Superb product! For kiters, an under-considered/mentioned is always having protection (same reason many ride booties with pads, along with booties/socks not fitting well reducing performance especially w/traditional boots) on ground, walking out into water to launch, retrieving or putting board back on, or if caught in shallows - oysters, rocks, trash, slivers, crabs, jellyfish, etc. vs bare feet... With that, it makes the choice easy for me as traditional boots or pads aren’t really a consideration anymore, and Vadatek really stand behind their product, keep it up!
I am wondering how much of step in system it is because it looks like to go out you need to unstrap, so you will have to strap in next time you go in, or u will have to tighten it before clicking in. Right? Also i love the idea of releasing but is it possible that only one boot releases letting you with leg in only?
Great comments, my friend. 🤙🏽 Unlike traditional lace-up wake boots, Vadatek Boots are definitely a "step-in." The toe strap features a single adjustment lever, which you release to step out of the binding. Just click it back to the closed position and step back in (toe first), then click your heel down, and you're ready to rip. You don't have to keep adjusting the ratchet strap like on snowboard bindings. Yes, it is possible to have only one binding release on impact-usually heelside. I haven't found that to be a big deal, and it doesn't happen very often. Hope this has been helpful. Good winds! -Aaron
ive also had them now since they were available for preorder, using them every time theres wind they are great boots and have awesome designers. although i dont like when they sometimes pop out on me espicially when i crazh hard and only one boot pops out leaving my other foot in and could get injured . overall best boots ive tried tho
Shit that was like my only concern. Did that happed to you many times? I have a background with boots only for like 10years. I try straps now for “safety”, but thisfar every sesion feels less safe somehow. Less control, sometimes popping out one foot and twisting the other leg. Does it help to tension up the toe strap on the boot just a bit? You really want them to both pop out at the same time for sure!
do the boots float? ive used the hyperlite systems, that float like a buoy, and it is the worst to try and swim in them (ie deep water starts or swimming back to shore at the cable)
Hey Rygo. Can you comment on response compared to a standard boot? A few years back I’ve heard that the hyper lite system bindings have an even more direct feel as there isn’t flex in the mounting. For example the LFKs and many others mount at the side of the boot. If you rock your foot forward and back there is a little compliance. The toe will lift up just a tiny bit. I’m wondering if this is noticeable or not really. Also wondering if you’ve used the hyperlites and have thoughts on them if so. Thanks!
Hey Rygo, I was wondering if the boots release on catching both, heelside and toeside edges? I can see how they release on catching a heelside edge given that the pull on the heelside pulls the boot out of the clip-in system in the back but a toeside edge would mostly pull hard on the toeside of the board. It looks like the strap in the front would make sure the boots stays on and doesn´t release no? I`m pretty alright with my heelside crashes but I dread catching toeside edges after raileys or frontroll based tricks since I´ve had some really bad crashes involving that (with whiplash and loosing orientation due to hitting the water hard with my upper body and head).
I’m not sure if they will on the toe edge. Admittedly I don’t catch a lot of them and typically only get bad heel catches. Let me check with Chris Bobryk on this one. He also uses vadas. - Rygo
hi Rygo, great review .. i wondered if you have anything to comment on the boots not having draining system .. does it get heavy in the water or water get stuck inside while riding ?
Hey Rygo, which size would you recommend for someone having a regular shoe size 12? And if i were to wear some Neoprene Socks in the colder month, would the boots of the same size still fit?
They go up to 10/11 and 11/12. The boots fit snug and are meant to be tight. I’m a 10, I wear the 9/10. You might be able too depending how they fit and if the socks are very thin. For example 2 mill with no padding. I’ve used wool socks in 25 degrees. I lasted maybe 20 minutes before I couldn’t take it haha! - Rygo
How hard is it to clip back in in the water if you get a boot release after a crash when kiting?
Superb product! For kiters, an under-considered/mentioned is always having protection (same reason many ride booties with pads, along with booties/socks not fitting well reducing performance especially w/traditional boots) on ground, walking out into water to launch, retrieving or putting board back on, or if caught in shallows - oysters, rocks, trash, slivers, crabs, jellyfish, etc. vs bare feet...
With that, it makes the choice easy for me as traditional boots or pads aren’t really a consideration anymore, and Vadatek really stand behind their product, keep it up!
Great work Rygo!!!!!
Thanks for the review!
I am wondering how much of step in system it is because it looks like to go out you need to unstrap, so you will have to strap in next time you go in, or u will have to tighten it before clicking in. Right?
Also i love the idea of releasing but is it possible that only one boot releases letting you with leg in only?
Great comments, my friend. 🤙🏽 Unlike traditional lace-up wake boots, Vadatek Boots are definitely a "step-in." The toe strap features a single adjustment lever, which you release to step out of the binding. Just click it back to the closed position and step back in (toe first), then click your heel down, and you're ready to rip. You don't have to keep adjusting the ratchet strap like on snowboard bindings. Yes, it is possible to have only one binding release on impact-usually heelside. I haven't found that to be a big deal, and it doesn't happen very often. Hope this has been helpful. Good winds! -Aaron
ive also had them now since they were available for preorder, using them every time theres wind they are great boots and have awesome designers. although i dont like when they sometimes pop out on me espicially when i crazh hard and only one boot pops out leaving my other foot in and could get injured . overall best boots ive tried tho
Shit that was like my only concern. Did that happed to you many times? I have a background with boots only for like 10years. I try straps now for “safety”, but thisfar every sesion feels less safe somehow. Less control, sometimes popping out one foot and twisting the other leg. Does it help to tension up the toe strap on the boot just a bit? You really want them to both pop out at the same time for sure!
do the boots float? ive used the hyperlite systems, that float like a buoy, and it is the worst to try and swim in them (ie deep water starts or swimming back to shore at the cable)
Hey Rygo. Can you comment on response compared to a standard boot? A few years back I’ve heard that the hyper lite system bindings have an even more direct feel as there isn’t flex in the mounting. For example the LFKs and many others mount at the side of the boot. If you rock your foot forward and back there is a little compliance. The toe will lift up just a tiny bit. I’m wondering if this is noticeable or not really. Also wondering if you’ve used the hyperlites and have thoughts on them if so. Thanks!
Look like great boots. I was going to get some buuuuuut the don't come in size 16😩
Hey Rygo, I was wondering if the boots release on catching both, heelside and toeside edges? I can see how they release on catching a heelside edge given that the pull on the heelside pulls the boot out of the clip-in system in the back but a toeside edge would mostly pull hard on the toeside of the board. It looks like the strap in the front would make sure the boots stays on and doesn´t release no? I`m pretty alright with my heelside crashes but I dread catching toeside edges after raileys or frontroll based tricks since I´ve had some really bad crashes involving that (with whiplash and loosing orientation due to hitting the water hard with my upper body and head).
I’m not sure if they will on the toe edge. Admittedly I don’t catch a lot of them and typically only get bad heel catches. Let me check with Chris Bobryk on this one. He also uses vadas. - Rygo
looks great !!!
downside???
BOOT & BINDING PACKAGE
$499.95
:(
hi Rygo, great review .. i wondered if you have anything to comment on the boots not having draining system .. does it get heavy in the water or water get stuck inside while riding ?
The water mostly comes out aside from the wet padding. I’ve never had an issue with them. 🤙🏻 Rygo
Hey Rygo, which size would you recommend for someone having a regular shoe size 12? And if i were to wear some Neoprene Socks in the colder month, would the boots of the same size still fit?
They go up to 10/11 and 11/12. The boots fit snug and are meant to be tight. I’m a 10, I wear the 9/10. You might be able too depending how they fit and if the socks are very thin. For example 2 mill with no padding. I’ve used wool socks in 25 degrees. I lasted maybe 20 minutes before I couldn’t take it haha! - Rygo
Sending it hard !
Dang now I need boots.