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Soft Boots
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Topic starter 05/03/2025 8:08 am
Hi All,
I recently purchased a Stranda snowboard and I ordered some discounted Drake Radar bindings too (not sure why, but I did). I was accidentally sent Drake Podiums and they kindly said I could keep them instead.
Since getting them, I've read a little about Drake bindings and the company changing hands etc. I can't find out a ton about them as they don't seem that common, but I believe they will be quite stiff, which may or may not be good for me (good for carving but maybe too much for my board). I have Burton Ion boots and I'm riding the Stranda Shorty at the moment.
Anyway, to my question. I'm fairly fresh on the carving journey and am wondering whether I should sell the Podiums while they are still unused or whether they are a good option for me and I should give them a run out. My existing bindings are NOW Drives.
So would you wise heads:
A) Sell the Podiums and put money towards something else
B) Jump on the Podiums!
Thanks,
GS
05/03/2025 12:21 pm
Hey @gone-surfing, welcome to the forum!
Drake Podium is a good binding. I have two sets, I used to ride these while testing boards. They are marketed as super stiff, but it's a mid stiff Flex by my standards. High quality, long lasting, comfortable. Better for carving than your Now Drives (SkateTech is not recommended for hard carving).
However, there's a heelcup (on both the Drake and the Nows) that will contribute to drag. Your Stranda, even if it's a wide version, is probably only 275mm at the waist, max. Unless you have tiny feet, boot out will be a problem.
I recommend any rear entry binding for the lower overall length and reduced boot out potential. Flows are by far the stiffest, that's what I ride. NX2 Carbon with the Fusion Straps. Not a perfect binding, but by far the highest performance available for the kind of carving I do.
I'm just slaying...
Topic starter 05/03/2025 3:39 pm
Thank you for the very informative answer @wild-cherry - I have a US 12 boot and you are correct, the Shorty is 270 waist width and Biru 275.
Am I correct in saying this is the NX2 binding version you are talking about? Also, would they be too stiff for my setup or is that not something to worry about too much right now?
05/03/2025 6:19 pm
Also, would they be too stiff for my setup?
I don't even know what this means... What is this concept of "Too Stiff" that you refer to? I can't relate. Do you mean "Painful"? That's the only way I can make sense of "Too Stiff".
In all seriousness though, it's not outrageously stiff, and certainly not too stiff for carving. 25 years ago lots of bindings were stiff like these or close, it was normal.
I'm just slaying...
Board Doctor reacted
Topic starter 06/03/2025 12:19 am
Showing my newbie knowledge levels. I had read that you could end up with an interface that “overpowered” the board if the board was too “soft”. Not even sure if I read it or just inferred it from a bunch of content.
Thanks again for taking the time to advise me. I’m going to give them a go.
