I have this binding with height of 39 mm. I like to freeride and do jumps. I would like to know what are pros and cons of high and low ski bindings and how particularly the height affects ability to control ski while jumping or freeriding.
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As far as I know the only benefit is for carving. The higher your boot is off of your ski, the more you can carve before your boot makes contact with the ground.– ShemSegerCommented Mar 31, 2017 at 23:15
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1 Answer
This dimension is know as the binding stack height (as well as binding stand height) and can be both beneficial and detrimental:
- On piste / carving / racing: a larger stack height is generally perceived as beneficial---the FIS even passed a regulation limiting it to 50mm after the thickness of binding plates started getting out of hand. The main benefits are more leverage over the edge of the skis and the ability to tip the ski further on edge without boot/snow interference.
- Off piste / powder / park: a smaller stack height is generally seen as beneficial. Being closer to the ski provides more stability over uneven terrain (imagine trying to ski wearing stilts). A smaller stack height can sometimes indicate a lighter setup--less material raising your boot off the ski (obviously varies from binding to binding). A smaller stack height also gets you those last couple millimeters closer to face shots in powder =P
And of course, we can't neglect looking taller in the lift line or group photos!
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Thanks for the keyword "binding stack height", that also helped me to look it up further. Commented Apr 2, 2017 at 14:08
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I have a pair of race skis that had a serious spacer under the bindings. I thought that if I took it out I could save some weight on my skis, that's when I discovered they weight virtually nothing. Commented Apr 3, 2017 at 0:15
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@PeterKvačkaj You may be interested to know that the stack height on your bindings is virtually zero. You Binding hasn't been raised for on-piste performance. It's up higher than the average binding because of the mechanical nature of being for alpine climbing. Commented Apr 3, 2017 at 0:18
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@ShemSeger Its higher because of the requirement to have a bar underneath the foot. Even then you can have something like the Marker Duke bindings that are lower. Of course you aren't going to get a ski crampon underneath the Dukes....– ErikCommented Apr 3, 2017 at 17:13
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@Erik That's what I said. 'The mechanical nature' of the binding, vis–à–vis other step-in alpine touring bindings with DIN settings that have a full shank under the boot. I have Marker Tour F12's on my skis, and yes they do make crampons for them and the duke's: mec.ca/en/product/5026-012/Duke-F12-Ski-Crampons Commented Apr 4, 2017 at 4:56