Going Soft - options for soft-boot splitboard set-ups
So, you’re into snowboarding and you want to take the next evolutionary step into the backcountry, splitboarding. Well, thankfully gone are the days of slogging waist deep through snow, or having to carry snowshoes, and if you’re new to splitboarding you’ve arrived a great time as you’ll no longer need to saw an old board down the middle or bodge together a set of badly designed bindings either.
Today the options for splitboard kit are far and wide, including the chance to use a hard plastic boot which some feel are better on the way up (see our Hard Boot page here), and while this page won’t claim to cover everything to do with soft boot splitboarding on the market, it will highlight kit we’ve used and tested over the past decade or so.
Soft-Boot Bindings
Spark R+D
Back in the day it felt like we were doing the R+D for Spark, as we all used them when we started riding, and while there were some teething problems to be fair they were, and still are, excellent. The simple mounting system works really well and is more or less the same as it’s always been, with two chocks fixed to the board that the bindings slide onto, with a clip under your toes folding flat to hold them in place, the clip can’t come undone once your foot is in the binding.
Spark R+D offer two flagship models with standard and pro options, the Surge has a solid baseplate and is preferred by the heavier or super charging rider, while the Arc is lighter but still a solid workhorse. I’ve had a set of Arcs for years and they still work really well, FYI I’m 67kg.
Spark R+D offer Solid Board Flat Pucks, so you can slap them on your solid board too, they don’t offer woman female binding but do offer small sizes XS if for under size 8 womens US.
Plum
Plum have been making high quality ski touring bindings in the Chamonix valley since 2005, before that they were a multi generational engineering firm, so design runs in the blood, and if you produce anything other than excellence in the Chamonix Valley you’ll not be in business for long, as such Plum’s splitboard bindings are great, I use them now when not in hard boots.
Tal, co-founder of Key Equipment boots, has come up with an ingenious design with fixed mounting pucks that the bindings fit onto vertically with a side locking lever that actually squeezes the board together, helping to reduce chatter between the two skis when in board mode (the same chocks can be used with their Sok hardboot binding).
It does look a little complicated the first time you go to set up a pair of Plums, but once you're dialed in for the first time you realise it's simple enough and you end up with a really solid ride.
The FEYAN is their top end binding, light weight with lots of adjustability in both ride and walk mode and comes with a carbon highback. The ETERLOU is a true backcountry ride and while excellent in the skin track offers a more relaxed ride down and is slightly heavier than the FEYAN.
Walk mode is really simple to achieve, with a channel on the base of the binding sitting onto a fixed bar on the board and locked into place with the side lever.
Plum come in S, M and L sizes ranging from UK4 to UK11.5 and when I’m not in my hard boots I use the Eterlou and love them, both on the way up and down.
Going Hard - Options for a Hard-boot Splitboard Set-up
Fortunately, there are more and more hard-boot options these days in both boots and bindings, so we thought it’d be useful to compile most of your options in one place.
Karakorum
Our Marty uses Karakorum and loves the ride. Designed and made in the Cascade Mountains of Washington, Karakorum have been making excellent bindings since 2008.
Setting up their bindings is a little fiddly, but you only need do it once and then you’re good to go, having said that I remember following marty in the skin track and watch bits fall off bindings, but I think that’s more Marty’s lack of Loctite than any design issues, as Karakorum have some big name riders/ambassadors such as Jeremy Jones, and he’s not going to put up with shonky kit when riding big lines.
There are six men's bindings, starting with the entry level Grizzly Split $440 all the way up to the X-Carbon $1080, there’s also a hardboot set up, and 3 womens designs.
I can’t say much more as I’ve never used them, but those that have rate them highly and go back for more.
K2
The K2 Farout is a great entry level binding at a reasonable price, and if you want a relaxed ride and with the opportunity of gaining some powder with a few short tours from the resort lift then it should be considered. I personally wouldn’t recommend the Farout if on a multi day tour or think you’re going to experience challenging conditions in the skin track. If you simply want to skin on a flattish trail for an hour or so you’ll be good to go.
To skin, you have two hooks that stick out the front of the binding and attach somewhat awkwardly to a fixed bar, if I’m honest I’m not a fan, especially if you get ice under the bar. The backplates and straps are on the softer side and offer a chilled ride, perfect if you want to hit some jumps and ride powder, not the best if you find yourself in an icy couloir in the Arctic.
Union
Similar to the K2, as in a good entry level binding that ride well if you want a softer relaxed feel. Union used to have a removable bar system for attaching the bindings to the board, which thankfully they’ve ditched on the newer models, as the bar would bend under pressure, often leaving you on a mountainside with a broken piece of kit. They now have a system similar to the Spark R+D for walk mode, and a pop on and twist for ride mode, which is a right pain if the board has ice or wet snow on it, although the twisting motion does clear the deck of less persistent blockages.
The new Union Charger FC (above), is step up from the bar fixed Explorer, which is reflected in the €700 price tag, Explorer’s are €400.
Burton
Burton Step Ons Splitboard Bindings only work with step on boots, but if that's your thing then by all means try them. I’m not a fan and would rather have a choice of my favorite snowboard boot, and a much more solid overall system.
From what I’m told by a trusted friend they’re fine for a quick mission from the lift but not the best on more serious or longer tours, so if you just want to do very occasional tours from the lift and already own a set of step in boots, then why not, but I’d steer clear if you want to get into the serious backcountry and see yourself spending some time in the skin track.
Ski Crampons
Each binding will have an associated ski crampon, which are used when there’s a hard crust to the snow pack but you still want to keep skinning. These aren’t normally included when buying bindings, but there’s often the chance to buy the correct fitting ski crampon by each individual binding manufactures, if not they will recomend a brand that will fit the binding.
One thing to take note of before buying ski crampons is the width of your broken down splitboard ski, especially if you have a volume shift or a wide board for those people with big feet. Plum for example offer a standard and wide fit ski crampon, the standard ones, which I had to return, didn’t fit my Stranda Biru (volume shift) splitboard.
The other option here, which are super light weight and give you almost as much traction are the Skeats Claws, but as with all thing light there’s compromises, read our review for a more in-depth write up.
Backdrop Crew Member Melissa Brandnar’s Splitboard Set Up
Board - Pallas Epiphany Splitboard, comes in 147,151 and 155 cm, ‘Our 4-season workhorse is designed to grow with your skills…then push them even further. From low-angle pow to complex lines, we built the Epiphany splitboard to be ultra efficient on the uptrack as much as the down.’ FFS Pod with Pallas
Boots - Vans Viaje 2023, come on boot sponsors Melissa needs some new boots.
Bindings - Spark R&D Arcs, come in small sizes great for those will small feet, get 10% off with Backdrop10 code.
Boots
Realistically you can wear any boot, but some are much better than others, funnily enough the ones designed with splitboarding in mind are oft the best.
You want a good stiff sole that will hold you steady when it’s time to boot pack, reinforcement where there’s contact with the binding is good, to reduce wear, and some adjustment (power strap) around the shin is nice, as you want them loose in the skin track, but firm on the ride down, or when kicking steps into the snow. It’s also great if they will take an automatic crampon, for real firm grip on ice, but not many low budget ones do.
I’m not going to write a long review of all the boots I’ve recommend here, although there are links to more in-depth reviews if we’ve written one.
The best thing with boots is the most obvious one, go to a shop and try them on, we all have a prefered fit and probably brand,. The one caveat that I will say is if you’re new to splitboarding I’d suggest getting a firmer boot than you’re possibly used to, it’ll help you in the skin track and you’ll find that you’ll not really notice when riding, just make sure you make some turns before you set off on a long tour for the first time, as blisters suck.
K2
K2’s Aspect and Waive are both great boots, I’ve ridden both and would recommend them, the Wavie above is the newer model and has the lower lace protector. Waive review and an old Aspect one.
10% off Waive here, with backdrop10 code.
Fitwell
The near bulletproof Fitwell Freeride boots from Italy, there used to be two models but the freeride is now their only splitboard boot. Loved by those who use them, our Zak really rates them and has used the same pair for season after season will little sign on wear. The Fitwell Freeride, pictured above (Green Black boot), takes a semi automatic boot crampon so if that’s important to you it would be a great choice of boot and well worth the €460 they’re after.
Vans
The Infuse is a great boot from Vans, I’ve used a pair for a few seasons and they stood up well, really comfortable and softened up after first use to offer a relaxed ride.
Thirty Two - Jones
The TM-2 Jones Boots, made by Thirty Two, are as you’d expect a brilliant boot, they offer both a mens (EU 38-47) and womens model (EU 35-42). A slightly softer boot than previous Jones split boots with a medium 7.5/10 flex. Our Marty rides the K2 Waive but says he misses his old Jones Split Boots.
Both the 32 Hight MTB and the 32 Focus Boa will do a job.
Nitro and Salomon
The Nitro inline TLS - Skylab and the Salomon Slab Trek are both worth a mention, but I’ve not used or know anyone who has, so you;ll have to dig a little deeper on those.
Splitboard Skills Week
Interested in the backcountry? Well look no further, be it splitboarding or skiing, our workshop in association with Altitude Guides, is designed as an on-snow week to help you to take your first backcountry strides, or build on your existing backcountry knowledge with the view to start planning your own tours.
More info, Ride, Connect, Stay Safe!
Boot Crampons
The first thing I want to do here is big up Fjordalp who make great crampon bags and stuff sacks Backdrop10 will get you 10% off, and also works on their sister Backcountry Books site.
Once you have your boots, the best thing to do is visit a shop and see how the crampons they offer fit your boot, as sometimes you may need to change the toe bail, as some are more rounded than others, you’ll also know if your boot can take a semi automatic or basket crampons (strap binding), I’d go semi automatic if your boot will allow, as it’s normally a much firmer fit.
If you plan on walking mostly on snow, you can save weight by using aluminum splikes. If you plan to walk on rocks (or mixed conditions: ice, snow, & rock) go steel, heavier but way stronger.
Petzl
I use the Petzl Leopard LLF Crampons as they’re very small and light, and as such they’re not recommended for anything other than walking, and I’d not even think about climbing ice in them. The Petzl Leopard LLF Crampons are available to fit both soft and hard boots.
Harfang
Another great light option is the Blue Ice - Harfang Tour which can be used on both a hard boot and on a soft boot with a toe basket.
Grivel
The Grivel-G1 - Crampons are a steel workhorse, and will see you through most situations, but I do have to say that if you’re taking on serious terriane, or ice climbing, you’ll be much better off in hard boots.
Splitboards
I’m not going to cover splitboards in depth here, as the options are wide and most manufactures have jumped on the band wagon, but what I will say is that Backdrop Journal was started by four co-founders, and three of us ride Stranda Splitboards and the fourth is on an Amplid Milligram. I’d also give a big shout out to Korua Shapes and of course Jones, but there are of course many more brands out there to choose from, although some major brands simply offer their best selling solid boards as splits, rather than design a split from scratch, with the results often ending with a great board for the ride down, with some compromises on the way up.
Sick and the Wrong is a great UK shop and well worth a look, if thinking of buying kit, you’ll get 10% off with Backdrop10 code too.
“Ride, Connect, Stay Safe!”
Skins
You’ll need a pair of skins, and many boards will have pre cut skins available to buy, some boards now have holes at the front of the skis which work with a small hook attached to the tip of the skins, this has the advantage on making it easy to attach the skins and often allows you to put your skins on while the board is still in board mode, handy if there’s a strong wind blowing your kit all over. the place.
If there’s not a specific set of skins for your board you can buy almost any standard snowboard skins, but do check width, and then cut them to size, not as hard a job as it sounds.
If you feel we’ve missed out something important, or you have any questions, please join our Whatsapp community and ask/comment away.