They annoy me when I carry them, and they don't do anything for me in terms of running away. If I'm on a trail like a blue where if I lose a ski I'll be fine and I'll be able to get down on one ski, they stop. But the brakes wont stop the ski if I'm on a steep trail where I actually need them to, so I find them useless. They only work on terrain that isn't that steep that I could get down on one ski anyway. I'm not saying I take them off or anything. I just find them annoying when I carry the skis because I don't carry them on my shoulder, I just grip the skis with one hand in between the bindings and carry them like a briefcase.