If you just want to freeride (freeride =mowing the lawn, with the odd dangly jump) stick with straps. If you want to progress get boots.
If your still not sure, I like nicks suggestion 
Ah juicerider...if you want to progress get boots...plenty of progression to be done in straps. Depends on what area you want to progress into.
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
Ah juicerider...if you want to progress get boots...plenty of progression to be done in straps. Depends on what area you want to progress into.
Agreed! I find it odd how so many think that to be a good kiter you need to ride boots?? In a vid at the KOTA warmups the other day it was noted that 50% of the riders were using straps.
Way I see it is if you want to ride your kite like you are behind a wakeboard boat then go boots. If you want to keep your options open and ride all styles (old and new) go straps. Plus everyone loves a board off .
Select to expand quotekitesurfandsail said..
looking at getting a new board for freeride... boots or straps?
I only found boots good for load and pop with unhooking and also landing hard down wind with opposite foot first as it helps lock my feet in (kite loops). I switch between depending on the tricks I want to do on the day.
Straps= $250 tops? Last for ages
boots= $500+ last one bloody season 
ps best boots out there? mine are on the way out again.
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
Ah juicerider...if you want to progress get boots...plenty of progression to be done in straps. Depends on what area you want to progress into.
Hey Eppo, yeah you are rite , of course it depends what area you want to progress in. There is plenty of cross over as well, lots of good kiteboarders riding straps, plenty of kooks riding boots. Just as a surfboards are better in the waves there are plenty riding twin tips in waves. TWintips are better at jumping , but plenty of people can also jump surfboards. 4x4s are better at taking kids to school, but some people also use them off road too.
However imho free riding is better in straps and if kitesurfandsale wants to progress to freestyle imo boots are better, but that is just my opinion, and we all know what opinions are like.
