How to Adjust Ski Bindings

Your ski bindings are an important part of your ski setup, because they connect your boots to your skis. You must adjust ski bindings to properly accommodate your boots. This is definitely something that should be done by a certified technician, for safety reasons. If you insist on doing it yourself and you're not certified, consider having it checked by a technician. You may have planned your ski vacation on a budget, but don't skimp when it comes to safety.

In fact, everyone should have their skis checked before ski season begins and then several more times throughout the season. If your ski bindings are too loose, they can release while you're skiing, which can lead to a serious accident.  Bindings that are too tight won't release at all in a crash, which can be just as dangerous, even leading to death. A pro is able to adjust ski bindings properly, meaning you're less likely to have an injury-causing accident.

When taking your skis to be adjusted by a certified technician, you'll need to bring along the following information: your height, weight, age, skill level and your boots.  The technician will need this to properly adjust the Indicator on your skis.

Should you decide to try to adjust your ski bindings yourself, you'll need to do the following:

• Line up the center mark of your boot with the center mark on your ski, if applicable. To know whether your skis have a center mark, look for a little dash on the ski.
• Adjust your ski bindings to be the right length. You may be able to do this with a movable heel piece or toe and heel pieces. You may need a screwdriver to loosen bindings, or you may be able to do so with a lever.
• Adjust the bindings so that your ski boots clip in. Check the forward pressure indicator to make sure that the binding is appropriately sized for your boot.
• Adjust the DIN setting to suit your based on your height, weight, boot and skill level. This will affect the release your bindings have, so it is important that it is done exactly right.
• Check your work.  If something is wrong, such as the front binding opening, you must start over from the beginning. Check your bindings before every time you ski.  One way to do this is to twist your foot either to the left or right; your front bindings should open.

While you may be able to save a little bit of money by adjusting your ski bindings yourself, keep in mind that safety is the most important thing. If you're not qualified, don't try this yourself.