Burton Photon Step On Wide 2023 2024 Boot Review 

I just swapped from the Burton Swath Step-On to the Photon Wides and I really like the additional room for my foot. I've been a big fan of the Step On system since 2018 and the Genesis/Photon combo is my favorite iteration.

Just wanted to throw down my 2 cents. Been loving the step-on system, and the quick response of the board under foot with them was the major selling point. In in my 20s, so convenience is not my biggest prio. But being able to get straight off the chair and strapped in without stopping, skating right onto the start of the hill, is F'n awesome. I hired a mountain guide with a bunch of friends, ABS packs, shovels and everything. The stepons worked great even in the waist deep pow, I sometimes only got the first click if I had and inch of snow under foot, but its still pretty rock solid

The first two days with the Photon Step Ons were painful at the inner ankle area. After watching your video, I think I will get them heat moulded, hopefully that fixes it.

I have the Ion SO. I personally love the stiffer boot, but the stock insoles are like concrete on my feet. New insoles made the completely fine and comfortable. Still not sure why so many “pros” hate on the step ons because they do ride really well and I have been riding since ‘92.

Nice.. I just copped the photon step ons with Genesis and the new custom X... still haven't tried them...hope it's a good set up

I’ve never seen any reviewer as technical yet straight forward as you. Uau! One question though, is the photon that you tried, the regular one or the soft one? Would you go for the wide photon or soft photon? I’m asking because they don’t offer a wide soft photon.

You’re reviews are next level James! Thanks heaps such good information. I have the standard step on photons and non step on photons. The width of my foot is borderline at 103 cm. Do you please know the width of your foot at the widest point? Thanks we really enjoy your reviews here in NZ.

Excellent review. This is my first season with the Step On and Photon boots. I have the Re Flex bindings. I just recently got a Jones Freecarver 6000 and was thinking about the X model Binding. The upgrade is just under $200 CAD. Is the X performance worth the upgrade? Thank you.

Have you ever had any heel lift issues with any models of the Burton Step On system? I tried them out last season and had slight heel lift issues that was rather noticeable. Yes, they were double clicked in. Lol. This season I scored some older used Photons and will be experimenting with adding foam to the binding foot bed in order to try to mitigate this.

Hey James, thanks for the review it helped alot. I recently tested out the burton genesis and photon setup at a burton test tour. I tried the normal width boot, it felt great i had no pain but my 2 outside toes were sleeping after a few runs. My widest foot is 10,8cm. Will heat molding do the job or is it better for me to go with the wide boot?

Hi James. I didn't understand that last comment about the Burton channel and adjustability. What is the issue if I don't have a Burton board?

Do you think the Ankle strap kinda compensates not having the double boa? Can i loosen the top boa and tighten the ankle strap to give it more flex wil that work fine? Im beginnerish and looking to progress more this season. Only Felix have the wide version, but heard they are quite stiff?

Any chance you will get to review the nitro step on boots? I destroyed the photons in one season and am thinking about switching to the nitro profile TLS

I don't understand the ankle strap. It made sense for the old step in system, because the highback was integrated in the boot, so to speak. But the Step on have got higback already in the binding, the strap is not attached to it, so it doesn't do its supposed function, right? So wouldn't be better to make the boot even lighter, and add a regular binary boa, or just one boa, instead of that strap? Maybe I am missing something here, but I don't see the purpose of that strap, although maybe is an unintentionally good idea, like some boots out there like the Deeluxe Deemon, which have got a boa specifically for that part, to make the heel to really lock on. I don't know lol.

Any way of keeping the lower part a bit more lose and the upper part more tight? I know it's just one boa, which sucks compared to normal photons, but still - I mainly have had issues with the lower part of my foot being in pain and simply loosening it fixed it before (32 lashed). But that might've been due to needing wider boots as well.

ordered the genesis + photon set up. the photons are a little concerning because my big toe is a bit tight. not totally pushing against the boot but it’s definitely making contact. problem is my other toes feel fine and the width feels okay. i keep reading they loosen up quite a bit but i’m considering exchanging for a half size up 11. i’m a 10.5. tough call cuz it requires me exchanging the bindings as well. what do you recommend?

Is the step on photon wide any different in terms of width than the normal photon wide? I've heard the step ons have slightly bigger toe boxes?

Rubbish product. I rode them for 70 days. The toe box disintegrated starting at day 35-40. By day 60 the toe seams were gone. They're not engineered to withstand forces applied to the toe clips. The genesis stepon were just as disappointing - held together by little plastic clips that break, gas pedals that fall off, and hammocks that snap off. I know this is the hardware not the rider because I bought non step on photons and used last season for 60-70 days and surprise-surprise, the toe boxes haven't fallen apart. Junk, but if you like getting a few weeks only, or you're super casual and skid your turns and ride like a nanna these might be OK. Just look at how the hammock is attached - it's two little plastic pegs (that snap) and a pop rivet sent through plastic. If you don't see that is rubbish... Well. Think again when it snaps off and you only have s one season guarantee on that highback. The positives definitely do not out weigh the compromises... And I say this taking my non step on photons from last season and Union atlases to europe for their second full season. The step ons were unrideable failing $#@& by day 60. (rear) gas pedals lost, highbacks snapped off, rear toe clips failing on the first heelside. If you get this system ffs don't get photons, and def not genesis. Loved them for the first 2-3 weeks, until bits started falling off, and then boots started failing.