neilj37 Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 Not far, we have no snow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonicseal Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 Good luck with UPS. There is a problem with them tho. You'll have to stop your mates from drooling all over your toes !! :D I see their price of Nobile Snowboards are $$$$ loads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstowell Posted December 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 Yeah, everything else is dead cheap out here - except for Nobile Snowboards I'm used to paying like 1/2 the UK prices for stuff now, so it's hard to stump up the money when you know that you're paying way more than back home. Still, I'm very happy with the contents of the garage and I've already been told (by the wife) that 3 snowboards is enough... and she likes to remind me that Nevada's divorce laws are pretty nifty. You can get married and divorced here within 48 hours and I only just managed to get the 2 new pairs of bindings past her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstowell Posted December 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 Hurrah! The UPS man delivered OMG, they're good looking bindings. Almost as sexy as the FS-Pros. Very nice balance of black and metal, with a tiny hint of red. I'll post up some pics and a little preview of how they feel on the board in a few. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstowell Posted December 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 Bought from Powerline Sports in Seabrook, New Hampshire, USA for $199. Images link to hi-res images (~2Mb each) http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_02s.JPG http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_01s.JPG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstowell Posted December 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_03s.JPG http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_04s.JPG http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_05s.JPG http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_06s.JPG http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_07s.JPG http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_08s.JPG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstowell Posted December 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 Construction: Baseplate Flow Amp 9 baseplate, identical apart from the Effect label where the Amp 9 logo normally goes. EVA pads are glued to the underside of the baseplate for a positive connection to the board and some protection from landings. Baseplate material is described by Flow as "POM", dunno what that means but in english it's basically a fairly stiff and light molded plastic base. Grabbing the baseplate and twisting with both hands allows a very small amount of flex, which is nice as it should allow the baseplate to flex correctly during hard carving manouvers and allow a degree of foregiveness in those squiffy landings. The baseplate is very asthetically pleasing, especially with the chrome finish plates (plastic rather than aluminium) over the highback and highback cable mounting/anchor points. Construction: Highback The highback appears identical to the Amp 9 model bar decals, and has a very nice gloss black finish and is made from glass filled nylon. The highback cable mounting point is hidden under another metal effect plate that looks like aluminium but is fact plastic. The highback is fairly flexible, with more flex from side to side than last years FS-Pro model. The highback is nice and stiff under the highback lock with very little fore/aft flex. So it should be a very comfortable ride, with nice turn in response for snappy edge to edge transitions, but an absolute peach for tweaking grabs and very forgiving on bad landings. The highback cable is a single piece of coated wire that passes under the binding with both ends attaching to anchor points behind the highback lock. Flows generally have a reputation for being pretty solid bindings, but when they do fail (particularly with the cheaper models) it has often been caused by the highback cable pulling through a mounting point within the baseplate. With there only being two mounting points rather than the 4 points (from most of the previous years models) it looks like Flow have gone some way towards addressing this issue. The highback lock makes a really nice positive snapping sound when closed. It's more positive than the FS-Pros is with little chance of thinking you've closed it and it re-opening on you later. The top of the lock has a nice shape that will fit a thumb or the ends of two fingers in there, making for an easy release. http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_10s.JPG http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_11s.JPG http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_26s.JPG http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_31s.JPG Construction: Foot strap Well, the Cabrinha info says it has the x-flex strap, but it definately isn't. It looks more like the i-flex strap found on the NXT AT, with the deep cutouts in the foot strap it looks more like a conventional binding footstrap with a token thin connecting piece than the previous years Flow foot straps. The emphasis is surely going to be tweakability, with lots of flex to help you contort the sickest moves. Twisting from the knees should be a thing of the past, and these should allow a nice amount of rotational movement from the ankles. Much like the highback, there's plenty of support fore/aft so the binding should still feel pretty responsive during turns. The buckles/ratchets are a combo of metal and plastic (unlike the Amp 9's which are just plastic), feel very well constructed and locate themselves very positively. Construction: Other comments There are a total of 7 screws in each binding, 5 of these hold the metal effect cover plates in position, 2 mount the highback onto the baseplate. While the highback mounting screws had blue Loctite applied the other 5 were not consistantly coated in threadlocker, 2 of the screws on one side of each binding had no Loctite at all, and the others next to none. The screws were not tightened consistantly either. I'd strongly recommend that you undo each screw completely, pop a drop of blue Loctite (242) on each and tighten them again. The last thing you need is to loose one of those oooh so pretty plates as they are surprisingly expensive to replace.... Baseplate disks have squillions of holes, the usual degree markings, and makes perfect positioning of the binding a doddle. The baseplate has an arrow marked on it (surprisingly some of the older Flow models didn't) for setting your stance accurately. http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_29s.JPG Hardware is good quality, bolts are coated in threadlocker and were the perfect length (previously I found Flow bolts to be a little short). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstowell Posted December 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 Adjustability: Baseplate The baseplate has an adjustable toe ramp to allow fine tuning (12mm or 1/2") of foot support, well toe support really. http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_22s.JPG The front ladder strap can be moved forwards and rearwards depending on your boot size. http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_20s.JPG Adjustability: Highback The highback is adjustable for forward lean angle and forward/rearward mounting position only (as with all current and previous Flows). There are 3 highback mounting holes molded into the baseplate, all are at the same height but set approx 10mm apart thus offering ~20mm (4/5") adjustment. These help with intial setup of the bindings so that the boot can be is positioned evenly over the baseplate (for neutral balance over the board). Factory highback mounting is in the rear holes. I needed to move the highback into the middle holes for best front/rear boot position. http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_28s.JPG http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_27s.JPG Large adjustments in forward lean can be made by relocating the highback cable to one of the 3 slots molded underneath the highback mounting points, small adjustments can be made pretty much on the fly by twisting a wheel in the highback lock. Factory position is the slot closest to the front of the binding. The slots appear to correspond to the amount of slack produced by mounting the highback in one of the forward slots. So for me (with the size 10s) I moved the cable into the middle slot. Bear in mind that the little munkey of a cable wants to pop out of that slot until the baseplate is firmly planted on the board, keeping tension on the cable (by pushing/pulling the highback back) will stop it from escaping while you mount the bindings on the board. http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_24s.JPG Adjustability: Foot straps New for this season's models are mini-ratchet buckles on the rear ladder straps. Front ladder straps use the conventional Flow buckles that allow you to tighten (by pushing down by hand on top of) the foot strap, you can then either release the tension from the ladder strap by pushing the ladder strap release catch, or locking the foot strap on the ladder strap with the little plastic locks. http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_12s.JPG http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_14s.JPG The fronts are really a set once and forget thing, however some Flow users have complained that it's tricky to get the rear section of the foot strap tight enough without compromising ease of boot entry/exit. I've personally never had an issue, but I guess I was blessed with a good boot/binding fit. So for this year the mini-ratchets have been fitted. The mini-ratchets work just like the ratchet on a conventional binding, however although they work well, they are kinda small. Just fit the boot as you would normally and if you fancy things a bit tighter then give 'em a couple of cranks. Personally I'm not sure there's really a need for them, and I'm guessing that they were fitted as a marketing exercise and I'll not use them once I've set up the foot strap. Time will tell. http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_13s.JPG http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_15s.JPG http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_16s.JPG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstowell Posted December 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 Overall impression Fit with my UK size 10 (US 11) Vans Fargo Boa Focus boots is excellent. The highback needed adjusting from the standard mounting position but the fit of the foot strap is much better than both my old Team and FS-Pro bindings. I attribute this to the additional flex in the foot strap. The highback shape is an excellent fit with my boots. Overall there's no problems with fitment, everything was easy to get nice and snug with no loose sections of footstrap or gaps between the boot and footstrap. The base of the highback clears the heel of my boot cleanly when removing my foot from the binding. So at this point in time I can only see improvements on an already excellent design. So yup, I'm still a Flow man. I'll be out with the new bindings at least twice between now and the weekend. I'll post more about how I get on with these later this week. http://www.csa-interactive.com/flexifoil/effect_30s.JPG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keishin Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 now thats what i call a review!! might concider getting a pair, will have to see how much money i have laying around for Norway:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonicseal Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 Congratulations and Fair doos. Are your ratchets gold coloured or just an illusion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metal_snapper1599968645 Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 Really nice review Chris!!!...they look sweet Thank's for ultra smooth transaction on your old FS Pro's, well looked after and in great condition...I'll be using those babies in Slovakia in two weeks.....if it ever snows.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wallace Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 cstowell.........man thats some review, i think u need to give cabrina/flow a call and ask for a job!.........seriously......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metal_snapper1599968645 Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 This guy has a very vaild point!!!....It really was imformative and well written:) cstowell.........man thats some review, i think u need to give cabrina/flow a call and ask for a job!.........seriously......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstowell Posted December 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 Why thank you all for your encouraging comments. Makes it all worth while. Sonic, nah mate the ratchets are silver rather than gold. The photos were taken at night, that's just the light. I'm kinda busy with running my own business, but if Cabrinha/Flow want to send me some more stuff to review then I'd be happy. I'm looking for santa to bring me a pair of NXT FRs for my stocking, but I'm sure that santa won't mind if someone else slings some my way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstowell Posted December 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 Oh, and I had my first ride with them today. I managed to get about an hour's boardtime, no high speed stuff, mostly just coaching a nephew. A few jumps in the trees and we hit a few boxes in the park. Man, are these bindings flexible in all the right places! The FS-Pros from last year were sweet with great rotational flex but remained responsive but these are sooo flexible that you can twist everything way outa shape. I mean you can actually see the whole lot flex, but they still give good response - there was no discernable mushiness in turning. I'll give them a good thrashing tomorrow, see what they can do at speed and see how they handle jumps/landings. I also need to pop into a big snowboard store that's pretty well stocked with Flows, so I'll have a poke around and check them out against the rest of the range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keishin Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 hmmm was just looking at the bindings when i came across the cabrinha board, also built for snowkiting...any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonicseal Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 Dear, seems to be exactly the same profile as the Nobile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstowell Posted December 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2006 Eh? All the dimensions are different from the Nobile - length, width, tip/tail, sidecut. It looks pretty similar to most modern freestyle boards, but appears to have a slightly different layup and sidecut that snowkiters might prefer over an off-the-shelf twin-tip. Personally, I think this years Nobile looks better with it's raised tips/tail for helping float in powder and the larger sidecut radius is worth looking at if you're just using it for snowkiting. The Cabrinha should ride nicely downhill though - in theory of course. I'm planning on dragging myself up to Skyline soon, where I should finally get to borrow some of this season's snowkite specific boards for more than a few minutes... should help to end my own personal speculation about what's really worth spending the hard earned on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstowell Posted December 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2006 As a follow up to the bindings thingy.... I spent about 4 hours caning the DH and Cabrinha Effects yesterday under beautiful deep blues skies (muscles are kinda stiff now). Well, I learnt 2 things: 1. The Ride DH is way more stable at very high speeds than I'd expected. I've ridden it a bit before, but I spent more time really checking out it's performance diectly against another board. Switching back and forth between identical runs. Only large lumps at speed and ice really posed a problem for the DH. On smooth groomers it's as much fun as my Timeless. I'd even go as far to say that I may be switching to this as my favoured #1 board. The extra length of the Timeless made for a more confidence inspiring ride once I was in air-roaring-past-the-ears mode, but I was definately pleasantly surprised with it's manners. It's always been a fantastic board, but the longer I rode it the more it impressed me. I can see why it got the TWS Good Wood award 2. My main concern was that the bindings would be too stiff to maintain good control at high speeds/under extreme loads. Despite being flexible as fook the bindings are actually very responsive in turns, and flicking very rapidly from edge to edge was a doddle. Very, very impressed. The only negative aspect is that I suffered a pressure point on my left foot, just over where my smallest 2 toes sit, caused by an increase in pressure over that area by the lonfer and thinner strap (when compared to last years models). After about 3 hours it started to bother me a little. Not enough to send me home, but unexpected considering how comfy Flows usually are. I'm going back tomorrow for freshies (1-2 feet of snow is forecast tonight) so I'll try tweaking the strap position, offsetting the buckle positions, or if that doesn't work then perhaps increasing stance angles (currently a 15 deg duck stance) will help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikeb666 Posted December 22, 2006 Report Share Posted December 22, 2006 just think. there is nothing wrong with the normal ratchett bindings . They are generally the best for performace , and reliability. its not really a problem to get into bindings when snow kiting, if u can actually control a kite!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonicseal Posted December 22, 2006 Report Share Posted December 22, 2006 Sorry Chris, I could of sworn I seen the Cabrinha dimensions somewhere and it was the same as the Nobile :S Maybe it was another board or I was totally confused, I'm gonna search now Enjoy your snow you jammy dodger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstowell Posted December 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2006 just think. there is nothing wrong with the normal ratchett bindings . They are generally the best for performace , and reliability. its not really a problem to get into bindings when snow kiting, if u can actually control a kite!!! Dude, are you serious? I've never, ever, ever seen anyone actually able to launch a kite, and keep it airbourne at the same time as strapping the bindings in. Those mountain winds are kinda flukey, well, pretty much everywhere but I guess especially around here. I've seen a few try and it's not pretty, certainly not safe. Sure, conventional bindings usually offer excellent support and tend to be cheaper than Flows/K2 Cinches. However you are pretty much restricted to having to have a kite ***** fly your kite while you get yourself in, or launching strapped in like you would kitesurfing. I'm often kiting alone, and with ARCs so the flexability of the Flows allows me to launch and then jump aboard the board. There's no way I could comfortably (and more importantly, safely) sort the kite and board out if I have a pair of convential bindings. There's a reason that 90%+ rider around here use either the Flows/K2 Cinches.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonicseal Posted December 26, 2006 Report Share Posted December 26, 2006 ^^ ***** = n. a female dog or wolf. ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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