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Location: Winter Park, CO
Snow Conditions: Hardpacked to softpacked to icy groomers.
Setup: I rode the K2 Auto Agogo LTD’s on the K2 Fastplant with my Vans Veil Boots size 8.
Time to set up the binding: Tad longer than average to set up the bindings since you need to make sure the auto strap is adjusted right to your boot. Both were adjusted fine and rode fine without any issues.
Fit: I like that the auto agogo’s adjust good to my boots. The toe strap isn’t much but held secure around the toebox on my boot. The width of the binding worked with my boot and the ankle strap was adjusted and centered on my boot.
First Impression: The agogo has been a favorite binding and the LTD comes with the urethane highback giving for more tweakability and flex on the mountain.
Appearance: I took out the LTD version of the auto agogo which comes in the tortoise colorway option. I like the rad stripes/animal print on the urethane highback that comes in orange and black. The rest of the binding keeps a subtle black look with some gold to blue color choices on the ratchets to baseplate. It’s more eclectic styling but fun eclectric, not crazy grandma’s styling.
Comfort: The Agogo LTD’s just like the agogo’s are a super comfortable binding. Padding in the baseplate to cushion and absorb rougher terrain, super comfy ankle strap and highback. The canted seamless EVA footbed with harshmellow does a good job of making for a comfy ride and keeps your alignment a bit more natural.
Functionality: The auto system is set to make strapping in quicker on the mountain. It automatically closes your toe strap when you tighten your ankle straps so you can quick in and turning down the mountain. I think it’s very functional and easy to use. The hinge mount system moves the straps out of the way when you are strapping in so you don’t have to keep pushing them aside. The bindings are easy to adjust with tool less adjusts. They also feature harshmellow shockpad so the ride is absorbed on the mountain.
Flex: I’ve ridden the auto agogo’s since they’ve come out and since the inception, they’ve been in the middle of the road on flex. Stiffer lateral flex with the binding chassis and the ankle strap but in the highback you have a bit softer flex giving you a easier flexing forward/back. The urethane highback helped support me in the heelside turns with stability and comfort. Overall the bindings were a solid middle of the road on flex, handle it all and ride all binding.
Response: The auto agogo has been in the mid range for response, giving you enough when you need it but not overpowering the ride. The LTD version kept the same responsive feel in the baseplate to the straps but in the highback had a bit more forgiveness on the mountain. You could still get response into each turn but if you made a mistake, you had some give to the highback to adjust out of it.
Toe Strap: The auto agogo and LTD version both feature the EZ set auto toe strap which I rode last year, loved it because how secure it felt on the boot and liked it again this year. It holds your boot but doesn’t offer you anything from the toe other than keeping you in.
Overall Impression: The Auto Agogo LTD’s offer the same solid women’s bindings in a LTD version with the popular urethane highback that’s coming out in some K2 bindings. The Urethane highback gave it a more forgiving fun feel to the mountain so you could play without paying the consequences.
Shay’s Honesty Box: The Auto Agogo LTD’s were a great match with the Fastplant board and the LTD version was a nice upgrade from the auto version if you were looking for something more flexy and forgivable. The auto agogo is still that solid women’s binding you can ride anywhere but now it is more tweak happy for those wanting a less aggressive ride.
Ready to buy? Head over to evo for the K2 Auto Agogo LTD or shop their full line of K2 Bindings now.
On Snow Photos
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K2 Auto Agogo LTD Description
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Review Disclosure: I rode this binding at the SIA on-snow. Please be aware bindings may change, this review was done in February 2011.
Shayboarder’s 2012 Top Picks – Shayboarder.com
August 22, 2011 at 1:25 pm[…] K2 Auto Agogo Binding […]
Dani
November 12, 2011 at 4:50 amHey Shay,
thanks for that great review. I got my K2 Agogo (w/o urethane highback) bindings yesterday and I found it really hard to unstrap them when my boot was tight in there. Though I set the heel strap up to my boot, it took a lot of effort to move the release ratchet. Eventually it opened with loud “craaaack”. I’ m really afraid to damage the binding…. Do you think I just got a bad pair or do they just need some “break in” time?
Right now I am considering to return them…
Kind regards from Germany,
Dani
Shay
November 12, 2011 at 10:31 amDani, did you buy them from a shop? I’d take them in and make sure you have them setup right for your boot. It shouldn’t be that much effort to release them. I’d also try lifting up when you want to release, that might help if you aren’t doing it already.
Niki ONeill
February 14, 2012 at 1:47 amHi Shay,
I am looking for a binding for a Gnu b nice, narrowed it down to Union Trilogy or Milan or the K2 Agogo, I only get 1 or 2 weeks a year, mostly playing under pylons and into tree lines, no parks but hitting little kickers and powder when it’s about like this year.
I wear K2 Affair boots,
Any thoughts?
Many thanks, Niki.
Shay
February 14, 2012 at 12:53 pmNiki, Awesome on the new bindings! All are great choices, so depends if you want the auto system or regular strap system. Are you able to check out each binding at your local shop?
Niki ONeill
February 15, 2012 at 7:39 amShay, thanks for getting back to me, I have fondled the Union Trilogy but heard there are issues with toe strap and 2013 model might be worth the wait. Local shop are muttering about low stock of Agogo but will try to get hold of them, I just wanted to make sure I was looking at the right bindings, thanks for giving me the confidence.
Niki
Shay
February 21, 2012 at 10:20 pmNikki, definitely and take your boots in to see how they fit in the bindings. If the toe straps are adjusted right, they won’t have issues.
Niki ONeill
February 26, 2012 at 9:50 amUnion Trilogy M/L with size US 9 K2 Affair boots fit great and look pretty fab on the Gnu b nice, can’t wait to try it, might have to be a snow dome trip.
Thanks, Niki
Aniska
March 8, 2012 at 3:12 amHi Shay. Thanks for the great review!!
I am trying to decide between these and the Burton Stilettos.
I also have vans boots. Do you have any advice on sizing as i know vans are a bit wider than other boots, and being a size 6 boot i am unsure whether to go up a size to a medium, or stick with a small.
I was wondering if there were any pressure points with these bindings? I have a big problem with pressure points with my current bindings so was hoping to avoid the problem this time.
Amanda
March 12, 2012 at 12:36 pmHi Shay,
great effort for all the reviews you’ve done !
i got smokin vixen 2012 and salomon ivy boots and i want upgrade my stellito binding
was thinking ROME MADISON but after read your review on K2 AGOGO might give it a try as well
do you have any suggestions ?
Thank you alot
Shay
March 13, 2012 at 10:51 amAniska, Awesome! Are you able to take your boots to a shop that has the bindings? That’s the best way to know fit 100%. I didn’t have pressure points with these boots and bindings. Generally if you have a pressure point it needs the binding adjusted to be better fitting.
Amanda, Definitely. The K2 Auto Agogo’s offer the quick strap but it takes some adjustment to get used to it. Rome Madisons are really solid bindings with no extra bells/whistles so easy to use and really good choice.