The Frank is the better and more rigid boot for kiting compared the the One.
The Ronix One is softer than the Frank.
The Ronix One will only last a season in ocean/ intensive kiteboarding use.
North and Ronix brought out the NKB Frank boot specific for kiteboarding where they use different material that is more durable.http://intheloopkiteboarding.myshopify.com/collections/bindings/products/north-frank-boot
Also Liquid Force have a specific kiteboarding boots line and they are niceee!
Their 2013 kite bindings range will be available in a few days!!
Has something changed with the Frank because it used to be promoted as the "one" on a budget ie same flex characteristics. I have the 2011 Franks and was thinking of getting Ones this year. I won't be if they're softer flex
My interpretation is that the one is the second stiffest boot behind the cell, the franks are really light weight as use gauze type material on the sides so water flows out easier.
My friend has a team series with 2011 franks and it is ridiculously light.
Although the north franks don't use the gauze. And I'm not sure if they are heat mould able. The price says they arnt otherwise I can't see the point in buying a more expensive boot?
I ride ones and have been for quite a while now with no sign of them breaking soon. I went through a pair of open toe Kai's before that which were covered by warrenty.
If you're in Perth stop into liquid elements in Bently. You can try the entire Ronix, LF, slingshot, hyperlyte... range and figure out what's best for you.
Reviews are good but boots aren't cheap so try, try, try if possible.
I ride LF Ultras and found them to be the right flex/support for me.
yer marve im pretty sure the one is stiffer than the frank and made to last better as its the top of the line ronix boot. The frank is cheaper and lighter. Id go the one if you were looking any boot!
Whenever people talk boots the Ronix one always gets a mention. Says something doesn't it?! Frank has more flex than one. Get the one. You won't regret it
Is it possible to get step in bindings for boots? (Like snowboard bindings)
So the boots stay on your feet and you can walk around.
I have a foot injury I really dont want to aggravate.
Hyperlite the system. Snowboard style.
There are other boots with removable liners too, that stay on your foot
as marv said.
franks have slightly more flex which makes them a better cross-over for kiting and cable & rails but still just as sic behind the boat. not to mention weigh practically nothing!
ones are slighty more support, less flex
both are heat mold-able to your foot.
SSD Rads looks like they might be a worth a try... ![]()
and at $269 the CFO just gave me the go ahead! ![]()
http://ride.slingshotsports.com/2012-RAD?sc=46&category=36750
no, wait... thats the US site...
www.slingshotsports.com.au/Wake/.aspx?productid=16012
$455 over here... ![]()
Obviously using a different exchange rate to me.
www.xe.com/ucc/convert/?Amount=270&From=USD&To=AUD
No boots for me ![]()
hahahaha again SB - just awesome.
SS Rad is the biggest piece of sh!t boot you could buy. If you don't believe me buy it and find out.
Frank and one are similar. Franks are just made a little lighter and cheaper and don't have the same quality footbed as the One. Franks are also a little bit more flexy. Personally I wouldn't buy them, but some people like more flex. I find that the any Ronix boot is floppy as sh!t in no time so I stick to the Ones or Cells, which in my honest opinion are not noticeably different to each other (in flex) and if anything my last pair of Ones felt stiffer than my last pair of Cells... Go figure.
Other boots you could get are LF Watsons or, the Double Up range is pretty nice and goes for a good price.
I have been riding boots full time since January
I went with the Ronix Ones and was very happy with them. Top of the line boot and integrated seamlessly with my 136cm North Gambler.
I recently purchased the North Ronix Frank Edition and I am equally happy.
The major difference between the two is aesthetic and design. The one is a little more luxury, padding and has some sweet detailing especially the 2012 model.
The North Ronix 2012 Franks came ready to fit onto the track system and is a very tight package all up.
So far the Franks are very comfy, well built and go well.
You will see a lot of the pro riders opting for Ronix which may give you some hints.
I think which ever you choose you will be more than satisfied.
Now that I have both the ones and franks I have some options.
Enjoy
Here is a short video I made which shows my migration from straps to boots.
Where to start?
1. Price - Why pay more for a boot that is so much worse than competitors?
2. Boot is far to stiff - I love stiff boots (Watson, Cell) but this boot is on a whole nother level, it actually makes riding uncomfortable. Excessive pressure points and a feeling that if you crash your legs will break.
3. Padding - where is it? there is none. Lack of padding only worsens the "pressure point" problem and just makes the boot uncomfortable.
4. Bad fit - The boot fits terribly. It fits the length of your foot fine but the excessive room around your whole foot is just a joke. Ronix fits like a sports trainer, SS RAD fits like a gumboot a size to big. (could be an alright boot if you have a monstrous club foot).
5. Footbed - No padding, bottom out if landing hot.
I could go on but I don't really see the point. If you don't believe me just go ask some other non SS sponsored people that have had or tried the boot and you will get the exact same testament.
For the record SS once made a good boot, it was the D2 and the fact it was good was partly due to the use of "intuition liners" which they now cannot use due to Ronix have sole use of the patent for use in wakeboots.
SS boots relied heavily on that liner in my opinion to make it work properly for the way it was designed, now without intuition they suck. Perfect example was the D2 to D3... If you wore the D3 with the normal liner it sucked. If you put the D2 liner in the D3 it was pretty good.
Not to mention the whole taking the boot out of the boot idea is totally stupid, almost on par with Hyperlites new "system" binding technology. SS should let it go.
p.s.
SS's new girls bindings (2013 Jewel) actually look pretty good and the design looks solid. No inner boot just a normal low profile lace up design. Obviously I can't try them but I know girls that say they fit pretty well.
Fair enough, but most of you points are personal preference.
Price - got mates
Stiffness, I'm an average kiter and I like it so far.
Padding, enough for me but it is on the lower side.
Fit suits me perfect got them a size smaller an they fit snug and I have fairly normal feet. Although there is room to move the toes up and some may not like that.
Inside boot is no problem at all, I guess it needs one because it's a bottomless boot. Saves in weight and it helps with drying so they smell less.
Pressure point, can't feel any so far, the boots are actually very comfortable even after a couple of hours.
As with anything, what suits one may not suite another.
So no, your argument's didn't convince me that they are the biggest piece of sh!t.
Of course all of my points are personal preference as it was my review of the binding
...
I wasn't trying or needing to convince you, you asked me "why?", and I told you.
As always, most any boot will work, some however are better than others. I could ride the R.A.D. if I had to, but I don't as there are superior options.
You are also right that the R.A.D. may in-fact suit other peoples foot better than my own.
(However, I would say my foot is of average shape and size and the fact that the majority of people I know that have tried the boot feel the same way as me, leads me to believe it doesn't fit the norm well.)
Obviously you are free to do as you will with my advice, I'm just trying to help people out.
p.s.
I suggest to anyone to try before you buy boots (like anything).