Limitations of current alpine touring ski bindings.

Area of Science:

• Sports Engineering
• Biomechanics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Alpine touring bindings are crucial for safety and performance in backcountry skiing.
• Existing research on alpine touring binding safety and performance is limited, particularly concerning release characteristics under various loads.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify safety and performance parameters of modern alpine touring bindings.
• To specifically evaluate the release characteristics of these bindings under standardized testing conditions.

Main Methods:

• Tested 16 alpine touring bindings (seasons 2018/19, 2019/20) using standardized conditions and a single type of alpine touring boot sole.
• Measured impact tolerance and the influence of forward/backward lean on twist release behavior, adhering to ISO 13992 standards.
• Assessed rigidity (torsional and deflection stiffness), indicator setting accuracy, and twist release consistency over 25 cycles.

Main Results:

• Significant variation in binding behavior was observed.
• Nine of sixteen bindings exceeded twist release limits with added backward lean.
• Lightweight Tech/Pin bindings demonstrated insufficient rebound elasticity under lateral impact, and some bindings had inaccurate indicator settings.

Conclusions:

• Alpine touring bindings do not offer the same reliable release characteristics as alpine ski bindings, especially under combined loads.
• Low impact tolerance in some touring bindings may lead to inadvertent releases, posing a safety concern.