Choosing the Right Ski Bindings

Yay! You’ve decided to buy a new pair of skis. That is always an exciting purchase. Wait. Did you pick out bindings yet? Ski bindings are often an afterthought when building your new setup. Let's answer some common binding questions so you can make the best choice to optimize your new skis.

New or old bindings?

One question we often get is, 'Can I use the bindings off my old skis?' The answer is - you probably shouldn’t. There are a few reasons for this. First, most people replace their skis on average every seven years. After seven years of use, many bindings are not performing as optimally as they used to. For the best safety, purchasing a new binding will offer better protection and performance. You also have to consider the width of the old ski versus the new pair; if they are not the same waist width, you would have to purchase appropriate size ski brakes which may or may not be easily available. Also, some bindings are actually integrated into the skis and cannot be removed and remounted.

What binding is safest?

Despite all the manufacturers' efforts to tell you otherwise, there is no “safer” binding on the market. Except for the Knee Binding and the Protector series of bindings from Tyrolia, no other models have any statistically significant evidence to prove they can protect you from injury. If you are concerned about ACL injuries, it is highly recommended that you consider a binding like the Protector SLR. This binding has the data to support a reduction of ACL tears in backward twisting fall scenarios.

What are the performance differences between ski bindings?

In the recreational ski market, the differences in performance between different binding models are often not easy to understand. However, there are a few key pieces of ski binding design worth thinking about. 

Elastic Travel

 This is probably one of the most talked-about features when it comes to binding performance. Elastic travel is how much your boot can move out of center without causing the binding to release. Having a good range of elastic travel is important if you experience a lot of flex in the ski. Skiing bumps frequently and skiers who ski more aggressively tend to create more flex in the ski. This extra force can result in premature release from the binding if it lacks sufficient elastic travel. Higher-end bindings will usually offer more elastic travel to accommodate heavier and more aggressive skiing styles. The Look Pivot binding is well known as a binding with a very large range of elastic travel and is a preferred choice for skiers looking for a reduced chance of pre-release. 

Vertical Spring Vs. Horizontal Spring

  As skis started to get wider, manufacturers began widening their binding toe pieces to better transfer energy to the bigger ski platform. Along with this design change, the toe spring (which controls the DIN or release setting) was flipped from a vertical orientation to a horizontal one. The horizontal orientation allows better response on those wider skis. Recently, brands have started to revert back to the vertical spring direction with bindings such as the Salomon Strive. The longitudinal spring gives the best balance of retention and release and a better on-snow feel. Balancing your need for retention with the width of the skis you plan to use can help direct you to whether the horizontal or vertical orientation is better suited to your needs. 

Binding Weight

 Binding weight is another attribute of ski bindings to consider. The heaviness of a binding affects women more closely since we tend to be smaller, lighter people. Having a lighter-weight binding can reduce fatigue both when carrying your gear to and from the slope and also throughout the ski day. Manufacturers prioritize using lighter materials in some bindings to keep the weight down without sacrificing too much performance. The Marker Squire is our favorite option for ladies looking for a great balance of performance and weight. However, if you are a more aggressive skier or picking out a wider and/or burlier ski, we may steer you towards a Tyrolia Attack Lyt, which has a wider toe piece and wider heel cup for better control. Below you can see a weight chart of all of our current bindings. 

Binding Delta or Ramp Angle

The last but perhaps most important thing to talk about when it comes to ski bindings is the ramp angle, sometimes referred to as the delta. The ramp of a binding is the difference between the height of the heel and the height of the toe piece. This number can vary anywhere from 10 plus mm to a negative 2 or 3mm. Even though a few millimeters might seem slight, it can drastically change the feeling of a ski. Through our extensive boot fitting and alignment work, we have found that most women choose a 3 or 4mm ramp. Having a custom stance assessment done will confirm exactly what ramp angle is best for you, and then we can make binding recommendations or adjustments based on those results. Getting on a binding with a ramp angle that matches your physiology will provide you with the best control and performance from the ski. 

We work hard to balance all of these factors when creating our binding collection. No matter what your priority is, we have a ski binding that will work on your new skis. If you have more questions, we are happy to talk through each binding model in further detail. Ultimately, ski bindings often seem like an afterthought, but they are an integral piece of your new ski setup that should be considered carefully.