Updated April 27, 2025
I finally gave in.
After years of side-eyeing the Step On system, I snagged a pair of Burton Genesis Step Ons with Burton Ruler Step On boots.
And… here’s the real deal from a rider who doesn’t get paid to kiss Burton’s ass.
Setup
Genesis Step On bindings.
Ruler Step On boots.
Board: 2022 Jones Flagship (probably not what Burton had in mind, but who cares).
Zero break-in. Just set them up in the parking lot and jumped straight on the lift.
First Impressions
Clipping in:
Weird at first. Like slamming your foot into a mousetrap—but in a good way? Super quick once you get used to stomping down properly. Couple of misses the first few times but muscle memory kicked in fast.
Feel underfoot:
Solid. Way more locked-in than I expected. I thought it might feel sloppy compared to normal straps — it didn’t. Forward drive was fine. Lateral tweakiness was a little more restricted than my usual Union Ultras — but nothing terrible.
Boot comfort:
Ruler boots are decent out of the box. Nothing fancy. Stiff enough to drive the board but not so stiff they felt like concrete blocks. Biggest surprise: zero weird hot spots from the heel or toe “cleats”.
Flex and responsiveness:
Genesis bindings have a little flex to them, but Step On in general feels a touch stiffer than a normal strap setup. If you like a surfy, loose ride (like I usually do), it’s an adjustment. If you ride more aggressive or directional boards, it actually feels pretty natural.
Pros and Cons
👍 Pros
- Super fast in and out (zero faff)
- No pressure points
- Boot and binding integration feels clean
- Less foot fatigue over long days
- Surpisingly responsive
👎 Cons
- Less tweak and surfy feel vs. my regular bindings
- Options (mostly) limited to Burton ecosystem
- I did miss being able to ratchet my straps fown before gnarlier sections
Final Thoughts
Look, I’m still not throwing my regular bindings in the bin. But Step On works. Way better than I thought it would.
For mellow resort days, carving and people who hate sitting down? It’s genuinely sick.
Will I ride it every day? No. Will I use it when I’m cruising, teaching friends, or just smashing park laps without faff? Hell yes.
Good job, Burton. I kinda wanted to hate it. I didn’t.
