Adjusting Ski Bindings

One of the most important lessons for maintaining your downhill equipment is properly adjusting ski bindings. Improperly positioned bindings can cause unnecessary crashes, injuries, or make skiing more difficult.

Depending on how much you ski, you should get your bindings adjusted at least once at the beginning of the winter, and a second time about halfway through the season. If you ski every day, or are an expert skier, consider getting your binding adjusted at least once every month.

Before you adjust your bindings, you need to know the following:

1. Body height
2. Weight
3. Skiing ability and skills
4. Age
5. Ski boot sole length

All bindings are a little bit different, but they all work relatively the same way. The front locks your boot in from the top and sides, and the rear binding locks the back of your boot.

The most important thing to know is your proper DIN number, or the Deutsche Industrie Normen. This setting is used to determine how easily the binding will release the ski boot when a skier falls.

It is important to have a professional set your DIN at least once a year. Doing it yourself can be risky, and an improperly set DIN can be very dangerous. Do not overestimate your DIN settings!

Adjusting ski bindings isn’t difficult, but it does take a few practice sessions. Before you do it on your own, be sure to get a lesson from a professional. A professional can teach you what the settings look like, how to adjust them according to your skiing ability, and your type of skis and boots.

• First learn your DIN number. If you don’t know yours already, check out the online DIN calculator.
• Adjust the screw at the front of your binding with a screwdriver to change the DIN to the appropriate setting.
• Step into your skis, and slide your rear binding forward until it creates a tight fit with your boot.
• The middle of your boots’ sole should line up midway between the tip and tail of the skis.
• Finally, make sure that your skis release when you push on the binding lever with moderate pressure. If you need to use a lot of pressure to release your binding, then you need to loosen the setting. If it is too easy to release the binding, you will need to tighten up the setting.
• Ensure that your boots make contact with your bindings, and that there is no play between the top of the boot heel, and the heel piece of the binding. You should also make sure that there is no extra space between the top of the boot toe and the toe piece.

You should check the state of your bindings every time you ski, particularly if you plan on skiing expert slopes, back country, or are in for some deep powder. The best way to do this is to twist your foot to the left or right. If the front doesn’t release with at least a medium amount of force, the bindings are too tight. If they release too quickly, the bindings are too loose.

Don’t try to adjust your bindings yourself unless you feel very confident that you know what you are doing. Some things are better left up to the professionals.

On a final note, if you are out skiing and feel like your skis are releasing too easily, or aren't releasing appropriately, take your skis to a professional for a quick check. It only takes a few minutes and might literally save your life, or your ACL.

• Animal Tracks in Snow
• Snow Ski Apparel
• Ski Resorts in PA

• Ski Bindings DIN Chart
• Ski Size Chart
• Ski Length Calculator
• Ski Length Recommendations
• Ski Stunt Simulator

• Marker Binding Din Setting
• Salomon Din Chart
• What Is the Din System for Alpine Skiing
• Main Page
• Install Ski Bindings