Snow Ski Binding Guide

Ski bindings, like skis, come in many forms, shapes, and sizes. It’s important to have the right kind of binding for the right kind of ski, the right kind of skiing and something appropriate for your weight and ability.

  • Lower-end ski bindings are lighter in construction, made of less robust matarials, and are often designed to release you out of the skis quickly. 
  • Higher-end bindings are stronger and are more sophisticated in the way they release you -- you are less likely to pre-release off your skis when you’re going hard.

Ski Binding Features You Should Look Out For:

  • Forward Pressure - advanced forward pressure mechanisms can help to keep your skis retained under a lot of flex and pressure. Your DIN* pressure ideally when set will be in the middle of the bindings range. The first number in title of the binding is the maximum DIN setting it will go up to. So generally speaking the higher that number, the stronger and more technical the bindings is.

Ski DIN* setting binding guideline...

Kids (20kg - 45kgs)  - Anything between a 4 and a 10 should be fine.

Beginner - Look for something between a 10 and 12

Intermediate - Anything above a 11 will be good but no need to go above 13

Advanced - 12 and up for you! Depending on your weight of course. 

Park - Go for something that had good elastic travel so you don't pop out on the big jumps and park landings. We recommend the Look Pivot range.

  • Release Direction - better quality bindings release efficiently in the full 180 degrees your boot might rotate. Some bindings also have a sideways release in the heel.
  • Antifriction Device - antifriction devices (AFD) ensure you ski will release in any condition.
  • Lifter - this simply provides some clearance for your boots in turns. Serious carver’s and racers, for instance, often have a lift in there bindings to stop the side of their boot dragging in the snow in a turn.
  • Vibration Dampening - no point in rattling your teeth loose if you can help it. Dampening devices absorb the bumps and grinds of the mountain, so you don’t have to.

*Deutsche Industry Norm:  measures the pressure required for your bindings to release — where you should "set" your bindings will be determined by the type of skier you are, and your height, weight and age. A binding set on a low DIN setting will release when relatively little force is applied, while high DIN settings will suit skiers that apply a lot of pressure to their skis.

Make sure you buy ski bindings that suit your ability and style of skiing.

Brake Width

The other thing to look out for when purchasing bindings is the brake width. This is generally the second number you will see in a binding title or in the drop down to select.

Binding brake width should be within 5mm of your ski width ideally but there is defiantly wiggle room on that. Our most sold brake width is 100 as most skis will fit this range (95mm to 105mm underfoot). Otherwise if your ski width is under 95 go for a 90mm brake width.