Strengths: Would anyone want to buy these (K2 Cinch 05s) for cheap?

Strengths: I purchased the K2 cinch bindings in January of 05 and road them all last season. I will give you an honest evaluation of the K2 cinch bindings, but let me start out by saying…1) I am and engineer, 2) I like to freeride and steeps (no trees, moguls, or parks), 3) I am 6-ft 4-in and 250#, 4) I ride with my wife and son who ski, 5) a skier injured me last season and I had to sit out three weeks and never fully recovered to the point where I was able to push the K2 Cinches, and 6) I used Burton SI for three years prior.

Now that I set the parameters of my opinion. Although I recognize that SI’s and the Cinch hybrid are not for all riders, I would recommend the K2 Cinch bindings to individuals wanting to move to an SI system. They are definitely good for all mountain recreational riders and free riders, but I am sure they will not win over park rats.

Anyway, I was not 100% happy with the Burton SI system. The SI concept worked well for my riding situation, but the Burton System I felt was ergonomically backward (discussing the Burton Design is a whole other topic). Although I never purchased them, from an engineering point of view the K2 clickers impressed me because they placed the linkage points where the mechanical leverage was most optimal (at the toe and heal).

After some research, I did purchase Flow bindings for my wife, and this year for my son, but I have concerns about the use of a cable to transfer the backward lean force to the binding base. Some say the cable puts the force directly to the base, but I am concerned about the weak link – the connection of the cable. Also, I know the expansion coefficient of a cable means the fit will change based on weather conditions (constant micro-adjustment). Finally, as a heavy hard rider, I feel I may simply develop to much flex in the cable. None the less, I was comfortable with the design to invest in the Flow system for my wife and son who are softer riders (I can not even call them all mountain recreational riders yet).

The Flow bindings, however innovative, offered one other design limitation. ergonomically difficult to step into. The angle of the foot to the binding has to be almost flat to successfully step into the Flow binding. Riders want to be able to lower and step the foot into a binding (i.e. the foot swings radially about the knee and the toe points down). The Cinch bindings improve on the Flow rear entry concept by not only folding the highback backward for entry, but also lifting the straps forward to improve the entry angle. Further, The K2 cinch bindings provide a more customary and easily adjustable strap in system. The straps offer easy micro adjustment on the fly and is identical to ordinary strap in bindings. In contrast, almost all of the adjustments for the Flow bindings have to be done in the lodge.

The K2 Cinch binding achieves the rear entry without relying on a cable for the transfer of the backward lean force. Yes, the cinch binding uses a cable, but the cable is employed to engage the binding mechanical system. Unlike the Flow, the cable on the Cinch does not do double duty. The Cinch binding has an all metal link mechanism that connects the high back to the base. This system has several moving parts that achieve the improved rear entry concept. The cable is the primary element in making the system work. That is, the cable pulls the linkages together and locks them in place. But the cable is not what transfers the force of the backward lean to the base of the binding. This is done in the more conventional way, through the metal binding.

In short, I was impressed with the engineering such that I purchased the binding as soon as they came available. I have been satisfied with the design concept of the K2 Cinch binding. I find the bindings easier to use then both strap-ins and other SI systems. The bindings have satisfied my performance needs.

Weaknesses: Now let me tell you what is wrong with the K2 Cinch binding.

My first day riding on the Cinch bindings I was dropping down a double black diamond slope at Killington. When I made the transition from toe side to heel side I caught my heel side edge on a pile of show and fell backwards. This left me sliding at about 15-degrees to the fall line head first on my back. Anyway, my fall was just right to cause both bindings to open up. For the first time ever, I found myself completely out of my bindings. I had lost my primary mechanism for self-arrest. After sliding thirty feet, I was very lucky to slide off the side of the slope into a pile of snow (and not a tree). It was a good thing I had a leash on my board. I took the bindings back to the dealer and they said that the cable was not tight enough and that’s why they opened. This may be the case, but I had the cable set tight enough that I developed a strain in my fore arm from the leveraging the binding closed. I feel the design of the bindings should include a lock to prevent the bindings from opening up. Although infrequent, I have heard accounts of the bindings opening, such that I think it is a reasonable foreseeable design scenario for K2 to address. The binding relies on the tension in the cable to lock it self closed, which, is a variable condition not just between riders, but during in-use situations. None the less, the tighter cable seams to have improved the lock-in of the bindings for me so far. (Because of my mid-season injury I could not fully test my bindings)

As I mentioned before, after several days on the Cinch bindings I began to develop a serious strain in my fore arm from leveraging the bindings closed. I had the straps and cable set for a snug but not to tight fit. I eventually learned that I needed to loosen the binding straps at the end of each run before I stepped out to minimize the muscle strain of locking in when I step in. I do not consider this a design flaw, but new users may be turned off by the pain caused by the new movement. A one day demo of the Cinch bindings may turn more people away then they win over. This will be especially true if the new user has over tightening the cable because of the fear of the binding opening up.

After a couple of months riding the Cinch bindings I started to notice a click sound (feel) in my lead foot as I shift my weight to the heal side. After examining the bindings closely I determined that the pivot mechanism in the front of the binding was making the sound. I have not been able to tighten the binding to stop the slip, nor have I heard any one mention that the bindings have failed in this location. Toward the end of the season I began to notice the same clicking in the rear foot. I am concerned that this is a foreshadowing of a mechanical failure. I fear that it will occur on a steep when I am putting more stress on the binding, but for now I see no sign of failure.

The high back of the Cinch binding has a metal device (sort of a flat spring hook like piece) that aids in closing the binding’s mechanical system. This metal device has broken off on each of my bindings. The device is not necessary to make the bindings function. It simply helps the parts move together to make a smoother lock in. The cable ultimately does the work once the metal device is broken off. The problem is that, the device must be relieved in order to fold the binding forward which is necessary for stowing the binding in a bag and for loading onto a lift (to prevent the skiers from tripping over your binding as they unload, and from the binding getting caught on the chair as you unload). When the highback is stood back up the metal device ends up on the wrong side of the heel bar. Once this happens, it is all over. The piece gets bent and will forever end up in the wrong place until it eventually breaks off. I returned my bindings to the dealer that sold them to me and they ordered new parts. The new parts were stronger, but, the basic cause of the failure still exists and the new parts will break sooner or later also. K2 needs to address this issue in the redesign phase. I have some ideas that may solve the problem so I am sure the engineers of K2 will think of something.

I am a heavy rider and I almost exclusively freeride. As such, I do not mind the weight of the cinch bindings, but I can see (and have heard other say) the overall weight of the binding as being a problem that would discourage park rats. Also, the binding is a stiff metal system. Some might say that it is too stiff and hinders the riders feel for the board.

So there is my two cents. I did not like being a pioneer and purchasing the Cinch binding the first year out, but since I did, I hope that others can learn from my experience and opinion. I am hopeful for the future of the Cinch. Five years ago there was just one or two Flow bindings on the market. Now Flow offers a full range of rear entry bindings. Flow is the only company to broaden there SI product line. Most other manufactures have cut or eliminated their SI product offerings. This says something about the hybrid rear entry concept. K2 has taken that concept in a new direction. I expect to see improvements on the basic idea over the next couple of years.

Strengths: Easy in/out

Weaknesses: Heavy, makes toe side turns harder.

Strengths: Great pair of bindings. I have used K2 Step-Ins,Burton Step-Ins. For the past 6 years I have used Flow bindings, they are fast to get in and out but when riding the terrian park and hitting kickers the Flow bindings were to stiff for my liking. So I tried a Flux MH4 strap bindings and realize how comfortable,flexible and lot of control.But I didn`t want to lose the easy of getting in and out of my bindings. So that`s when I found the K2 Cinch CTS. I read lots of pros and cons. So I bought a set tested it out at SnowShoe`s terrian park and was totally STOKE about the performance. I was impress by how light the bindings were compared to my Flow Pro 2007. I had best of both world, the strap and the easy of getting in and out. Once I tried the K2 Chinch CTS

Weaknesses: The inside highback first layer padding is starting to peel off and the stitches on toe strap cover is starting to unstitch. But I think K2 will cover it under their warranty. I just gotta take a pix of it and send it to them. I update you all the out come. But aside from that, the bindings ROCK!!!

Strengths: The cinch system means ure strapped in before everyone else

Weaknesses: Where do i start? 1. the plastic which the cinch system relies on at the bottom of the highback is weak, it broke after about 2 weeks but its easy to repair. 2. The baseplate disks are rubbish, i ended up havin to tighten the screws at least twice a day when i went to the alps for a week in january, bearing in mind i only got these bindings in october. Youd think that for such an expensive binding they would throw in metal baseplates rather then plastic ones which twist around whenever you fall. 3. the straps (on the occasions that you have to undo them) become very stiff and almost impossible to undo until you let the ice melt off them. 4. Overall they just dont seem worth the money i paid. I thought id treat myself to the most expensive bindings that were in the shop when i went to pick up my board and unfortuantely they are made with crappy plastic and are just rubbish overall.

Strengths: UPDATE to my last comment....the last sentence should be:......Yes the costs are on the pricier side, but if you think about how long they`ll last, it SHOULDN`T be an issue.

Strengths: Style: freeride, occasional kicker etc. I was riding Burton P1 HD (2003) before and was very pleased with the performance and comfort. Was looking at new bindings and bougth myself the K2 Cinch CTX 07/08 which are really as comfortable and responsive as my old ones. Bonuses are that the toestrap can be adjusted on the fly (toolless) and once the straps are set you`ll never have to change them again. The best thing is really the fast exit and entry into the bindings. Thinking back to the normal strap bindings these are really a breeze without loosing the hold of normal strap bindings. Brilliant! Yes the costs are on the pricier side, but if you think about how long they`ll last, it be an issue.

Weaknesses: Perhaps a weekness for some, strength for others, the highback is somewhat flexible sideways, which I wasn`t used to with my Burtons, but that`s a matter of personal taste. I`m more comfortable with the K2`s. The Burtons, although good control through the stiffness of the highback, were rather unforgiving after a really long day of snowboarding. The K2 Cinch CTX is more of lounge chair in comparison.

Strengths: easy in easy out.. feels solid and good conection to the board. easy to adjust

Weaknesses: when slapping the board to remove snow the ankle strap will sometime tighen up. When riding pow the toe strap buckle will sometimes loosen up.