Ski binding settings

[twinplanx]

I’m surprised to hear on this thread, on a msg board that is mostly hard-core skiers, no one who thinks like me. I wouldn’t let a ski shop tech set my bindings if you paid me for it. Springs and hardware aren't uniform in how they act and how stiff or loose they are. My opinion is that you could have two identical bindings and they could release differently. This is especially the case as the bindings get older. To me setting the binding by the DIN setting is at best a guess on the ski shops part. Added to that is that adjusting bindings is easy, it’s 4 screws. Takes me a max of 10 minutes to set the release on a pair of bindings. I do it for most of my neighbors and their kids.

To me the only way to do bindings is to set them by feel. The toe piece is easy, all you have to do is put a boot into it, set it on edge, and then twist the boot out of the nose piece. I’ve gotten pretty good over the years at “feeling” the release and setting it appropriate to the age, size, & skill. The rear release is a little harder but still can be done and to me the rear release isn’t as important as the toe anyway.

I always have screwdrivers in my ski bag, to me that’s mandatory equipment to carry. On our first couple days of skiing of the season I keep an eye on how my boys/wife/me/friends/etc are doing. Are they popping out of their bindings too easy? Are their skis staying on in falls when they should be releasing? If so – I tweak the settings up or down accordingly right there while we are at the mountain. I usually start the season with them set a little looser that I think they should be, figuring that popping out is better than not popping out (and shredding a knee, breaking a leg, etc.). I’ve been doing this forever and I can only think of maybe 2-3 times where I had to readjust any member of my family’s or friend’s bindings.

I was talking to a guy at a ski shop a couple of years ago. They were tuning my family’s skis and he asked me for the info to set the DIN settings. I told him “don’t worry about it, I am going to adjust them once I get them home anyway”. He looked at me like I had 3 heads. I told him, “don’t take this the wrong way but I would never let my kids ski on bindings I didn’t set myself.” We then had a long debate about that. He eventually relented and agreed that the way I was doing it was right but only if it was done by someone who knew what they were doing. I would say that the barrier to “knowing what you are doing” is pretty minor with bindings. Again, it’s just 4 screws and they can only go in one of two directions.

PS – My attitude probably has a lot to do with the fact that I broke my leg 4 different times between the ages of 5 and 15 all while skiing and 3 of the 4 were directly attributable to the ski shop tech torquing my DIN settings too high and them not releasing in falls. I was always a big kid for my age back then and the techs would set the DIN too high because of that. This was the 70s too – so the equipment wasn’t nearly as good. But still. . .

Well, I'll let "the pros" have first crack at it, but have no qualms adjusting bindings myself...

 

[MadMadWorld]

Trust the pros====> what make them pros? Because somebody work in the shop and has been "certified" doesn't make them pro. The only difference if job done wrong you can blame somebody else, demand a refund or take them to the court

To adjust the binding need simple skill, simple tool and a lot of common sense.

How about changing tires? change oil in your car by yourself? I don't even want to mention change breaks.

Certification to work on bindings really means squat. When I worked at WaWa I passed the test without any training other than watching others.

 

[mishka]

Certification to work on bindings really means squat. When I worked at WaWa I passed the test without any training other than watching others.

exactly my point.
BTW fancy release test can be done at home with simple jigs and torque wrench.

MMW it give me some comfort you not longer work there :lol:

the only thing I envy ski shops they have binding installation jigs

 

[SkiFanE]

Mine always wind up to being set at 8. Once I tell the shop to rate me a 3+. Love the Look/Rossi binding a lot but now in Markers. Always a little worried at Beginning of use but so far so good. One year on my Rossi's I was worried when 50+ days I they didn't release, but then they did at the proper time. Pre-release frightens me- I ski edge of trail and woods and honestly a knee injury would be more pleasing than being flung into snow pipes or a tree in early release, if I had to choose my accident haha. Last weekend I wiped on White Head headwall, kinda a slow ballet-ish cartwheel, slid on back upside down I recall lmao - but no release - thank god bc woulda sucked to deal with that on steep ice. I am sure in a lesser din they would have released.

 

[Edd]

Last weekend I wiped on White Head headwall, kinda a slow ballet-ish cartwheel, slid on back upside down I recall lmao - but no release - thank god bc woulda sucked to deal with that on steep ice. I am sure in a lesser din they would have released.

Yeah, that's a bad spot to eat it. Glad you're ok. I've never had a significant pre-release crash but I did blow my knee when I think an earlier binding release may have saved it. I think about that more than I should

 

[Cannonball]

This thread is reason #5k to snowboard. When I ski I think about all the things discussed in this thread. When I snowboard I think about how much fun I'm having.