What Is a DIN Setting?
DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung) is the number on your ski binding that controls how much force is required to release your boot from the ski. It's a safety mechanism: when you fall, the binding releases your boot to prevent knee injuries. When you ski normally, it holds your boot firmly in place.
DIN settings typically range from 0.5 to 16 on recreational bindings, with race bindings going up to 18-24. The number represents the torque (rotational force) in decanewtons needed to trigger release. Lower DIN = easier release. Higher DIN = harder release.
This is not a performance setting to maximize. It is a safety setting. Getting it wrong has serious consequences — the most common being ACL tears when bindings fail to release during a fall, according to research published by Dr. Irving Scher in the Journal of ASTM International and the Vermont Ski Safety research program (the longest-running ski injury study, operating since 1972).
How DIN Is Calculated
DIN settings are determined by a combination of four factors defined in the ISO 11088 standard:
| Factor | What It Means | Effect on DIN |
|---|---|---|
| Skier Type/Code | Your skiing style and preference (cautious → aggressive) | Higher type = higher DIN |
| Weight | Body weight in kg or lbs | Heavier = higher DIN |
| Height | Used in combination with weight | Factors into skier code |
| Boot Sole Length | Measured in mm (printed on your boot) | Longer sole = lower DIN at same weight |
| Age | Skiers 50+ or under 10 get adjusted settings | Older/younger = lower DIN |
Skier Type Codes (ISO 11088)
| Type | Code | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | Cautious | Prefers lower release settings, slower skiing, prioritizes safety over performance. Beginners, older skiers, those with prior knee injuries. |
| Type 2 | Moderate | Average recreational skier. Moderate speeds, groomed terrain primarily. Most recreational skiers should be here. |
| Type 3 | Aggressive | Fast skiing, varied terrain, prefers higher release settings. Advanced to expert skiers. |
| Type 3+ | Racing/Expert | Very aggressive, high speeds, cannot tolerate inadvertent release. Expert only. |
DIN Reference Chart
This chart follows the ISO 11088 standard used by certified ski technicians worldwide. It's included for educational purposes — have your bindings professionally set.
| Weight (lbs) | Type 1 (Cautious) | Type 2 (Moderate) | Type 3 (Aggressive) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90-100 | 2.0-2.5 | 2.5-3.0 | 3.0-3.5 |
| 100-120 | 2.5-3.0 | 3.0-3.5 | 3.5-4.5 |
| 120-140 | 3.0-3.5 | 3.5-4.5 | 4.5-5.5 |
| 140-160 | 3.5-4.5 | 4.5-5.5 | 5.5-7.0 |
| 160-180 | 4.5-5.5 | 5.5-6.5 | 6.5-8.0 |
| 180-210 | 5.5-6.5 | 6.5-8.0 | 8.0-10.0 |
| 210+ | 6.5-7.5 | 7.5-9.5 | 9.5-12.0 |
Note: These are approximate ranges. Boot sole length and age adjustments affect the final number. The full ISO 11088 chart has more granular weight brackets.
What Happens When DIN Is Too High
If your DIN is set higher than appropriate for your weight, ability, and skiing style:
- Your ski won't release in a fall. Your boot stays locked to the ski while your body rotates. The force transfers directly to your knee — specifically the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament).
- ACL tears are the most common serious ski injury, accounting for roughly 20% of all ski injuries per the Vermont Ski Safety study. Many ACL injuries occur because bindings were set too tight.
- The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) reports that binding-related failures contribute to a significant percentage of serious lower-leg injuries each year.
What Happens When DIN Is Too Low
If your DIN is set lower than appropriate:
- Pre-release: Your ski ejects unexpectedly during normal skiing — hitting a bump, making an aggressive turn, skiing through crud.
- Pre-release at speed is dangerous: you're suddenly on one ski (or no skis) with no warning.
- It also destroys confidence. If you can't trust your skis to stay on, you can't ski aggressively enough to improve.
When to Get DIN Re-Checked
- Start of every season — minimum. Bindings should be part of your annual tune-up.
- After significant weight change — gained or lost 15+ pounds
- After ability level change — if you've gone from beginner to intermediate, your type code changes
- New boots — different sole length changes the DIN calculation
- After any pre-release or non-release event — if your ski came off when it shouldn't have, or didn't come off when it should have, get checked immediately
Recommended Bindings by Skier Level
Beginner/Intermediate (DIN 3-10 Range)
Budget-Friendly
Common Mistakes
Sources & Further Reading
- ISO 11088:2018. "Assembly, adjustment and inspection of alpine ski-binding-boot (S-B-B) systems." International Organization for Standardization.
- Scher, I. et al. "Skiing Injuries and Binding Release Failures." Journal of ASTM International, 2017.
- Vermont Ski Safety Research Program. "Annual Ski Injury Reports." vermontskisafety.com — Operating since 1972.
- National Ski Areas Association. "Safety Fact Sheet." nsaa.org, 2024.
- Blister Gear Review. "Ski Binding Buyer's Guide." blisterreview.com, 2025.
- TGR (Teton Gravity Research). "Understanding DIN Settings." tetongravity.com, 2024.
