K2 Charm Snowboard Binding - Women's - 2008 BCS

There is a major problem with this binding, the highbacks have a screw with a 6 segement locking profile, while the setting it locks against is designed for a 8 segment locking screw. IT NEVER WILL WORK. Below is my mail to customer service and their lame response where they said they would investigate.... nothing yet after a month!!!!. This is definitely grounds for a recall ANYONE who tries to tighten their highback screws WILL destroy the locking mechanism due to this fault.

MY MAIL to K2

A quick note on your (lack of) quality control!

I have cheap Ride bindings so when the salesman talked me into buying better K2 Charm bindings for my wife I was quite happy with them they seemed to be a better designed product.

However your manufacturing drops your quality flat.

I adjusted the highbacks on my wifes bindings and managed to strip the indentations which hold the screws in place and prevent them rotating, I was then more careful on the other side but the same thing happened, I am an engineer so I have good feel for material strengths so I was very surprised by this, my first reaction was - shoddy plastic.

Then I studied the problem a bit more closely and it turns out that in the binding the indentations are in a 8 segment pattern while the screws are only a 6 segment pattern, so they will never match up and lock correctly! Meaning that on all the Charm bindings you have sold, the highback retaining screws are being held in place with a prayer (or not being held in at all).

I read you recall for another binding product so I think that you know what to do with this product,

Sincerely

Brett Farrell

THEIR RESPONSE

Brett,
Thank for your email.
I have not heard of any issues on highback hardware as of yet.
Either way I forwarded this email to our engineers to have a look at and double check.
If this is an issue the shop should have a problem with taking care of you.

Best regards
Gershon @ K2 US

beefed these up a bit for the 08-09 season. I did not test these out on a board, but at the demo day last spring where we were testing the new stuff these looked better than last years bindings. I demoed last years charm and wasn't unimpressed but wasn't not impressed. I would consider these more freestyle, beginner to intermediate.overall it is what you pay for. As far as other reviews saying the binding doesn't bounce back. I have run into this problem on all of my Burton bindings also. ratchets are easy to replace. and as far as screws not staying in. If you are on a different brand's board they may have a little different threading in the holes. Get some "lock tight" and that will help hold screws in also. over all I would get these bindings for my sisters set-up. price point and in the range of her ability.