Seems like a good idea if it works, but I’ll reserve judgement untill somebody tried it. I’m not sure if clicking in to something like this in the deep snow is as easy as advertised.
Heard this was coming from a dude I rode with last week, but they didn’t give him a version to test even though he is sponsored by K2 and a splitboarder.
Always glad to see new products, would love to check it out in person. Fastest and lightest is a pretty big claim! I wonder how the boots perform in the skintrack.
I agree with the K2 rep that the downfall of the old step in systems was the crappy boots and the weird integrated highbacks. If they got that part sorted, this seems like it could work, and maybe even work well. I rode a Switch system back in the day (cool binding, bad boots) and Burton step ins for many years (good boots and bindings, but heavy). With modern boot technology and a big manufacturer behind the project, they could pull this off.
I have made the jump to hardboots—and I am not sure that I am going back. However, I am stoked to see new developments and I am happy to see K2’s commitment to BC products. The future is looking bright for both the soft boot and hardboot folks.
Rode with a guy with clickers ONCE. We had to boot up a steep section. At the top he couldn’t “click in” because the pocket on boot bottom was packed with ice. We worked on it for awhile (in blizzard conditions)(had to take gloves off, frozen fingers) and all seemed good so off I went. Waited for an hour (I seriously thought he died in a slide, hit his noggin on a rock, broke a leg…) and just began skinning back up for my buddy when he emerged from the white haze, walking. He had to walk down because his board wouldn’t stay on.
I’d have to hear alot of good stuff about clickers in the B.C. to wash that experience from my epic trip memory bank.
I didn’t see anything in the promo that acknowledged the problem we encountered that day.
Once again, K2 getting it so incredibly wrong for the core market. Why does K2 keep believing that their core market is in the 12-18 year old range? Cuz that’s who I think would really be stoked on a system like this. Someone who skins up a max of 500 feet vertical in their local resort sidecountry.
Does anyone really not believe that 30-40 year olds drop the most coin on splitboard related products?
They actually say that this is going to be their premium splitboard package. Obviously the Panoramic (which by itself is a very nice split) is some underdog…
Been splitting with modded clickers in Utah since late 90s or so, no problems, I’ve had many more strap-in binding components break before then, and not much deep snow out here ever. fear them! 😆
I wish they were making one with a built in on/off highback for longer strides while touring, but I’m sure I’ll get a pair of the boots if they are lighter than what I have now.
It will be interesting to see if the boa cable strings over the instep within the boot are a viable replacement for cranking down an ankle strap as in the versions that I have now. Could be quite a pressure point there if the pressure of the cables isn’t spread out through some dense material.
I loved my clicker system for splitting before the boots shit the bed. One piece in the sole actually pulled out while riding! But I loved the ease of use; and so light. But like others have said, the boots were the worst part of the system. @shasta wrote:
Rode with a guy with clickers ONCE. We had to boot up a steep section. At the top he couldn’t “click in” because the pocket on boot bottom was packed with ice. We worked on it for awhile (in blizzard conditions)(had to take gloves off, frozen fingers) and all seemed good so off I went. Waited for an hour (I seriously thought he died in a slide, hit his noggin on a rock, broke a leg…) and just began skinning back up for my buddy when he emerged from the white haze, walking. He had to walk down because his board wouldn’t stay on.
^^^^And I never had an experience like this.
But after investing in new Sparks and Solomons, I doubt I’ll be going back. Interesting though.
Well my interest is in the ability to sidehill on steep sections, that connection point, 2 to be exact does not look like it would provide much stability on the uphill or downhill ski, looks flimsy. To me it looks like the engineered something to be light and convenient to get into, but did not think much about the touring aspect, which should be the first thing to consider since one spends more time going up than down. good on them for doing something different, I am sure The Sports Authority, Dicks and other big chains will be stoked to sell them. I hope they show up at some of the various splitfests because to date I have not seen one K2 representative at one of them, so to me that puts them far out of touch from the target market. Lets see what they do
To me it looks like the engineered something to be light and convenient to get into, but did not think much about the touring aspect, which should be the first thing to consider since one spends more time going up than down.
My thoughts exactly. Take your 12 year old clicker system, slap it on some current-gen midrange product, (have your marketing manager instead of an actual splitboard athlete do the product testing!?! :nononno: :scratch: :nononno:) and market it to noobs.
you might not like that aspect of these Slack. One of the things I really like about the clickers is a lot of side to side wobble in the binding before you even flex the boot. looser than a strap in really. the old bindings had little cushions that you could build up to make medial flex stiffer, we don’t use any medial supports in our mods out here but that could be a Utah snow-snob thing as most firm places where you have to sidehill here are short and manageable or avoidable altogether.
I would say if you are even close to the hard boot fence and like skinning focused boots for difficult snow, Clickers aren’t for you by a longshot. If you recognize that there are a lot of days in your touring where any bindings at all may be a little superfluous, then you are more of a clicker candidate.
looks like their Boa-Conda named design specifically addressed lack of an external ankle strap, cool
Does it have a walk mode? Forward lean adjustment? A boot stiff enough to ride without a high back does not sound fun to tour in, if it has a real walk mode with rear articulation and forward lean adjustment then thats something. Then i ask… If a binding is not supporting me while i tour, why do i need the plate?, lets see some dynafit, nnn style boot. if i dont need a plate to tour, why dont i use some sparks for the way down? because the people like straps. K2 i think your doing it wrong.
[*]I loved my clicker system for splitting before the boots shit the bed. One piece in the sole actually pulled out while riding! But I loved the ease of use; and so light. But like others have said, the boots were the worst part of the system. (Not sure how to qoute (or spell) and really lazy sorry Rico)
My buddy still rides those clicker boots afters 10 years of abuse, they look like torcher devises. But i think this system looks sweet (all depends on the boot). In a perfect world the boot would join the board halves (and release in an avalanche) plus use the dyna system for touring. Frankly the real kicker here for me will be price$$$$ The hard boot systems looks great but the coin is fucking ridiculous. I’m touring with Insano focus boas this year and so far i’m pretty bummed on the no walk mode.