Many skiers have been on the snow for years without ever thinking about their bindings work. Ski bindings are a critical piece of equipment that helps you stay in control while also preventing injuries.
I’m Christine, the founder of this blog and a lifelong skier. I’m very passionate about the sport, which includes understanding how my equipment works. I’ve researched how ski bindings work and have spoken to several experts about it as well.
This post will explain how ski bindings work. This is good information for every skier to know, no matter your ability level or experience in the snow. Knowing how your equipment works can help you make the most out of it.
Let’s get after it.
Contents
The Basics
You can think of how ski bindings work in a couple of different ways. I believe a thorough understanding is essential, but it’s even more crucial to understand the basics. Let’s take a look at things in the simplest terms first.
Ski bindings serve the purpose of keeping your ski boots attached to your skis. I often call them the steering wheel because they play an important role in allowing you to control your skis and transfer power from your boots to your skis.
Bindings also allow your boots to eject out of the bindings when enough force or pressure is applied. This is a critical aspect of their design. Not only do they hold your skis on your feet, but they also make sure your skis come off when you fall.
This is an essential safety feature because you usually want your skis to eject when you wipe out. It prevents injuries and can help you self arrest and come to a stop if you have a really bad yard sale.
There is much more to ski binding design than just the basics. While all you really need to know about how they work is what I described above, a more in-depth look is necessary if you truly want to understand how ski bindings work.
How Ski Bindings Release
Now that you have a basic grasp of how ski bindings work, we can look at things a little more in-depth. Bindings are intended to help your boots release when you take a fall. There are two basic ways a binding will release.
The toe piece (front) of a ski binding will release when a twisting or sliding force is applied. This helps the toe eject and can prevent knee injuries by making the boot release before your knee starts to twist badly.
The heel piece (rear) of the binding will release when a strong forward force occurs. This can happen if you land on a flat section of slope, like when you case a landing after a jump. Some high-performance bindings have heel pieces that also twist.
How Bindings Affect Performance
Ski bindings also play a significant role in on-snow performance. The front piece of the bindings has an AFD (anti-friction device), which helps limit friction and allows the pressure of your boots to go into the bindings, which then goes to your skis.
Your bindings can slide around a bit before they are released. This helps you stay in control without constantly slipping out of them. The amount of wiggle room is dictated by what your DIN settings are set at.
Ski bindings also play a role in reducing vibrations when you ski. This is known as dampening, and all types of bindings have at least some level of it. This can come into play when going really fast or skiing through challenging conditions.
Ski Binding Construction
Knowing how ski bindings are constructed can help you better understand how they work. Here’s a quick look at ski binding construction and the role each part plays in their overall function on the snow.
Toe Piece
The toe piece is the very front of the ski binding. It’s the area where you first step into when putting your skis on. The toe piece features a DIN adjustment screw (more on that soon) and a wing-shaped toe cup that holds your boots in place.
Heel Piece
The heel piece is the back end of a ski binding that you click and step into when you are ready to ski. This piece also has a DIN adjustment screw as well as ski brakes. The heel lever portion of the heel piece allows you to release the bindings by pressing down on it.
DIN Settings
All bindings come equipped with adjustable DIN settings. This setting dictates how much pressure is required for the bindings to release your boots. A higher DIN requires more pressure or force than a lower DIN setting.
Both the toe piece and heel piece come with separate DIN settings. These are adjusted to the skier’s ability level or preferences with a screwdriver.
Ski Brakes
All skis used at a ski resort are required to come equipped with ski brakes. These are built into the heel piece of the bindings. They are the little wings that come down on either side of the ski when your boot is not attached. They keep skis from running away out of control.
Final Thoughts
You can’t ski without ski bindings. And as you can see, they have a more important role than simply holding your skis in place. Bindings are a critical safety and performance item that affect how well you can ski.
The next time you are skiing, pay attention to how your bindings work. This will allow you to note the subtle movements that result in good skiing power and control.
