Binding are critical to helping, nay, saving your knees. It detects when the time is right to cut you loose so that you don’t get twisted and severely damage your knees. These devices are thoroughly tested against established safety standards, so new sets should do the trick for you in the event you end up needing them. Note that the latest integrated ski and binding systems remove the need for you to decide which one to get. However, should you desire the non-integrated systems, here are some tips to help you along:
First, understand that bindings absorb shock, dampen vibration and ultimately limits fatigue. Your ski equipment works together, and in this case, your skis, boots and bindings work collectively as one, and a decent pair of bindings actually contribute to better skiing.
Bindings are made up of a toe and heel component set. In the event of a crash, the toe section releases sideways and on ocassion upwards, while the heel releases primarily upward, but may also do so in multiple directions.
Brakes are essentially prongs that are built in with the bindings, and they are located under the boots. Prongs should line up with the sides of the ski. Upon the release of the binding in a crash, the prongs flip down and drag on the snow to assist in keeping the ski from getting away from you. Nothing like a runaway ski on a slope. Brakes also have the added benefit of being able to secure ski bases together, which then helps with its transport. Brakes should be in accord with the width of the ski: wide skiis, wide brakes.
Anti-friction devices are metal or Teflon® pads located on the ski under the forefeet. They allow the boots to easily slide out of the bindings in the event the toe pieces release.
Bindings have been following the wide trend. Still, bindings you buy today will in all likelihood still fit your narrow (relatively speaking) skis, but understand that the brakes may protrude just a bit.