This Article was written and contributed by ABC-of-Skiing:
The Ski Info Portal 

A Detailed Look At Ski Bindings
Parts Of A Ski Binding
Choosing The Right Ski Binding

    Ski Bindings are very important in skiing because together with your ski boots they form the link between your body and your skis. Good bindings should give you a perfect balance between tightly gripping your boots and releasing when the pressure exceeds adjustable settings. The quality of your Bindings are a very important safety issue and you should take the time and the money to select the right bindings for your skiing needs.  

A Detailed Look At Ski Bindings

   All movement and pressure you place on your boot is directed to your skis through your bindings. Modern bindings also serve a second purpose: to release your boot when the pressure reaches a predefined level. This makes sure that in a heavy fall your skis do not stay attached to your legs. If they would they could serious injuries like fractures or torn ligaments.  

   Step In Bindings are, by far, the most common type of binding. They generally use a separate toe and heel piece that are attached to the top of the ski. The toe-side piece commonly allows sideways release and the heel piece allows upward release. It is very important to know which piece allows for which kind of release. Some toe pieces also allow upward release. Likewise some heel pieces allow sideways release. The force needed for release can be adjusted by a certified ski technican.  

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Parts of a Ski Binding

Release Settings

As mentioned above most ski bindings use a toe and heel piece with adjustable release settings. The recommended release settings of your binding are determined by the following factors:
 
  • Height
  • Weight
  • Boot Length and type
  • Skill Level
    •

Din Range Chart
LBS. Din 
22-125 .75-4.25
79-180 3-7
126-210 5-8.5
180 +  6+
Bindings use the internationally agreed DIN scale. The DIN scale assures that bindings worldwide release under the same force. Bindings come in a DIN range where they for instance support DIN 3-7.  Setting your binding to the correct release setting is essential for your safety. Ski bindings should be done by a professional technician/ ski shop.  Dangerous situations can arise on both sides of the setting: if too loose then the ski can let go unexpectedly causing a fall. If too tight then the ski will not release if you come to a fall causing your skis to act as levers increasing your chance of injury. 

 

Anti-Friction Device

Another important part of a Ski binding is the anti-friction-device (AFD). The AFD is a small smooth pad directly behind the toe-side piece that minimizes friction if the toe-side piece is released sideways. You need to make sure that there is at least 1 mm of free space between the sole of your boot and the AFD. Most AFDs simply use a smooth surface but some more advanced models use mechanical moving parts to make sure the boot rolls or glides sideways if needed.

Ski Brakes

When skis are released from the bindings they of course run the risk of sliding down the slope, increasing in speed and possibly hitting other skiers. To minimize this risk bindings have Ski Brakes. Ski brakes are levers which flip down the moment a ski binding is released. In this way the arms of the ski brakes dig into the snow causing the ski to stop gliding.

Forward Pressure

The bindings need to stay firmly attached to the ski even when the ski bends. If the bindings did not give any lengthway flexibility then the bindings would jam if the skis were bent. To prevent this bindings provide adjustable forward pressure. This makes sure that heel piece is pressed forward against the boot.

Lifted Bindings

Now-a-days almost all bindings are lifted from the ski top surface. Modern bindings use connected structures with plates running between the toe and heel piece. This lifts the boot up from the ski surface. Having lifted bindings allows for easier carved turns as the boot is less likely to skid the snow.

Vibration Dampening

For more advanced skiers it becomes important to dampen vibrations in high speed descends and carved turns. Many bindings use rubber or other material to act as vibration dampeners. Some more advanced bindings have more complex mechanisms.

For-aft adjustment

Some bindings allow you to move your bindings position either more to the front or to the back of your ski. In this way you can adjust your bodies positioning. This can be very helpful for instance when you ski deep powder and you want your body weight to be more of the back of your skis to prevent them from digging in the snow

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Choosing The Right Binding

What kind of Bindings-Boot combination should I choose?

 As explained in our Ski Boot Buying Guide, this will be the most important question you will need to answer. Boots and Bindings are often a combination where not every boot is suitable for each type of binding and the other way around. Check to make sure. Especially when you need a heel-free system you will need to make sure that the binding-boot combination is the correct one.

What is my Skill Level?

When choosing your bindings it is very important to choose those that fit to your skill level and you need to be honest about this. Bindings should fit your current level but also offer you the room to grow.
  • Beginners
    Beginners will want low DIN settings where the skis are released quickly in case of sudden or excess pressure. For your first bindings you are well off with lower end general bindings that do not have to cost you a lot.
  • Intermediate
    Intermediates should have higher more tolerant DIN Settings. Still the skis should release pretty quickly in sudden movements.
  • Advanced
    Need DIN settings that are much less tolerable as they will often be skiing under high pressures. The bindings should of course still release in too sudden or too stressful pressures. Advanced bindings will be able to take a lot of pressure without releasing but they will release when the extreme pressure is followed after by an unexpected movement. Very advanced skiers will have even higher DIN settings once they reach a point in their skiing performance where retention is dangerous but where release could prove fatal. Imagine a 80 km/h descend and one ski releases...

What features should I look for?

As described in the Ski Binding Details page bindings can have a multitude of features that can aid your skiing. In short:
  • Forward Pressure
    If you have flexible skis and/or ski under high pressures then you will need enough forward pressure to keep your skis retained. If you fall into this category then look for bindings with advanced forward pressure mechanisms.
  • Release Directions
    Check in which directions your toe and heel piece will release and co-ordinate this info with your skiing style.
  • Antifriction device
    Check for a good performing AFD. In more advanced bindings the AFD will have rolling mechanisms to make sure you release well under all conditions.
  • Lift
    If you are going to make carved turns using shaped skis then you will want bindings that lift your boots from the ski. The extra clearing will keep your boots froms craping the snow.
  • Vibration Dampening
    The harder you ski the more vibration you will undergo. Simple dampening devices made out of rubber or more advanced mechanical devices can help reduce vibration. Look for these mechanisms if you are a hard skier
  • Adjustements
    If you are planning to ski on different surfaces like deep powder you will want to be able to adjust your bindings and stance.

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