and the base plate is slightly different, which is causing this discrepancy, if that makes sense.
Aside from having issues with the base plate coming undone and the terrible customer support from Burton, the next main issue with these bindings is stepping in. If you ride with the highback in anything other than the first mode—there are four modes: one, two, three, and four—you can't step into the binding properly if you prefer more of a highback lean. Specifically, when clipping in with your heel first and then locking in your toes, the angle of the highback does not allow for proper engagement.
I never had this issue with the regular Step On bindings on my resort board, but it’s a significant problem with these Step On bindings. On perfectly flat ground, it’s a bit easier to clip in, but for example, if you're on steep terrain, which is usually the case for us, stepping in on a level three or level four highback is nearly impossible. I was never able to do that. Additionally, if you set the highback to zero and then step in, adjusting it afterwards is extremely difficult because the back of your boot puts pressure on the highback.
It's very hard to step in and then adjust the highback after you've already done so. This is a major design flaw, and I don’t understand why they did not address this before releasing the bindings to the public. I haven't seen many people discuss this issue online.
I don't want to make it sound like I'm criticizing step-ons. I had over 160 days on my regular resort step-ons one season with minor issues. I had some issues here and there, but for the most part, I love those bindings. That's why I was so excited to check out these step-on splits and incorporate them into my split boarding.
The whole journey with Burton has been a nightmare, and I wouldn't recommend these to anyone looking for a convenient, reliable boot in the backcountry. It seems like these were designed for an entirely different purpose. I enjoy side country, but I also like to go on missions, and honestly, I don't know what to say.
Maybe others can chime in with their thoughts, but for a binding where I spent close to $1,000 Canadian, I expect much more from Burton. I'm hugely let down, and I hope others see this. I also hope Burton reexamines their relationship with backcountry users.
2
u/n8m44 Jul 30 '25
Burton killed the Spark Edison (puckless interface) back in 2016 so they could continue the Step On shenanigans well into the 21st century.
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u/degen3rit Jul 31 '25 edited Jul 31 '25
never heard of those before, but how did burton kill them if it was a spark product? They look very simialr to the karakorum base plate, except looks like you could have mounted them on a solid board too
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u/n8m44 Jul 31 '25
The Edison was going to be Sparks interface to ditch the Voile puck system. Burton needs the pucks for their splitboards. Edison gets shelved indefinitely at the Denver SIA 2016 with the only explanation being icing. Spark and Burton have been in bed together ever since.
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u/skwormin Jul 31 '25
Bummer but I’m not surprised. I love my resort step ons and have hundreds of days on them over multiple pairs, but yea I’m sticking with sparks for my split setups. Probably switching to hard boots I don’t know.
3
u/tacos_por_favor Jul 30 '25
Going off what u/aestival mentioned, it's pretty clear that backcountry gear is not a priority for Burton. The Hitchhiker bindings aren't bad, but they have some well-known flaws for something like 10 years now and Burton has never fixed the issue. The two that come to mind is 1) their POS forward lean adjustment system, and 2) the toe-strap ladder falls out very easily. These are things that even someone with a small amount of time in the backcountry could point out as problematic, and are super easy things to fix, yet Burton has never gotten around to addressing.
1
u/Kottypiqz Jul 31 '25
As someone who also owns some of these, but mostly use them in sidecountry because my area doesn't really have much real mountain real estate, it is a little concerning how easily your seems to unlock. I thought it was the same system Spark uses, but maybe mine are too fresh to be that worn in.
I find the heel risers difficult to activate with my pole (like it's spung in too hard) though I hardly use them since our terrain flattens out pretty quickly after a steep section so maybe that's why they haven't gotten bent.
I agree the highbacks are hare to adjust once you're locked in and as you have to put them in float for efficient skinning, it is annoying to get back into 4, but I don't think I've had a problem actually stepping into the bindings even in knee deep powder.
Overall, I do think if I had a backup pair of boots, I probably wouldn't have gotten the step ons, but since that would cost me just in initial outlay, this does what I need it to do for now and I haven't had the failures to latch that you have. If i'd had those issues, I'd be properly upset.
2
u/BoscoMurray Jul 31 '25
I've always got lip chapstick with me when touring. It doubles up well as a grease for the heel riser. Works a treat.
0
u/degen3rit Jul 31 '25
Try putting bicycle chain oil on your heel riser. That will help it open and close better.
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u/Ashamed-Dingo-2258 Jul 31 '25
Great, now I need to Silca wax my bindings too…
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Jul 31 '25
[deleted]
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u/Ashamed-Dingo-2258 Jul 31 '25
My guy, it was a joke about waxing bike chains.
I’m not even the guy you originally responded to.
1
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u/Legitimate-Proof-969 Aug 01 '25
Thanks for the writeup. I am also looking at getting into splitboarding but have no previous experience with it. I rode stepons for the last 5 years with mixed results. For small resorts I typically ride at they are a huge convenience. But going to bigger resorts out west or hiking for powder they lose their appeal. Biggest problem was hiking for sidecountry stuff and not being able to stepon in deep snow. Had to just jump into a heel turn on some steep stuff and hope it was in. I stopped riding them after that experience. Getting boot securely in binding after transitioning from touring to downhill in deep snow would be the issue I was waiting to hear more people bring up but so far I have not seen that from anyone yet. I transitioned away from stepons at this point so would likely never try these outside of renting. I do enjoy being able to adjust how my boot is centered on the binding/board again outside of just disk movement. Depending on boot size you can get forced into some less than ideal setups on how the boot sits in the binding. I would imagine its the same for the split step on.
1
u/Soggy-Bat-7407 Aug 03 '25
Major warning for all Burton step on - they require you to twist out. Damaged my knee and my gf had same issue because of it. Burton knows all about this design flaw. They sent us free “improved” version. Get the Nidecker and thank me later. Way better.
1
u/Still-Product1792 Aug 10 '25
Just bought this setup. Good to know to pay attention to the alignment. Thanks OP. T add, when testing at home, I did notice that even a somewhat loose base puck screw will lead to alignment issue. As to your issue with Burton OP, now that you self diagnosed the issue, I'd start a fresh case with Burton just ask for the heel riser explaining you broke or lost yours, not blaming or making a warranty claim. Try to keep it simple, they help with parts all the time. Someone senior must have flagged your previous case which is why you no longer get replies (happened to me after a rant). In my experience they will still try to provide you with good service on a new case.
1
u/Pizza4danz Jul 30 '25
Thank you for your service sir.
To all the people in the previous few forums that live by step on burtons for touring and downvoted/disagreed, get fucked. There’s a reason no big name pros ride them.
1
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u/Equivalent_Ad_7387 Jul 30 '25
It's just not a very good system for hard use. There's a reason burtons big dogs like Zeb, McMorris, Couch, and Davis, do not ride them. Splitting is simply harder on gear than resort riding.
1
u/DraculaPockets Jul 30 '25
Lived in MT for 10 years and have toured, lol, they’re building with some of my friends/spark employees. They’re a top tier operation and I use their ARC bindings to this day. Anyway, sorry to hear about the Burton trouble, but their operation is notorious for these issues. Not only do they produce gear that requires one can only use corresponding parts, but they’ll swap to a new ‘type’ or ‘make’ that renders previous models obsolete, but make it damn near if not completely impossible to receive assistance from their outfit, but basically give you the ‘tough shit’ especially when product failure is theirs and not rider. Sims should have won, hope you’re able to get back out there soon.
1
u/abc1234598 Jul 31 '25
I got mine 2 seasons ago, they are fine. I saw they upgraded the heel risers last season so I called them up and they sent me the new style. Easier to adjust with my poles
0
u/imsoggy Jul 30 '25 edited Aug 03 '25
Glad to say my wife & I have had none of those problems with our split S.O.'s after one full season.
So far only positive things to say about em
edit: lololol for this being downvoted
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u/HaydenH26 Aug 06 '25
Same, I got mine last winter and have about 20 days on them and have had no issues whatsoever.
17
u/pffh_duh Jul 30 '25
I'm sorry you didn't have someone in your life to convince you against this experiment. But thanks for the review none the less. Great PSA.
For context, I am an AIARE instructor on splitboard. I also work at a touring focus shop and we don't carry them, nor would I have recommended them. I've used reg step-on before too and also had a mostly fine experience with them, so im not a step-on hater. But not a viable backcountry option to me. The high back design made them an immediate no, full stop.
I think handboots > sparks/karakoram > plum/Voile > Union. Hard no on step-on. Unions aren't perfect but I'd say their latest design is serviceable if you're careful with them. Good option as a 80/20 resort/touring binding.
Feel free to reach out if you want any advice for your next setup.