How to Choose Your Ski Bindings

However, you should not underestimate their importance in your skiing experience! Not only do bindings allow you to ride your skis, but also reduce the risk of injuries.

For over 90 years, we at TYROLIA have been driven by a burning passion for skiing and have aimed to build the best bindings worldwide for their quality, safety and technical perfection. For us, a binding is more than a connector between the ski and the boot. Indeed, it is the essential link between human and skis, enabling the skier to become one with the gear and perform at the highest level!

So, who better than us at TYROLIA to tell you which bindings you should choose for your type of skiing? Or explain to you what those numbers on the ski bindings mean? Keep on reading for more tips on how to choose your ski bindings!

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT SKI BINDINGS?

Before purchasing a ski binding, you should have the following information at hand:

- Whether you have a “system” or “flat” ski

· For which type of skiing you need bindings

· How wide your skis are

· Whether your bindings fit your boots (boot sole standard)

· Your age, weight, height, skiing skills and boot sole length.

Once you know the waist width of your skis, you can determine the correct size of the binding brakes. Moreover, by defining your user profile and the length of your boot sole, the dealer at your local ski shop can set the accurate release value (DIN) for your bindings.

Does it already sound too complicated? Do not worry, because we will explain everything step by step!

WHICH BINDINGS CAN I USE ON SYSTEM AND FLAT SKIS?

Skis can come with a fixed plate or base, on which you can mount bindings from the same manufacturer, like for downhill bindings. Otherwise, you can also purchase flat skis without any interface, as in the case of backcountry skis. Therefore, we distinguish between “system” and “set” bindings:

SYSTEM BINDINGS

Mainly all-mountain skis have a base attached to the ski and are sold as a bundle with the bindings best suited to the ski range. It allows for easier and faster sliding of the binding on the ski. These bases or interfaces slightly raise the position of the boot, making the ride more incisive and powerful. However, you should always check the compatibility with your boots and the DIN release setting range.

SET BINDINGS

On the other hand, backcountry and freestyle skis are sold flat, without any pre-mounted interface, as you want to be as close to the snow as possible. In this case, the bindings have a more restricted length adjustment range to favour transmission, ski-snow contact and lightness. Please consult a certified HEAD/TYROLIA dealer to adjust and screw set bindings on the skis. Only an expert can recommend the optimal binding based on your skis and style and mount it professionally.

WHICH BINDINGS SHOULD I CHOOSE FOR MY TYPE OF SKIING?

Your skiing experience can determine which binding you should mount on your skis. If you ski on a beginner level, you should pick light bindings which are resistant and easy to step in. In this case, the Protector PR 11 GW and the Joy 9 GW SLR are the perfect models for you!

On the other hand, if you are a more advanced skier who enjoys some speed on the slopes, you should pick more dynamic and precise downhill bindings that are robust and resistant to the forces exerted on them. Therefore, you should check out our Protector 13 GW and Freeflex 14 GW models.

Freeskiers instead need a pair of light and flexible bindings, like our Protector 13 MN and Attack 14 GW, which will absorb the shock from landing the jumps. These backcountry bindings have a larger platform to perform better on wider skis, allowing a good force transmission directly at the edge to keep your skis under control. Moreover, you will be closer to the snow, making you “float” in the powder! Finally, the alpine touring enthusiasts should use lightweight, free-heel bindings, like our Ambition 12 MN, allowing you to hike up the mountain with your heel free, using your skins.

TYROLIA offers “Made in Austria” ski bindings for every type of skier, terrain and skiing performance. From downhill to backcountry bindings, from all-mountain to junior bindings, we provide you access to all the skiing areas of a mountain. We offer you a reliable product to enjoy your favourite skiing activity by gaining access to all terrains!

Performance bindings:

HOW DO I DETERMINE THE SIZE OF THE BINDING BRAKES?

Another aspect to consider when buying your bindings is how wide your skis are. Depending on the ski width in the brake area, you can determine the appropriate width of the ski brakes, meaning the distance between the brake arms. Ideally, you should pick a brake wider by a maximum of 15 mm than your ski waist. For example, if your skis are 80mm wide in the brake area, you should consider brakes ranging from at least 80 mm to a maximum of 95 mm.

Why does the size of your binding brakes matter? If too narrow, the brakes will not deploy correctly if the ski comes off. On the other hand, too wide brakes might drag your skis on particularly steep terrains.

To help you in your shopping experience, when you purchase a binding in our shop, you can buy the correct brake size right there!

DO SKI BINDINGS FIT ALL BOOTS?

Another crucial aspect to keep in mind in your purchase is the compatibility of the bindings with your boot sole. Just like Cinderella, not every boot fits automatically every binding!

However, you should not worry! From the season 2022/23, all our TYROLIA bindings will have a specific marking on the toe to show the boot compatibility and align with the latest industry standards. The marking (printed or embossed) can be found on the anti-friction device (AFD).

Here below, you find a table to compare the boot compatibility of our bindings:

WHAT IS THE RELEASE VALUE (DIN OR Z-VALUE)?

You finally have bought the binding that matches perfectly with your boots and skis. The last essential step of the mounting process is to set the correct release value, also known as DIN or Z-value.

Don’t you know what we are talking about? These are none other than the numbers you can find at the front and back of the binding! With the correct DIN value, the boot will remain attached to the binding and significantly decrease the risk of injuries in case of a fall.

You can set the DIN value at the toe and the heel of the binding by consulting the universal table of release values for ski bindings. When assessing the DIN value, you should look at your age, weight, height, skiing experience and boot sole length.

We highly advise you not to adjust your ski bindings on your own. Instead, you should consult a certified HEAD/TYROLIA dealer to set the correct DIN value on your bindings according to your ski boots and user profile!

WHERE CAN I BUY THE TYROLIA BINDINGS?

Congratulations, now you have all the information you need to purchase your next pair of bindings! To summarize, you have to remember:

· Whether you have a “system” or “flat” ski

· For which type of skiing you will use the bindings

· The characteristics of your skis and boots

If you are interested in checking one of our bindings, you can find more information on our models in our online shop!

All that is left to do is putting your skis on and hitting the slopes. We wish you a lot of fun with your new bindings!