Closed Toe Bindings?

[EAGER_BEAVER]

I was wondering about those new boots as well. I had Hyperlite bindings back in '03 that I loved. I sold the board and havent replaced it yet thinking I'd just get one at the Toronto boat show in January.

I also thought the closed toes would be heavy, squishy and weird. I guess I may have to give em a go.

Can anyone recommend to good board for a 200lb intermediate rider looking for lots of pop off the wakes ?? I'd prefer not to break the bank with this purchase and I don't care if it's the latest and greatest. (ie) it doesnt have to be the '09 colours and I wouldnt mind if it was used.

[csmsk]

Can't say enough great things about my '08 Ronix Ibex 144. I'm 205 (on a good day) and ride decent enough to pull w2w 3's front and back, but no inverts yet. Demo this board if you can. You'll buy it that day!!!

[04OUTBACK]

Eager,
I am 180+. Got an 07 Hyp. Murray this spring and love it.. great pop.. and have 07 Murray Closed Toe bindings.. Got a great deal on them!
We got to ride the '08 Murray board that Shaun sent around on Wakeworld and it is the BOMB. even more POP!
If you have the opportunity to demo some, I would encourage.. My opinion could be totally diff for you.. I rode LF Litmus before my Murray and am very pleased..

[EAGER_BEAVER]

Can't say enough great things about my '08 Ronix Ibex 144. I'm 205 (on a good day) and ride decent enough to pull w2w 3's front and back, but no inverts yet. Demo this board if you can. You'll buy it that day!!!

Is that board insanely expensive? What bindings did you go with?

[csmsk]

I've got the Ronix One bindings (a christmas gift). The board retails for $399. Igot it new for $299. Gotta shop around.

[EAGER_BEAVER]

I've got the Ronix One bindings (a christmas gift). The board retails for $399. Igot it new for $299. Gotta shop around.

Even $399 aint that bad. I saw one at a dealership at $600 so ....... Im pretty glad I didnt pick THAT one up.

[Ian Brantford]

Hello, all. I have been reading this thread with great interest. After little progress in a couple of years, seeing The Book and Detention, and then starting to learn wake jumping all over again from scratch, I have to conclude that an upgrade is essential. My O'Brien Exit 13's that I got three years ago simply do not provide enough support to stay on edge when going up the wake. This was confirmed by trying a friend's stiffer bindings for just a few minutes.

I tried on some Ronix One bindings in the store today. Although they were better than my old bindings, they did not feel stiff enough. I since read up on them and found that first impressions were correct -- they are in the middle of the range of stiffness for current bindings.

I need bindings that satisfy the following priorities:
- soft landing
- support so I can stay on heelside edge
- some adjustability for comfort and size; two less-experienced riders with similar-sized feet may also want to use them

Here is a summary of the positive recommendations from earlier in this thread, the number of votes, and the impressions that I could glean from on-line descriptions and reviews:

Hyperlite Murray (3 votes) -- lightweight, removable stiffeners, soft landings
LF Shanes (2 votes) -- nice boot, but mid-range for stiffness
Ronix Cell (2 votes) -- light, very stiff, not especially adjustable
Ronix One (2 votes) -- similar to Shanes
Hyperlite Byerly (1 vote) -- similar to Murray
LF Watson (1 vote) -- good overall reviews, but difficult to assess w.r.t. my priorities

There are no price differences between any of these that would affect my choice. Overall, it looks like the Murray model is my best choice, followed closely the by the Cell and maybe Byerly. Are there any last-minute comments on these that any of you would care to make before I order tomorrow?

Also, I might get a new board. I am looking for a more conventional board than my LF Fish. Its slightly wide shape puts me at a further mechanical disadvantage when edging hard. I should say that this board basically saved wakeboarding for me, as its sculpted lower surface makes landings and chop pillow-soft compared to most boards that pre-date it. I believe that several others are now on the market that can compare for handling and comfort, but aren't as unusually short and wide as the Fish. I think that the LF Shane fits this description, though it might be too fast to the wake for me. Comments?

Thanks in advance,
Ian