Straps and Highbacks
The asymmetric highback is shaped for a perfect match with any boot from the Nidecker range, though we found them to work perfectly well with third party footwear. It’s made from nylon (aka plastic) and features a classic forward-lean block that’s easy to adjust without any tools. The big wedge-shaped hole in the back shaves some useful weight and makes it a little more flexy; it’s worth pointing out here that the overall flex on these bindings is pretty friendly – edge-to-edge response is as quick as anyone really needs, but when the time comes to get your tweak on you’re not going to feel as stiff as a robot. ‘All mountain freestyle’ is the name of the game.
Both the toe and heel straps feature the popular new ‘Aux Tech’. It’s a clever piece of industrial design that various brands have started using in their bindings, and consists of a plastic mesh in which each cell hinges independently. The result is that as you crank down the strap, it expands perfectly around your boot, hugging every contour without stretching or deforming the material. It’s comfortable, light and tough – basically the holy grail of straps.
As you’d expect from a high-end binding, the Kaon-W comes with premium aluminium ratchets that deliver smooth entry and exit, time after time.
“The baseplate design also features full-length canted footbeds to help absorb those bumps and vibrations”
Roundup
A lot of riders don’t think too much about their bindings, and if you’re lucky enough to have a pair of Kaon-W’s on your feet, that’s just fine – because someone at Nidecker has done the thinking for you. From the chassis to the highback and straps, they’re a supremely ergonomic model that’s built to last. And with a flex that’s right in the sweet spot for riding everything from powder bowls to park jumps, and a sweet new ‘white fade’ colourway alongside classic black, we’d say they are a solid choice for your next set-up.
