Pads & straps are the standard bindings you see on almost every twintip. These pads & straps often look a bit like sandals. You stand with bare feet on soft pads that provide cushioning while adjustable straps keep your feet in place. This combination is safe and gives you lots of freedom. You step in easily, release quickly in a crash and you feel clearly what your board is doing. For freeride, big air and for beginners, pads & straps are ideal because they are comfortable and give lots of control without being fully locked in.

Surfstraps are used on directional kiteboards, the boards that look similar to surfboards. They flex around your foot and give just enough support to ride waves with stability, make sharp turns and lift off in a controlled way during a fast takeoff. You still have room to adjust your stance, but your feet stay secure when conditions get rough. Surfpads (deckpads) are meant for strapless riding on a directional. They replace wax and offer constant grip even when wet. A surfpad feels comfortable under your feet, helps with shifting your stance and makes controlled turns or strapless tricks easier. Wave riders and strapless kiters prefer a good deckpad because it gives extra confidence and board feel.

Kiteboots are comparable to wakeboard boots and are fully closed. You step into them like a shoe and are firmly attached to your twintip. This gives huge power, control and response, perfect for freestyle and wakestyle where you need strong pop, speed and stability. Because you are fully locked in, landings feel more secure and you can push harder without losing your board. Boots require more technique, but for riders who want maximum performance they are the best choice. Are you a beginner or riding anything other than Freestyle, Wakestyle or Park? Then we do not recommend using boots because it comes with a higher risk of injuries.

Adjusting your pads & straps starts with choosing the correct size. The straps must fully enclose your foot without your toes being pinched or having too much space. Many models are adjustable, but the base size must match your shoe size. If your foot shifts strongly to one side, you might need a different size or strap variant.

Then you look at mounting the pads. Ensure the screws go straight into the inserts and tighten them firmly, but never so hard that you damage the thread. Check before every session whether everything is still secure because vibration and water can loosen screws. When adjusting stance width and angle, use a natural stance: a relaxed posture, slight duck stance and enough space for your knees. The strap should give you grip but still allow you to exit easily.

For surfpads it is important they are positioned correctly for your stance. A tailpad should be exactly under your back foot to give you grip for turns and pressure on your fins. A frontpad should feel comfortable while switching feet and must lie flat without air bubbles under the adhesive layer. Press the pads firmly and let them bond well before going on the water.

Surfstraps should be adjusted so you can enter and exit easily but still keep your foot stable during wave riding. The strap height determines how much room you have. Too low and you feel stuck, too high and you lack stability. A natural foot position is important here, especially for fast turns or when frequently moving your feet.

When buying new bindings, it is important to look at what suits your level, riding style and kiteboard type. Start by choosing whether you want pads & straps, surfstraps, surfpads or kiteboots. Pads & straps are ideal if you want comfort on your twintip and a quick entry. Boots are meant for wakestyle riders looking for maximum power and support. Directional boards use surfstraps or surfpads depending on whether you ride with or without straps. More about this in the explanation above.

Comfort is equally important. Look at the shape and softness of the pads, the adjustability of the straps and whether everything fits your foot properly. You do not want pressure points but enough grip. Also check if the bindings fit the inserts on your board and if the size matches your shoe size.

Lastly, quality matters. Strong materials, good adhesive backing on deckpads and strong screws ensure your bindings last longer. Many high quality pads are ergonomically shaped, meaning they follow your foot shape better than flat pads. If everything fits well, you will feel it on the water immediately: more control, more confidence and simply a more enjoyable session.

Choosing the right surfpad for your directional kiteboard starts with determining how you use the board and what you need while riding. A surfpad gives grip without wax, absorbs vibration and helps you feel the board better, especially when riding strapless. It also keeps your directional a lot cleaner. Look at which type of pad you need. A tailpad for more grip in turns or a full deckpad if you move your feet a lot or do strapless tricks. A tailpad usually has a kick tail at the back which lets you push extra hard during turns and bottom turns.

Then check the shape and hardness of the material. A thicker, softer pad feels more comfortable and absorbs shocks while a harder pad gives more direct board feel. The grip texture also matters. Diamond or corduroy patterns give extra grip in wet conditions which is helpful when kiting.

Finally check if the pad fits the shape of your board and choose one with strong adhesive backing. If the pad feels good under your feet and matches your style you notice it immediately in your control and confidence. Almost always specific pads exist for specific kiteboards to match their shape. Want to know which pads fit your board? Send us a WhatsApp message or give us a call!

In principle you cannot mount kiteboots on every twintip even if the inserts look similar. Kiteboots require a board designed to handle the extra loads. Because you are fully locked in, you place more force on your twintip during landings, pop and crashes. A board not made for this can crack, delaminate or pull inserts out. This would be unfortunate.

If you want to ride boots, make sure your twintip has reinforced inserts and is marked boot compatible. Freestyle and wakestyle boards are usually made for this. Freeride boards are not, because they are built for comfort, light weight and smooth riding instead of maximum impact. Their soft flexible core breaks easily under the force boots create.

Also check if the inserts are positioned correctly for a wider stance since many boot riders prefer that. Still unsure? Drop by in Noordwijk, we are happy to check whether your board is suitable.

In the Kitemana online shop you will find kiteboard bindings from the following brands.

Airush: BY INNOVATORS FOR INNOVATORS
Brunotti: NO MATTER THE CONDITIONS
Cabrinha: LIVE FREE. RIDE FREE.
Core Kiteboarding: PREMIUM KITES & BOARDS FROM FEHMARN, GERMANY.
Duotone Kiteboarding: TRUE KITEBOARDING.
Eleveight: OUR PASSION IS YOURS
F-One: WHEN YOU CHOOSE F-ONE YOU ARE CHOOSING ONE HISTORY, ONE PASSION, ONE ADVENTURE, ONE TEAM, AND ONE INNOVATION
Flysurfer: AHEAD OF ITS TIME
Harlem: CHANGE THE TIDE
Kitemana: EUROPE’S BIGGEST SHOP FOR KITERS BY KITERS
Lieuwe: MASTER CRAFTED IN HOLLAND SINCE 2010
Mystic: PUSH THE EVOLUTION OF WATER SPORTS TOGETHER
Naish: EVERY DAY ON THE WATER IS A GOOD DAY!
North: FOR THE SEEKERS.
Ozone: INSPIRED BY NATURE · DRIVEN BY THE ELEMENTS
Reedin Kiteboarding: IMAGINE KITEBOARDING #BEYOND
Slingshot: FEEL THE DIFFERENCE