Key takeaways
- Bindings connect boots to skis or snowboards and transmit your movements to the gear.
- Alpine ski bindings release the boot in a fall to reduce leg injury; the release force is the DIN setting.
- Snowboard bindings do not release — both feet stay attached to the board.
- Types vary by discipline: alpine, touring (tech/frame), telemark, and snowboard (strap/step-on) bindings.
What bindings do
Bindings are the mechanical devices that attach your boots to your skis or snowboard. They transmit your movements — edging, steering, and pressure — to the equipment, so they’re central to control. On alpine skis they also play a vital safety role: they’re designed to release the boot in a crash to reduce the risk of leg injury.
The DIN release setting (skis)
How much force releases an alpine ski binding is set on the standardized DIN scale, calculated from your weight, height, age, boot sole length, and ability. It should be set and tested by a qualified technician — too high and it may not release when needed; too low and it may pop off unexpectedly. (Snowboard bindings, by contrast, don’t release.)
A skier has a shop technician calculate and set their DIN based on their stats and skiing level, then test the release — so the bindings hold securely while skiing but let go in a twisting fall before a knee or leg is injured.
Types of binding
- Alpine — resort skiing, releasable.
- Touring — backcountry; lightweight tech (pin) vs heavier frame (see tech vs frame bindings).
- Telemark — free-heel.
- Snowboard — strap-in or step-on; non-releasing.
The bottom line
Bindings are the critical link between you and your skis or snowboard — and on skis, a key safety device that releases in a crash. Get alpine bindings' DIN set by a professional, match the binding type to your discipline (resort, touring, telemark, or snowboard), and they'll transmit your every move while helping protect you when things go wrong.
Frequently asked questions
What do bindings do?
Bindings attach your boots to your skis or snowboard and transmit your movements — edging, steering, pressure — to the equipment. On alpine skis they also serve a critical safety role by releasing the boot during a crash to help prevent leg injuries; snowboard bindings instead hold both feet firmly to the board and don't release.
What is a DIN setting on ski bindings?
DIN is the standardized scale that sets how much force is needed for an alpine ski binding to release your boot. It's calculated from your weight, height, age, boot length, and ability, and should be set by a qualified technician. Too high and the binding may not release when it should; too low and it may release unexpectedly.
What are the types of bindings?
Alpine bindings for resort skiing; touring bindings for the backcountry, split into lightweight tech (pin) bindings and heavier frame bindings; telemark bindings with a free heel; and snowboard bindings, which include strap-in and step-on systems. The right type depends on your discipline and whether you ascend under your own power.
Sources
- Ski & snowboard equipment — PSIA-AASI
- Snow sports gear — The Mountaineers