If you’re a skier, you know how important ski bindings are. At some point you must have heard about demo bindings. If you are wondering what they are and how they compare to direct mounted bindings, this post is for you!
I have seen a lot of people asking about demo bindings and its differences and there’s nothing much out there that covers this. So in this post, I’ll walk you through the differences along with some of the most common FAQs.
Table of Contents
What Are Demo Bindings?
Demo bindings is a type of binding with a fully adjustable heel and toe piece that can be quickly adjusted to fit just about any ski boot size. These can be usually seen in rental or demo skis.
Demo bindings are a lot similar to regular bindings. They are designed to make it simple for stores to adjust for various skiers so they can try out the skis before purchasing.
They are not new to the world of skiing, and in fact they have been around since the 1970’s and have come a long way. Its ease of adjustment has remained paramount over performance throughout the years.
Demo Bindings Vs Regular Bindings
The main difference between demo and regular bindings is that demo bindings are heavier than regular bindings due to the adjustment plate and they are a little sloppier at holding the boot to the ski compared to regular direct mount bindings.
Let’s now take a look at some of the differences between demo bindings vs regular bindings in greater detail:
Appearance
Demo bindings and regular bindings sort of look the same. The heel and the toe pieces look identical. But it’s the adjustable track system underneath that looks and is different.
Weight
The weight of the bindings has to be one of the most significant differences between the two. Demo bindings are heavier and have a greater stack height than regular bindings.
However there are newer models out there which weigh much less and are nearing the normal binding weight. Plus weight isn’t gonna be a problem when you are ACTUALLY skiing
Holding The Boot
Regular bindings have a better hold of the boot than demo bindings.
Demo bindings tend to be slopier because the bindings connection is weak as it can move backward and forth on both the toe and heel pieces. Plus there’s a chance of breaking a demo binding if you are a heavier skier who does big drops.
Adjustability
Adjustability is what separates demo bindings from the regular ones. A regular direct mount binding will ONLY adjust to one boot size while you can adjust demo bindings to any adult boot size.
Demo bindings have always been easy to adjust and often offer the ideal amount of boot lift for all mountain skiing. However just because adjusting it is easy and can be done yourself doesn’t mean you should. Always bring it to a shop for a safety release test.
Demo bindings are an excellent option if you want to switch skis with a friend, share them to friends and family or require a single pair of skis to fit numerous users. There are also great if your sole size changes with different boots.
Performance
Performance is almost the same but regular bindings normally sit lower on the ski and allow the ski to flex more naturally plus they have fewer or no moving parts that might fail or malfunction, and less wiggle or swing in them when compared to demo bindings.
There’s a possibility that the additional stack height and the moving parts of a demo binding may affect performance. However some demo bindings are a lot better and safer than regular ones.
Prices
Demo bindings are usually more expensive than regular direct mount bindings.
Regular bindings typically cost anywhere between $100 to $250. Bindings made for the PROs might cost more than $500. You might also have to spend a little bit extra to have your bindings attached to your skis, depending on the store you purchase from. Read more about ski costs here.
On the other hand, demo bindings can range from anywhere between $150 to $350, depending on the quality, brand, and the shop you buy it from.
Should I Replace Demo Bindings?
Most of the time it’s not worth replacing demo bindings unless the binding is ripped, damaged or there’s something wrong with it. The performance is almost the same as regular ones so there shouldn’t be a problem. However if you are doing big cliff drops, consider replacing them.
Conclusion
Overall, there’s not much difference between the demo and regular bindings, But if you ask me I would prefer demo bindings over the regular bindings because of the ability to dial in mount point plus demos fits on anyone, so I could share the skis with friends and family. Other than it being a bit heavier and bit sloppy than the regular ones, demo bindings are mostly the same.
Are Demo Bindings As Good As Regular Bindings?
Yes they are as good as regular bindings. There’s not much difference between the both but demo bindings come with the possibility to fit into any boot size which is not possible in regular bindings.
Are Demo Ski Bindings Bad?
Demo bindings aren’t bad at all. It mostly depends on the preferences of the people. The only downsides are they are heavier and a little sloppy at holding boots.
