Ski bindings
Why Buy Alpine Ski Bindings at Glisshop?
With nearly 100 options available, you're sure to find the alpine bindings you need for your skis from top brands such as: Armada, Atomic, Fischer, Head, Look, Marker, Salomon, and Tyrolia. Feel free to contact our experts when purchasing your bindings to help determine your specific needs and get the necessary information for proper adjustment. Ski bindings are a key safety component of your gear, protecting you in case of a fall, so it's essential to adjust them with precision!
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From £26.91
Look's L2 Brake 3P is a ski brake compatible with SPX and NX 12/11 bindings
- 90 mm
- 100 mm
- 120 mm
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£108.00
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£35.91
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I: What is the Role of Alpine Ski Bindings?
Alpine ski bindings are a major safety element with two essential functions. First, firmly connecting the ski to the boots, ensuring the skier’s stability and grip. Second, protecting the skier from injuries and joint trauma by releasing the boot in the event of a fall, a process known as ‘releasing’.
Depending on the discipline (alpine skiing, racing, touring, freeride, freestyle…), bindings can have design or structural features designed to meet the specific demands of the sport. For example, a touring binding will be designed with weight reduction in mind to facilitate climbs, while a racing binding will use materials that optimise power transfer from the boots to the skis.
II: How Does an Alpine Ski Binding Work?
1 - Toe Piece
The toe piece is the front part of the binding, where the tip of the boot locks in. A spring runs through it, adjustable with a screw located at the front. This adjustment defines both the clamping force of the binding on the boot and the moment when the toe piece releases lateral pressure to free the foot.
2 - Heel Piece
The heel piece is the rear part of the binding and can come in two forms: one with a sliding rail to adjust the binding length to the skier's boot size, and a lever that engages when pressing down with the heel after the boot’s toe is locked into the toe piece. The heel piece works on a vertical axis, and the adjustment defines the release force required to free the boot. There are also pivoting heel pieces without a sliding rail, which can rotate to release the foot in the event of a twisting fall.
3 - Brake
Designed to prevent the ski from speeding down the slope after a fall (risking loss or injury to other skiers), the brake consists of two metal arms, a tab, and a spring, all positioned at the front of the heel piece. The brake is activated when the skier's heel presses down during boot engagement. When the ski is worn, the metal arms lift, allowing the ski to glide. Upon release, the arms lower and contact the snow to stop the ski.
III: How to Properly Adjust and Install Your Ski Bindings?
The adjustment must be precise and entrusted to professionals. It follows a specific standard (AFNOR FD S 52-748 or ISO 11088), which depends on the skier’s weight, height, gender, skill level, and discipline. The release value, or DIN value, is the stress index (lateral and/or vertical) beyond which the binding releases the boot for safety. It is crucial to know this value and adjust your bindings accordingly.
Mounting, Position Adjustment, and Tightening of Your Bindings: Trust Glisshop!
To calculate your release value, Glisshop provides this DIN setting calculator.
When purchasing alpine or touring ski packages at Glisshop, the installation and setting of your bindings are free and carried out by a skiman. This saves you time and ensures the quality of your settings. You ski in total safety!
- When adjusting your bindings, professionals may ask for your measurements. Be as accurate as possible, as calculating your release value requires knowing your exact measurements.
- Don't overestimate your abilities; it's a matter of safety. Beginners need bindings that release easily to accommodate frequent falls, while giant slalom experts will require tight bindings that can handle the enormous forces generated by high-speed turns.
So, Which Ski Bindings Should You Choose?
Now that everything has been explained, you may be wondering which bindings to choose? Check out our selection of children's ski bindings, women's ski bindings, and our full range of men's ski bindings. All meet current standards such as Grip Walk, MNC, or WTR. To learn about the compatibility between ski bindings and boots, explore our dedicated page on ski boot sole and binding standards. No excuses not to equip your whole family at Glisshop this winter!
Also, check out our complete range of ski equipment!