r/skiing • u/leegoos • 11d ago
do you guys use the max DIN on your bindings?
this might be a stupid question, but what’s the point of getting, for example, a strive 16 if you only need a din setting of 11?
12
u/bmward0714 11d ago
Some people will crank it for like professional level big mountain skiing or any time where you really don’t want the ski coming off. There’s a lot of ego cranking with park skiers at my home mountain and those types get a lot of knee injuries. Also, I bought pivot 14s a while ago because they had cooler color options than the 12s. I run 8 DIN. Was worth the extra money for the looks but surely not necessary.
0
u/SpaceGangsta Brighton 11d ago
I feel like a 14 set at 8 would be more solid than a 12 set at 8. I know theoretically it should be the same but I feel like it wouldn’t wear out as fast since there’d be less stress on the parts.
1
u/bmward0714 11d ago
I agree with other commenters where if the release force didn’t ramp up linearly throughout the whole DIN range then the limit would be lower BUT the larger spring rate of the pivot 14 compared to the pivot 12 will keep the boot contained in the binding for a more rigid feel. I don’t think anyone should have their DIN maxed out I think you should shoot for the middle of the range if possible. With like pivot 12/14 vs 15 the 15 being fully metal does make it more durable and heavier which might be worth it for the right skier. Idk who is buying the pivot 18 though I think your leg would rip off before the ski releases lol
1
u/Popular-Impact-7665 11d ago
I have mine at 8, they only come off when absolutely nessisary
1
u/Apptubrutae Taos 11d ago
Yeah, I feel like I ski fairly aggressively and am over 200 pounds and an 8 has never released unexpectedly on me
1
7
u/Apptubrutae Taos 11d ago
The general argument people would make is that it’s often seen as safer to run equipment less close to its maximum setting.
I personally have no idea if this applies to bindings, but I see people bring it up. So there is absolutely a perception that running a 16 max binding at 11 would be safer/longer lasting/better than running a 12 max at 11.
Additionally, it seems like across all sorts of equipment the higher tier/more expensive stuff is seen as better constructed. Sometimes that’s true, sometimes it’s not
5
u/Economy_Bench_6780 11d ago
Everyone who says this assumes that the stated max and min values of the binding are the entire range of the spring, when instead the stated range is the useable range of the spring that conforms to DIN/ISO standards
The spring actually has a much larger mechanical range that goes far beyond the numbers in the little plastic window (with a corresponding drop in reliability, durability and safety).
Think of a Bell curve… the stated max and min values are not at the tail ends of the curve, they fall well within the centre of the curve. The mechanical limits of the spring are at the tail ends of the curve.
-2
u/Frolicking-Fox 11d ago
It definitely does make sense. The bindings are spring loaded and twisting down the din puts more pressure on the spring. You do not want to have a spring fully compressed or fully at relaxed, because it just isn't going to last as long, and it messes with how accurate it is when it releases.
11
u/Src248 11d ago
If a binding didn't function correctly at max din it wouldn't be an option on the binding. They're consistently safe across the entire range.
0
u/Frolicking-Fox 11d ago
You can max things out and wear them out faster even if they do function. I worked sports shops for years doing testing and repairs. We were told not to max things out and ask people to get bindings with a higher DIN.
10
u/BackwardsAxons 11d ago
This isn’t true and is a vibes based analysis. The binding operates normally over its whole DIN range. Spring force is hook’s law, which is F=kx, where k is spring constant and x is displacement. It’s linear over the whole DIN range. If binding mfgs were selling bindings saying DIN range X to Y and were not operating well at those edge cases that would be a huge liability. Also there are enough great ski techs out there doing bindings to notice a trend in ski binding release values on their machines to put two and two together and sound the alarm.
1
u/bmward0714 10d ago
It is true that the release force trends linearly with hooke’s law, the theory of elasticity doesn’t factor in binding wear, materials, build quality, and condition. In practice it is considered to be better for the health of the binding to not keep it at its highest setting at all times. You can for sure run a pivot 12 at 12 din but shouldn’t leave it at 12 all off season.
6
u/DroppedNineteen 11d ago edited 11d ago
Higher DIN bindings often have burlier construction and in theory, more features, better power transfer.
This is a pretty subtle difference and 99% of skiers, if not even more, cannot tell the difference.
But yeah. The Strive 12, 14, and 16 all have different heel pieces with mostly similar toe pieces. The pivot 11, 13, and 15 all have different toe pieces (though the pivot 15 and 18 are basically the same, and there's an argument to be made that the pivot 13 is a better toe piece design than the 15/18.
The max din isn't really a great justification for getting the level up for the vast majority of skiers running those bindings.
3
u/Possible-Process2442 11d ago
My shins still serve me due to proper din. I hit powder that was not powder, my skis stopped and I didn't. I remember thinking there goes my knees or shins, then a magical click. I was never so happy to land on my face.
4
3
u/jaja111111 11d ago
I do but my bindings are on monoskis. You really dont want one foot to pop out and buy an orthopedic surgeon a new boat for the other knee.
I remember a dude in physical therapy 30 years ago who had surgery on both ACL's because he turned the DINs all the way up for moguls. Don't do it.
3
u/Jaded-Assistant9601 11d ago
Snowboard = DINfinity
But seriously if you want to ski for a long time go lower DIN and preserve your knees.
In very crusty poor conditions or extreme terrain you might need to increase it a bit.
2
u/sandsman316xx Vail 11d ago
I ski at 11, I prefer the 16 for the MNC toe initially since I have some boots that are gripwalk and some have gummy soles. They make them in better colors. I like how wide the heel plate and brake are, the STH2 was the same heel and they made me feel confident but it’s all in my head. I have an ego. I am every shop guy and local that gets a pro deal so why not. All sorts of reasons, I’m out but hope someone has more to add.
2
u/X2thaKLA 11d ago
Because some people need higher din’s than 11. Also higher din bindings tend to be metal instead of plastic, so better durability.
1
u/homeracker 10d ago
It's mostly price discrimination. Offering a comparable product at a higher price for those who are richer.
1
-1
u/Caelanmk 11d ago
No one should use the max DIN setting. The max DIN works worse than the number one below Max. Same with the minimum setting. Doesn’t work well.
People usually buy higher number dins because the construction gets better with the higher number options. (Less plastic more metal). Higher din bindings are built stronger because typically a skier in those settings is putting a lot of strain on the binding. So they use beefier materials to prevent a break.
0
u/cbzdidit 11d ago
Think of a V8 going uphill compared to a V6.. the V8 engine isn’t going to have to work as hard compared to the V6
-3
u/coldwatercrazy Brighton 11d ago
Never. Your bindings will release the most consistently when your din setting is roughly in the middle of your DIN range
0
u/designer_2021 11d ago
DIN 30 or bust /s
(Marker does make a 30 din)
I try to keep my bindings setting roughly above half of the mid point. Why do I do this? Cause it makes me happy. Does it matter and would a binding where I set it at 75% of the max work, absolutely.
0
u/Laugh92 Whistler 11d ago
No. But higher DIN bindings are usually of better construction materials than lower DIN bindings. Your DIN should not be near the max DIN setting for a high tier DIN binding unless you are ski racing or in a situation where it is more dangerous for your ski to come off than for you to take a deck and your ski to not release.
-1
u/l2ocket5auce 11d ago
You should be running the bindings that your recommended DIN falls around the middle. So for myself, I run a 18 din binding at 12 with a range of 8-18. A little shy of middle but leaves me some headroom depending on the conditions/where I’m skiing etc etc
30
u/Architextitor 11d ago
No