Welcome to this comprehensive guide on how to keep your snowboard bindings in tip-top shape! Your snowboard bindings play a critical role in controlling your board, which is why proper maintenance is essential. In this article, we’ll discuss how to store your snowboarding boots, maintain your snowboard bindings, and extend their lifespan. Let’s get started!
The Importance of Maintaining Your Snowboard Bindings
Before we dive into the details of how to maintain your snowboard bindings, let’s discuss why it’s essential. Your snowboard bindings connect your boots to your board, which means they are responsible for the control and responsiveness of your board. Bindings play an integral role in determining your ride’s comfort and safety, so keeping them in good condition is crucial.
When you neglect to maintain your bindings properly, it can lead to various issues, including:
• Structural damage to the bindings
• Difficulty changing position
• Loose screws or bolts
• Poor board control and performance
• Binding breakage and safety issues
• Need for replacement, which can be costly
Now that you understand the importance of maintaining your bindings let’s move on to the best ways to keep them in great condition.
Proper Storage of Your Snowboarding Boots
Before we discuss how to maintain your bindings, let’s talk about the proper storage of your snowboarding boots. Suppose you want to preserve your boots’ lifespan and prevent them from becoming moldy or unpleasant. In that case, you need to store them correctly.
When you’re ready to store your boots, follow these steps:
1. Clean your boots: Before anything else, it’s best to clean your boots with a soft bristle brush to get rid of any dirt or debris accumulated during trips (you can use a mixture of water and mild soap).
2. Loosen up the laces: Next, loosen up the laces to open up the boot’s shell and heel counter. This way, you can help circulate air within the lining, preventing musty odors and mold.
3. Air drying: Once you’ve cleaned your boots and opened them up, let them air dry in a well-ventilated area or in front of a fan, avoiding direct sunlight or heat sources like radiators.
4. Storing your boots: After they are clean and dry, keep your boots in a dry place away from direct sunlight or heat sources. Avoid storing them in too tight, closed containers like plastic bags because it can decrease airflow.
How to Keep Your Snowboard Bindings in Top Shape
1. Regular Inspections
Inspecting your bindings on a regular basis is critical for identifying any issues that may arise. You want to check your bindings before each trip to ensure that they’re in proper working condition. Examine your bindings’ hardware, screws, nuts, and bolts for any signs of wear and tear, such as rust or lost parts.
If you find any damages, make sure to get them fixed before hitting the slopes. Don’t wait for things to worsen, as it could result in binding breakage, leading to significant injuries.
2. Cleaning Your Bindings
Cleaning your snowboard bindings regularly is vital in maintaining them in good condition. Dirt, salt, and moisture can cause corrosion and rust, leading to the breakdown of your bindings.
After your ride, you want to clean your bindings. Use a damp cloth to wipe away dirt or debris from the bindings’ surface, including the highback and baseplate. Don’t use harsh chemicals or solvents, as they could damage the bindings’ finish and hardware. Once you’ve wiped away any dirt, dry them with a clean, dry cloth.
In case of stubborn debris, use a plastic bristle brush to loosen stubborn dirt.
3. Grease the Screws
Repeated use can cause screws and bolts to become stuck or challenging to unscrew, making replacing or adjusting the parts difficult. To prevent this, you can apply a small amount of grease to the screws and bolts.
This will help prevent rusts, as well as making the screws less prone to getting stuck. However, don’t overdo it, as too much lubrication can lead to your bindings becoming loose over time.
4. Loctite Your Screws
One issue with snowboard bindings and screws is that they can vibrate loose over time. Loose bolts and screws cause your bindings to underperform or even expose the rider to the risk of injury.
To prevent screws and bolts from vibrating loose, consider using a thread locking adhesive such as loctite. You can apply this to the binding screws, which will merge the threads, preventing the screws from loosening up over time.
5. Proper Storage
When it comes to winter sports gears, proper storage is vital in extending their lifespan. Storing your snowboard bindings in a dry place is an essential step to make them last longer.
If you store your board and bindings in a damp area, it will cause rust and other problems. So, keep them in a cool, dry place when not in use. Also, make sure to store the bindings in the correct shape, so they don’t bend or warp.
Closing Thoughts
Maintaining your snowboard bindings and boots is a key component of ensuring that your next trip to the slopes is as smooth and safe as possible. With regular inspections, proper cleaning, application of loctite, and storage in a dry place, your snowboard bindings can last for years.
It’s never too late to start taking care of your snowboarding equipment. Though we’ve covered the basics in this blog post, there are many other things you can do to ensure your gear lasts a long time.
We hope this guide has been informative and helpful in understanding how to take care of your bindings. We strongly recommend that you take the time to maintain your bindings, which will enhance your riding experience, optimally and reduce costs in the long run.
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