Closed toe vs. open toe

advantages/ disadvantages??

whats better to spend money on that will pay off in the long run?

Closed toes make you look way cooler.

It might not be specifically because its open or closed toe, but the best bindings nowadays are basically all closed toe

o ok. i heard that closed toe have better handling, and yea they do look way cooler haha

heh i personally like the look of OT better, but whatever floats your boat.

I've heard that the better handling is only very slight, but CT are warmer. it's easier to injure toes with CT and i've heard they don't drain as well. if you like the look of CT and find a perfect fit that won't break your toes go for it! but i prefer OT.

alright thanks a bunch guys! and girl ha

theres a reason 99% of pros have switched to CT's. Out of curiosity who is still riding OT's amongst the major riders today?

mark,
ben greenwood
and i think keith lyman

Yeah the 99% want to promote their companies expensive equipment. Josh Sanders and many of the Obrien pro's were rocking the Xenon's last year. Why? That happened to be their pro model that they make money representing.

but seriously..... the main difference between OT and CT ......

CT bindings are a bigger pain in the ass and they satify the half gay riders need for style.

CT = warmer

I loved ot bindings and thought I would never switch until I wore some ct bindings in cold water and it felt so good.

hahaha OT for life.

well i guess the only way to find out is to try some closed toes ha

CT bindings wont cut of the circulation in your toes as some open toe bindings will

Jared, you know why I wear closed toe. It's warmer and they're just better. Hahaha.
I'd let you try mine Jared, but if they're too big for me... well you'd be able to waterski in just the bindings...

Also, I have yet to painfully jam my toes in mine, and they're definitely too big...

Oh yeah, apparently Lyman has been riding in the Watsons this year. Not sure if he was using the OT or CT, but that's what I heard from someone who watched a Stokemeter interview with him.

And of course CT takes longer to drain, it's like filling a boot up with water...

thanks nick lol

"theres a reason 99% of pros have switched to CT's. "

Because the manufacturer said, "hey this CT thing is selling, so you're getting closed toe boots from now on?"

lol

exactly.

Here's my take on the OT vs CT debate....

At first I was all for CT boots and believed that they really increased the responsiveness of my board. I had come from riding 07 CWB Zeus OT to 08 LF Watson CT. I then went to 09 LF Watson CT. The difference from the Zeus OT to the Watson CT was night and day. The board was so much more responsive. I was sold on CT.

Fast forward a year and my 09 Watsons have a warranty issue and I had to send them back. In the mean time I pick up a pair of 08 LF Shane OT boots. I've ridden them 3 times over the last couple of weeks and they are every bit as responsive as the CT watsons I had been riding.

Long story short, to truly make a comparison between OT and CT you need to do so within the same line/style of boot. Comparing from different brands really isn't apples to apples. In my case it was more that the LF Shane and Watson boots (OT or CT) gave me (personally) a better ride than the CWB Zeus OT did. It wasn't the CT that gave me a better ride, it was the boot. Specifically, for me it was the binding plate that made my board more responsive.

The binding plates on the LF 08 pro model boots are hands down the stiffest plates I have ridden in 8 years. They lock down the heel and toe of the boot and will not let them lift off the board at all. However, they changed the plates in 09 and IMHO it was a change for the worse. The 09 plates flex and give the boot a ton of heel lift. I haven't ridden the 09 limiteds yet, so I can't comment on those. If you are really looking for a responsive boot I would suggest looking for 2008 LF pro model boots in either OT or CT.

Your best bet is to find a local shop that will let you rent/demo boots and then apply the rental fee to your purchase. In the past I had always looked for the best deals on-line, but that's really hard to do with today's boots. The high end boots are sized much more specifically than they used to be. These days you really have to play Goldylocks when trying to find the right boot. You may pay a little more, but to get the right boot it will be well worth it in the long run.

(Message edited by nauty on June 05, 2009)

my riding buddy broke his toe on Sunday because of CT bindings.....

i'm having a slight change of heart recently.

I have a bruise on my big toe under the nail, which sux. I am not completely sure if i got the bruise from the CT itself or from a work related thing or both...

anyway. with an already injured toe like mine. CT starts to get real annoying and painful even with regular airs ;(



Why not make an open toe that had a closed toe neoprene sock kind of thing on the end or something like that? you would keep the warmth and the surrounding feel of the CT but have less of a solid confined box at the end?

VIVA OPEN TOE!!

How can you think that a CT boot is more responsive?? If you ride in cold ass water, then they can keep you warmer, but other than that, they don't really have any advantages...IMO. Considering that I broke my toe wearing some CT boots, I'll never go back to them.

has anyone ever cut the toe open on a closed toe boot before? just curious. and if so what was the end result/ thoughts about it?

CT look better. Men aren't really known for having beautiful feet or anything, and I don't want to see your toes. Please, guys, keep it covered.

Rachel get over it.

That is exactly why I do not wear CT BBR. In the winter I just wear a neoprene sock with a larger binding.

OT all the way!!!!

Just switched to CT with no problems so far but to be fair, I've barely put in enough time. The whole broken toe thing kind of freaks me out but based on my experience so far I can't see that happening. I know it's a stupid question but for those that had toe problems, did they fit right?

I didn't notice any more responsiveness but I like the fact that my feet don't go numb during a set anymore.

My closed toes fit perfectly and I have never jammed my toe in to the boot. Even with that being said, I downhill ski and snowboard and I have jammed my toes pretty hard doing that and I have never broken anything, and that's usually going way bigger than I can on a wakeboard.

Jakober

you rocking OT's??? What Bindings are you riding.

It seems that it's harder to get the area over the instep of the foot as tight with all the CT bindings....which would allow the feet to be shoved forward. Darren - I hear ya on the ski/snowboard thing, but typically those boots have a tight and dry fit....wakeboard bindings are always wet and feet move around a lot more. My buddy was all excited about his new CT bindings....he just broke his toe badly on Sunday because of them and he's out for 6 to 8 weeks says the doc!!

I rock closed toes and dig them. Really no advantage I can see over Open toes. The one thing I HATE about open toes is the fact that my boots are still wet 3 days later.

I'm riding the Xenons for now, if it aint broke don't fix it!!

I hope to test the 2010 OT Obrien stuff later this summer.

Don't get me wrong, I'll rock CT boots when there is still ice on the water, because warmth is the only real advantage I see to CT boots VS OT boots.

Other then that the negatives of CT far out way the one positive, which is warmth, and thankfully wakeboarding is a warm weather sport!

I think it's kinda funny that the industry was able to influence us SHEEP into thinking that there is a performance advantage to CT boots. Other then warmth, it's just not there, and how many of us actually ride in water that is so cold that CT really makes a difference(less then 5%, I bet)!

Come on, shouldn't we all be rocking Wakeboard pants! I mean there must have been some advantage to them, Shane wore them! Maybe they kept your legs warm. I don't know, but thank god they didn't catch on!

OK, I'm getting off my soap box now..

I think we should all go ride!

That really sucks Mark, I hope your buddy has a speedy recovery.

I think it's kinda funny that the industry was able to influence us SHEEP into thinking that there is a performance advantage to CT boots. Other then warmth, it's just not there, and how many of us actually ride in water that is so cold that CT really makes a difference(less then 5%, I bet)!

Those are my sentiments as well.

One thing about wakeboarding products is that there are a ton of gimmicks. Here are just a few off the top of my head that I can think of.

1. HL with the board that helps your toeside edge, forgot the name of the board.
2. CWB Transcend - Remove the bottom corner of your fins.
3. The Bylery board with the can opener cutouts.

I am sure there are more that I can't think of.

mark

who broke their foot?

Chris Mead did....it was his toe...and it was a weird enough break that he had to go see a specialist. He's hoping to be back on the water as soon as possible...even if it's just for surfing.

will you be at the Surf Sesh this weekend?

Matt -
Obviously you've never ridden the Transcend, otherwise I don't think you would classify the fin extensions as a 'gimmick'.

To all people supporting open toe boots - its quite surprising. 2 years ago any number of people could have come on the forum, ask why closed toe, and get flooded with responses saying that it helps with toe lift, responsiveness, etc. I just really can't see open toe boots making a comeback...

They better make a comeback or I will exhaust every option that there is out there to not buy new CT boots.

I agree that the fin extension is not a gimmick. Sorry Matt.
But I also agree there are a ton of them out there. Dimples on the bottom of the board? ect....

closed toe all the way. I just like the way they feel better since I'm used to snowboard boots. they definitely feel way more secure as well.

ugh, I was afraid it would be chris.

I've heard enough people break toes that im sticking to open toe. The dynamics of water are just different from snow.

and Mark, and ill be doing my own surf jam this weekend

yeah Matt, how is changing your fin length a gimmick?

How crazy would it be if CT boots eventually fazed out?

what if the first wakeboard bindings were closed toe? would people ever design open toe boots later on if that were the case?

i think its more that people are afraid of change more then anything.

From following this thread from the beginning, it just seems like it's a matter of opinion. They both have their pros and cons, like Chevy and Ford. Wear what you like best.

Change is good, but it has to serve a purpose! CT boots only benefit over OT boots is keeping your feet warm, and last time I checked most wakeboarding was done in warm weather!

Here is something for everyone to think about: If you had the perfect fitting, most comfortable, secure feeling, CT boots and you simply cut off the part that covers the end of your toes, do you think they would now be a less comfortable, less secure feeling binding? I don't think so. The material covering your toes isn't what makes the bindings nice, it's the new construction and advanced development in newer bindings. It's just that most companies have chosen to only make High-End CT boots and leave the OT boots for the Lower-End stuff.

I have to give LF credit, at least they are still making some High-End OT boots!

Ok in all fairness I haven't tried the transcend but when I see stuff like that I immediately think gimmick. For some reason or another this industry is flooded with gimmicks. Why is that? I guess in order for the board manufacturers to continue to sell new products they have to innovate something.

IMO, the reason "most" people buy CT is strictly from an aesthetics view.

I have ridden basicly every higher-end binding in the LF line and I personally in love with the Vantages.

But I do rock closed toe bindings on my jib board because its very reassuring to have something between my toes and any solid object that I may come in contact with when I go down on a slider or kicker.

I'm not trying to call anyone out here! But I find it very hard to injure your toes in a closed toe binding if it fits properly. You should have a tight secure fit in your boot and there should be no room for movement. If you have too much room in any boot (be it wakeboard, snowboard or even a tennis shoe) you have the potential to create force and hurt your toes by jamming them into the end of the boot.

yeah....that was the other benefit I was going to mention...toe protection on sliders etc. My buddy Chris tried on a ton of different CT bindings though and he says that all of them seem to lack that instep tightness.

anyway....I think I'll try them one day myself

had no idea there were so many OT supporters out there. I guess if it works for you, no need to change it.

I personally went from the bungee straps to OT then to CT's finally. I cant imagine going back to OT's, I rode a friends board with his OT's on recently and I hated the feeling. So perhaps in the end its just personal preference.

Baaah! Jet

I see where both sides are coming from but imo closed toe or open doesn't really weigh much in my decision of which bindings to ride. I ride ronix cells and they only come in ct but I love the way they feel around my ankle and the stiffness. My buddy rides ot watson and I like those too. Just saying there are things that should matter more than a little piece covering your toe

think i'd rather stub my toe than put my foot out the front of the binding.

Try breaking your toe!!!

Back in the day with all rubber bindings that was definitely a problem, but now a days, bindings are made with non-stretch material, so as long as your lace lock holds, your foot isn't going to go to far!