Which bindings for a Ride HighLife?

Posted: 09 November 2011 09:35 PM

Hi!

I’m thinking of purchasing a Ride HighLife. It’s going to be my first board. I’ve already got Burton ION shoes, so i’m thinking to match with Burton bindings. Maybe, Cartel or Malavita.. or maybe Diode.

What do you guys think??

Thnx

Terence

Posted: 09 November 2011 10:16 PM

Are you good?

THat’s a pretty advanced setup.

Posted: 09 November 2011 10:22 PM

After a period of renting, I want to buy my own snowboard.

Experience:
- 2 years of boarding.
- 3 weeks in Austria and 1 long weekend in France.
- 10 times indoor.
- 21 lessons on a rollerband.
- In Austria going fast on blue, cruizing on red, linking turns slow on black.
I’m:
- 31 years
- 1m96 or 6.43 feet
- 95 kilo or 209 Lbs
- Shoe size EU 46 or USA 13
- I’ve got Burton ION boots

Preferences:
- Snowboarding in Austria
- Going fast from the mountain
- Cruizing with a couple of friends on the mountain
- Since my last holiday going off piste and wanting more
- I’m a beginner in jumps (trying the jumps in the park)
- Dislike rails etc
- On the mountain from morning groomers ‘till all terrain late midday

I would like a board which I can use the next 5 years. A stable board for my weight which gives me confidance for taking me to next level. Going faster with stability.
I’ve read that the HigLife is smooth and damp on all terrain with great powder float.

Do you’ve got tips??

Posted: 12 November 2011 10:35 AM

Hey Terence,

Yeah I would look at something a little less advanced… and expensive for that matter. Once you’ve got the bug for riding your own gear you’ll probably want to change your equipment more frequently than every 5 years. If I think of all of the technology that’s been released since 2006, it’s pretty staggering so I’d buy a board and bindings that is right for now and will help you to progress (and save you a bit of cash) and then when you’re at the next stage of progression pick up something more advanced.

Boards like the K2 Lifelike, Rossi One MagTek, Nitro Addict and the Burton Honcho are boards dialled for progressing all aspects of your riding without shelling out a fortune. Pair these up with a moderate flexing all-mountain binding like the Burton Customs, Salomon Arcade, Drake Reload, Union Force… any do-it-all freestyle/freeride bindings and you’ll be onto a winner. THese boards will allow you to progress all aspects of your riding from Freeriding to park and rails.

If you’re still into the Highlife then get some slightly firmer and supportive bindings and go hell for leather… this boards a charger!

Rich

Posted: 14 November 2011 07:51 PM

Hi Rich,

Thnx. Your feedback is noted. If we forget about the prices. What do you think of the Custom Flying V for me?

Posted: 14 November 2011 11:35 PM

It’s a pretty versatile snowboard, fun in the park, grips on the groomers and in the pipe and floats in the pow. It’s certainly less demanding than the Highlife. Yeah I’d be happy recommending it to you, I really liked it. Bear in mind you might find the Flying V takes a little getting used to if you’ve only ever ridden camber.

Posted: 14 November 2011 11:39 PM

I think with your stats you ‘d be looking at the 169 Custom Flying V… it’s a big board so it won’t be ideal for riding indoors.

Posted: 15 November 2011 06:27 PM

As Rich says, if the bug takes hold then you’ll start to hone in on what type of board, binding, boot you like, and you’ll see yourself possibly buying/replacing/adding new gear every season.

It’s taken me a while, but I’ve started to dial in what I like and don’t like, and what I want from boards, bindings and boots.  I would have thought the Ions would be a bit stiff, but if you’re coming from skiing you probably won’t notice that (unlike if you were coming from skating/surfing), and the Diode’s, or their replacements, could be something that would be in your ability range a couple of seasons down the line, but not right now.

For what you are looking for there is such a wide variety of boards that in my opinion you should try to get to the slopes/indoor slope to try and demo different set ups.

Posted: 16 November 2011 10:21 PM

Hi Thnx for the advices guys!

I would like to test different boards and set ups, but unfortunately that’s not possible here. Shops don’t have a lot of testboards here.

However, I have tested the Custom Flying V in a 162wide with Cartel bindings and I really loved it! It was a lot of fun, super easy turn initiation, stable straight line down and nice grip. I’ve couldnt test icy conditions and I dont know how a 169 feels. But this was realy great already! Im very enthousiastic!

I dont think the ION boots are stiff. They’re nice responsive and nice comfort. The Cartel binding felt great. I dont board that long, but Im pretty agressive already I think. Maybe because of my weight the bindings and board dont feel that stiff.

The shop is going to make some calls for me if its possible to also test the HighLife. Fingers crossed!