Bindings are the most safety-critical piece of ski equipment you own. They hold you to the ski when you're carving, and they release you when you crash. Getting the setup wrong can mean the difference between walking away from a fall and not.

DIN: The Release Setting

DIN is the force required to release your boot from the binding. It's a number, usually between 3 and 12 for most recreational bindings. Lower DIN releases easier. Higher DIN holds tighter.

Your DIN is calculated from four things:

  • Weight: Heavier skiers need higher DIN — more force in normal skiing.
  • Height: Combined with weight to determine your skier code.
  • Boot sole length (BSL): Affects the leverage the binding exerts.
  • Skier type / ability: Type 1 (cautious) gets lower. Type 3+ (expert) gets higher.

There's a standard chart every ski shop uses. It's not a guess — it's a calculation. A certified technician looks up your numbers, sets the DIN, and tests release with a torque wrench.

Why You Should Never Set Your Own DIN

"I cranked up my DIN because I kept pre-releasing." — We hear this a lot. That might fix the pre-release, but it creates a much bigger problem.

If your DIN is too high and you catch an edge, the binding doesn't release. Your knee takes all the force that the binding should have absorbed.

If you're pre-releasing, the fix is almost never "just turn it up." It's usually a forward pressure issue, a worn binding, or bootsthat aren't seated properly. Bring it to a shop.

BSL: Boot Sole Length

BSL is the length of your boot sole in millimeters — not your foot size, not your Mondo size. It's printed on the side or heel of your boot, usually something like 305mm or 325mm.

The binding toe and heel pieces need to match your BSL exactly. If the binding is set for the wrong BSL, the leverage changes and the DIN setting becomes inaccurate — even if the number on the dial looks correct.

This is why you should always bring your actual boots when getting bindings mounted. We measure BSL ourselves — numbers printed on boots aren't always accurate.

Forward Pressure

Forward pressure is the spring tension in the heel piece that pushes your boot forward into the toe piece. Most bindings have a visual indicator — a line or arrow showing whether pressure is in the correct range.

  • Too little: Boot can rattle or pop out during normal skiing.
  • Too much: Binding resists releasing in a crash.

This adjustment takes 30 seconds with the right tools, but it needs to be checked every time you change boots or get bindings remounted.

Mounting: What Actually Happens

  1. Mark the mounting point. Where the center of your boot sits on the ski. Most skis have a recommended mount point on the topsheet.
  2. Position the binding. Toe and heel pieces set to match your BSL, boot centered on the mount point.
  3. Drill.Precise-depth holes using a template jig. Too shallow and screws won't hold. Too deep and you damage the base.
  4. Glue and screw. Holes filled with epoxy, screws installed. The epoxy seals the core from moisture and adds strength.
  5. Set DIN and forward pressure. Adjusted to your specs and tested with a release check.

Remounting

Can you remount bindings on the same ski? Yes, but with limits. Each mount puts holes in the ski. If new holes overlap with old ones, the ski may not hold screws reliably. Most skis handle 2-3 mounts in different positions.

We use helicoils (threaded metal inserts) when mounting into previously drilled areas to ensure secure hold.

Bindings We Carry

We stock bindings from Marker, Look, and Salomon for skiing, and Union, Burton, and Rome for snowboarding. Our techs will match the binding to your ski, boot, and riding style.

Bring Your Boots

This comes up every week: someone wants bindings mounted but doesn't have their boots. We won't mount without boots. BSL measurement, toe height, heel track position — all depend on having the actual boot in front of us.

Stop by our Beaverton shop with skis, bindings, and boots. We'll measure, mount, set DIN, test release, and have you ready to go. Most mounts are done same-day.

Need your skis tuned while they're in? Check out our tuning services — we can do both in one visit.