Ski bindings are undoubtedly one of the most important pieces of ski equipment. Not only does having the right ski binding prevent unwanted pre-releases - which can cause nasty crashes, but they also allow your boots to release safely when you do fall, helping prevent injuries that keep you off the slopes. How do you choose the correct ski bindings? Read along and we’ll walk through the different dimensions to consider, and cover DIN release settings, too.
DISCLAIMER: THIS GUIDE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. IT IS NOT INTENDED AS A “DO IT YOURSELF” GUIDE TO SKI BINDING MOUNTING, ADJUSTMENT AND/OR MAINTENANCE, NOR AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE AND SERVICE. ALWAYS HAVE YOUR SKI BINDINGS MOUNTED, ADJUSTED, SERVICED AND INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED SKI BINDING TECHNICIAN.
To choose a ski binding start by determining:
The waist width of your skis will determine what size brakes you need, while your skiing ability, weight, height and boot sole length will determine the bindings' release force setting (DIN). Once you've established an accurate DIN range and brake width, you can look at additional binding features.
After selecting your ski bindings always have a certified ski technician mount and make the appropriate adjustments to ensure the bindings operate safely.
DIN, short for Deutsches Institut für Normung (German Institute for Standardization), is the industry-adopted scale of release force settings for ski bindings. Though an identical set of standards is published by the International Standards Organization (ISO), most skiers continue to refer to binding settings as "DIN." The DIN setting will be set by a shop technician, based on your weight, height and ability level, when your bindings are mounted on your skis. The lower the DIN, the lower the force required to release from your bindings. Your skiing ability, as well as your weight, will help you determine the appropriate DIN range for your bindings. See our DIN chart below.
Skier Weight | 25-65 lbs | 30-100 lbs | 50-165 lbs | 65-200 lbs | 65-240 lbs | 65-250 lbs | 130-285lbs | 130-200lbs+ | 150-200lbs+ |
Ability Level | Beginner - Intermediate | Beginner - Intermediate | Beginner - Intermediate | Beginner - Intermediate | Beginner - Advanced | Intermediate - Expert | Intermediate - Expert | Intermediate - Expert | Expert - Pro |
Brief Description | Lightweight children | Junior skiers | Heavier beginning or beginning to advanced junior skiers | Intermediate junior skiers or lightweight beginning adult skiers. | Beginning skiers or lightweight intermediate to advanced adult skiers. | Intermediate skiers who are heavier or lighter weight expert adult skiers. | Heavier or more aggressive intermediate to expert adult skiers. | Heavier skiers, very aggressive advanced and expert adult skiers. | Aggressive expert big mountain skiers and racers. |
DIN | .5 to 2.5 | .75 to 4.5 | 2 to 7 | 3 to 10 | 3 to 11 | 3 to 12 | 6 to 14 | 6 to 16 | 8 to 18 |
Important Notice: This chart is intended only to give you an idea of the general DIN range you need. There are a number of factors which influence binding adjustment and the settings must be precise, so use this information to help select an appropriate model of binding but don't try to set the DIN yourself. If you don’t find the answers to your binding questions in this guide please give our customer care team a call at 866-386-1590, Customer Care Hours.
Keep bindings free of dirt, rust, salt and other contaminants. Don't attempt to wash or clean your bindings with soap or solvents as you may remove factory lubricants which are vital to proper operation and function. Always store your skis and bindings in a warm, dry place and do not leave bindings wet for long periods.
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Still have questions? Please call our customer care team at 1.866.386.1590 during Customer Care Hours. They can help you find the right setup to fit your needs.