How to Choose Ski Bindings
- September 12, 2020
Ski bindings may not be the most noticeable part of your ski setup, but they are essential to your ability to ski properly and safely. When looking at how to choose ski bindings, the first thing you want to check is that the bindings are compatible with your ski boots. There are different kinds of bindings for different purposes. Read on and we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to choose your ski bindings.
Types of Ski Bindings
Ski bindings attach your boots to your skis and help transfer the energy from your legs as you ride. Also, ski bindings release your boots from your skis when pressure exerted on them exceeds their release settings. In other words, your ski bindings ensure your skis pop off in the right moments, like when you take a nasty fall.
In determining how to choose ski bindings, you need to match them with the type of skiing you do so that they are compatible. Below are the different types of ski bindings.
Downhill (Alpine) Bindings
Downhill ski bindings are the most common binding that the majority of skiers use. Both the toe and heel piece are fixed. The fixed construction places an emphasis on safety and reliability but makes it difficult to walk uphill in your skis since your heel is not free. Downhill ski bindings are the normal type for resort skiers.
Backcountry (Alpine Touring) Bindings
- Frame: These fit both normal downhill ski boots and touring specific ski boots. The toe and heel piece closely resemble typical downhill resort bindings, however, frame AT bindings have a walk option that releases your heel. These bindings utilize the DIN release settings.
- Tech (Pin): Identifiable by their pin style toe piece, AT tech bindings are for more intense backcountry skiers. Tech bindings can usually only be used with AT specific ski boots and typically do NOT utilize the DIN release settings. Additionally, many exclude brakes in order to save on weight.
Telemark Bindings
Unlike alpine and backcountry bindings, your heels are always free in telemark bindings. Telemark skiers are noticeable on the mountain because it looks like they are doing lunges every time they turn. Telemark bindings only work with telemark boots, and they do not release, or utilize DIN release settings.
Ski Binding Components
Knowing what the different parts are will help you in figuring how to choose ski bindings that are right for you. Let’s break down the main components to help you understand how they work.
Ski Brake Width
The waist width of your skis will determine the sizing of your ski brakes. Since the brakes need to be on the outside of the skis, the ski brake will need to be wider than the waist width of your skis to deploy properly. It’s best to shoot for brakes just barely wider than your ski’s waist. Brakes that are 15mm+ wider than your ski width are probably too big. Avoid making the brakes too wide because then they may scrape against the hill if you are on edge or steep terrain.
DIN Settings
DIN is a standard for what level of pressure your boot should or should not release from your ski. Your DIN settings are an important safety feature. During a serious crash, you want to detach from your skis to avoid twisting your knees or hurting your legs. Conversely, you don’t want your skis to come off for no reason or only under light pressure. So, having the proper DIN setting set is essential.
Each binding has a range of possible DIN settings with values somewhere between 0 to 18. Most common recreational bindings have maximum DIN settings from 11 to 14. DIN settings are found on regular downhill bindings and framed touring bindings but not tech or telemark bindings. Your DIN settings will be determined by a shop technician and are based on your skier level, height, weight, age, and boot size. Check out this DIN chart by Powder7 for more information.
What is my skier level?
- Type 1: Cautious and beginner to lower intermediate skiers.
- Type 2: Average skiers that balance speed and aggression with caution. May ski in a variety of terrains, steepness, and speeds.
- Type 3: Very aggressive skiers who ski confidently at high speeds in steep or demanding terrain.
- Junior: Kids’ ski bindings have lower release settings than adults’. However, some bindings are designed to work for both kid and adult sizes.
Mounting Your Ski Bindings
Mounting your ski bindings requires drilling into your skis and therefore is best done by a ski shop technician. The exact position of the binding on the ski affects how your skis feel and perform in different conditions. Most skis come with a recommended mounting position to remove the need for any guesswork.
Some skiers may want to specify how their bindings are mounted. Mounting your ski bindings farther back provides more stability and more float in powder, but reduces maneuverability. Mounting them further forward makes the ski more responsive and more evenly weighted if you like to ski backwards or do spins. For this reason, park skiers tend to prefer a more forward mount than the traditional placement.
Tip for Maintaining Your Ski Bindings
- Have your bindings and DIN settings inspected and tested by a technician at the start of each ski season to ensure they are still in proper order.
- Clean off your anti-friction device (AFD), looking for rust and other degradation. Replace if damaged.
- Try to keep your bindings clear of dirt, debris, and rust. However, do NOT wash your bindings with soap or solvent, as this can remove factory lubricants necessary for proper function.
- Keep your bindings (and all ski gear) in a dry and warm environment during the off-season.
Final Thoughts
Keep yourself safe, secure, and stable on your skis with ski bindings that fit your skiing level and size. Most skiers require a normal downhill binding, but if you do some backcountry skiing, then an AT binding may be worth looking into. Frame AT bindings function most similar to traditional downhill bindings. Therefore, they are best for skiers just starting out in the backcountry or for those who still spend a lot of days at the resort.
Be honest in your ski profile assessment so the ski technician can make the best determination of your proper DIN settings when first setting the binding. Ultimately, most skiers should be fine with any of the popular ski binding models as long as they work with a shop technician to mount and set them appropriately. We hope this post helps you figure out how to choose ski bindings that will work for you. Best of luck and see you on the slopes!
