Ratchet bindings are heavier and more expensive than the other types. Frame Made of either traditional wood or lightweight aluminum tubing, frames come in a variety of shapes. The differences are simple. Oval shoes offer optimal flotation. Shoes with tapered tails track best because the tail acts as a rudder in the snow.
Asymmetrical shoes allow a more natural gait.
Snow doesn't pile up on the back of the decking and weigh the shoe down. The shoes are more maneuverable, because the shoe moves with your foot. You can almost feel a spring in your step as your weight settles across this trampoline-like band. The binding pivots freely around the ball of the foot, giving you more lateral support and your crampons better purchase in the snow. In order to kick-step the toe into a slope, you need to flip the tail up, which often means whacking the tip into your shin.