Anti-pre-release. ACL-integrity. Proven.
🌀 PROBLEM:
Today, no alpine ski bindings provide ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), MCL (medial collateral ligament), meniscus, tibial-plateau, or femoral-condyle integrity during Slip-Catch, Phantom-Foot and/or backward-twisting events. The 1st two injuries, ACL and MCL, are the most frequent types of injuries in alpine skiing, today.
☀️ SOLUTION:
Additional lateral-heel release combined with scientifically-derived lateral-heel release-settings—assisted with patented anti-pre-release technology and patented low 21.5mm stand-height—provided only by soon forthcoming Howell Ski Bindings. Proven. 🎯
To pre-order, click product image, above.
US$95 pre-order deposit price.
FULL-PRICE (not deposit-price) pre-orders placed before September 1, 2026 receive bindings October, 2029 PLUS company stock-ownership proportional to the market-value of the company, Howell Ski Bindings, presently valued at US$9,893,922. Other provisions apply. Contact Rick Howell, President, Howell Ski Bindings, for details. Call 1-802-793-4849 — or email rick.howell@howellskibindings.com
To pre-order now, click a binding model image above.
Revolution — skiing with ACL, MCL, meniscus and tibia-integrity.
Howell Ski Bindings provide revolutionary ACL, MCL, meniscus, tibial-plateau and femoral-condyle integrity in alpine skiing — based on peer-reviewed and peer-approved scientific research conducted and presented by Rick Howell at high-level orthopedic research, biomechanical engineering, sports science, and skiing safety conferences throughout the world during past 24 years — with peer-reviewed abstracts published in British Journal of Sports Medicine. See end-note references.
How do Howell Ski Bindings provide revolutionary ACL, MCL, meniscus, tibial-plateau and femoral-condyle integrity?
By evolution — Revolutionary Evolution.
Howell Ski Bindings feature a collection of proven, evolutionary, technologies by leveraging 57-years of ski binding know-how from binding category insider, Rick Howell — plus —revolutionary patented technology — to provide a new paradigm in skiing pleasure.
• Additional lateral-heel-release provides ACL, MCL, meniscus, tibial-plateau and femoral-condyle integrity during episodic Slip-Catch, Phantom-Foot and backward-twisting events. (No ski boot can release through the side-lugs of any pivot-turntable binding.)
• Scientifically scaled release settings for the additional mode of lateral-heel release provide integrity to the ACL, MCL, meniscus, tibial-plateau and femoral-condyles — during episodic Slip-Catch, Phantom-Foot and backward-twisting events. Only Howell Ski Bindings provide scientifically scaled release settings for the additional mode of lateral-heel release.
• Low 21.5mm stand-height provides integrity to the ACL, MCL, meniscus, tibial-plateau and femoral-condyles during cumulative abduction-loads. Only Howell Ski Bindings provide low 21.5mm stand-height together with additional lateral-heel release and scientifically scaled settings. Utility patented.
• Zero-degree ramp-angle provides a balanced, natural, athletic stance. Each pair of bindings also includes optional toe-shims, optional heel-shims, adjustable toe-height and long brake-arms to provide individualized stance-tuning.
• Six powerful, real-time, overlapping, anti-pre-release functions:
1 — Functional Decoupling (sm) anti-pre-release. All 3 modes of release — lateral-toe, vertical-heel, lateral-heel — are uniquely decoupled from each other and decoupled from ski-flex. Each mode of release has a separate spring/cam system. Each mode of release doesn't influence the other modes’ functions. Each mode of release doesn’t work to overcome adverse cross-linking. Each mode of release is not adversely influenced by ski flex. Wide off-center-pivots in all 3 modes of release provide functional decoupling to deliver extraordinary anti-pre-release. Only Howell Ski Bindings do not need elevated release settings to provide maximum anti-pre-release and maximum skiing control. Utility patented.
2 — Elasticity anti-pre-release. Possibly the best elasticity, recentering time, return to center, recentering energy of any alpine ski binding, ever — providing anti-pre-release unlike any binding, ever. Part of why Howell Ski Bindings have extraordinary elasticity is because of Functional Decoupling (sm). See point #1 above.
3 — Cantilevering anti-pre-release. Edge control is maximized by toe and heel support-surfaces that are so wide they are cantilevered. Cantilevering reduces the work to achieve maximum anti-pre-release in each mode of release. Edge control is 18% higher than other bindings, setting-for-setting. High release settings are not needed to enjoy maximum edge control.
4 — Anti-Friction anti-pre-release. Pure, thick, Nylon-11 is deployed at all boot / binding interfaces maximizing elasticity, anti-pre-release, and skiing control.
5 — Asymmetric anti-pre-release. ACL-integrity is needed only during ‘double-internal-rotation’ of the lower-(tibia)-leg and upper-(femur)-leg. Therefore, external lateral-heel release is unnecessary. Only Howell Ski Bindings provide asymmetric—inward only—lateral-heel release—while outward lateral-heel release is blocked to maximize anti-pre-release. Asymmetric lateral-heel release cuts the probability of pre-release by 50%. Epidemiology shows that most ACL-injuries occur after 4-hours of skiing. Personally, therefore, we sometimes ski with the asymmetric-function reversed in the morning or during race-course inspection — then switch to a fresh edge after lunch or during each run of a race. When the ACL-integrity function is reversed and inactive the outcome is no worse than ordinary 2-mode bindings — it’s not better than ordinary 2-mode bindings, but it’s not worse than other bindings — and the other five anti-pre-release functions are always fully active. When the ACL-integrity function is active, Howell Ski Bindings provide a paradigm shift beyond all other bindings. Typically, however, we ski with active asymmetry all day. No other bindings provide asymmetric anti-pre-release.
6— Shared ‘Work’ anti-pre-release. The additional mode of lateral-heel release improves anti-pre-release in the toe. That’s right. The toe-piece does not have to work as hard to provide lateral anti-pre-release when the some of the lateral anti-pre-release ‘work’ is shared by the lateral-heel mechanism. The same effect applies the other way, too. Elastic-action in the toe shares elastic ‘work’ with the lateral elastic-action in the heel. Both the toe and the heel — working together — provide a new paradigm of anti-pre-release unlike all other bindings.
Anti-pre-release (sm) in Howell Ski Bindings is unlike all others — and patented.
Durability.
Howell Ski Bindings are pure, uncompromised alpine. No pins. No extra weight. Less parts than other alpine bindings. No complexity. Pure. Simple. Focused. Authentic. Scientific. Robust. Proven.
On-going, on-slope testing and continuous product improvement are essential elements of Howell Ski Bindings. This is why our first bindings are planned to be shipped August, 2029. Howell Ski Bindings are planned to meet all international safety standards, including DIN/ISO 9462, ISO 9465, ISO 11087, ISO 8061 and ‘standard industry practice’ for durability and anti-pre-release. Howell Ski Bindings will be shipped only when fully ready for commercialization.
5-Year Limited Warranty.
Background
Howell Ski Bindings arise from 5 decades of insider ski-binding experience by Rick Howell — (1) co-developing worldwide #1-selling alpine ski-bindings for a major French company while in high school; (2) active in high-level East-coast USA regional alpine ski-racing; (3) engineering thesis on ski-bindings at MIT (see end note 2); (4) co-authoring the ‘DIN-System’ for ordinary 2-mode alpine-binding release-settings; (5) owning / operating a small ski-binding service shop at the base of an FIS-approved slalom racing trail; (6) successfully working 8 years, full-time, as senior product manager at a major German ski-binding company; (7) developing 5 worldwide #1-selling high-tech sports products — including the world’s 1st hands-off clipless (clip-on) bicycle pedals, CycleBinding, and worldwide #1-selling high-tech Tubbs snowshoes; (8) conducting & presenting 24-years of paradigm-shifting engineering research on ACL related biomechanics in alpine skiing. See end note 3.
All of this experience is parlayed into patented Howell Ski Bindings to provide exceptional — happy, healthy skiing.
Recent developments
Howell Venus 2.75 - 8 DIN The only binding expressly for lite recreational female skiers.
Extra ACL-integrity 4th-mode of vertical-toe release. Eco-friendly plant-based housings
Howell Planet-B 8 - 22 DIN The real deal. Maximum anti-pre-release. Aluminum-alloy housings. Caution: only for racers and extreme skiers.
Rick Howell, a principal co-author of the ‘DIN System’. Inventor / developer of five #1 high-tech sports products, including worlds-1st hands-off clipless (clip-on) bicycle pedals, CycleBinding — and leading alpine ski bindings for others.
ONLY for Howell Ski Bindings. Confirms to DIN / ISO 9462 and ISO 8061. Includes special release-settings and testing-tolerances for additional lateral-heel release. No other bindings have it. To order this chart, see ‘Catalog’ in menu at top-left of this page.
Howell Ski Bindings are planned to be shipped August, 2029. Pre-order deposits ($95) and full-price pre-orders placed now are fueling, in-part, start-up manufacturing. The best compliment you can provide is a pre-order. In exchange for a $95 deposit now, Howell Ski Bindings offers 30%-off full-price when the remaining balance of US$465 for the Howell Mars and/or Howell Venus is due upon shipping — and when the remaining balance of US$1305 for the Howell Planet-B is payable upon shipment, August, 2029. Deposits placed now gain excellent pricing.
All pre-orders are fully refundable at any time.
Introductory Howell Ski Bindings uniquely include a precision metal mounting jig (US$100 value), DIN drill-bit, DIN tap, on-line mounting certification (or take the jig to your favorite ski shop), 2-widths of ski-brakes, 2-sets of Nylon-11-topped AFD’s — FREE shipping — and the joy of happy, healthy skiing.
☀️ ❄️ 🏔️ 🎯 🌠 🌠 🌠
To select a model that’s right for you — click a model-image at the top of this page.
Howell Venus DIN 2.75 – 8 Expressly for women. Extra ACL, MCL, meniscus, tibia-plateau and femoral-condyle integrity for lite and average-weight, smooth-recreational, female skiers — by providing an additional 4th mode of vertical-toe release. Lite. Easy step-in even in champaign powder. Zero-degree ramp-angle for neutral balance. Optional shims are included for individual tuning of stance-balance. Utility-patented.
Howell Mars DIN 4 – 12 A decisive mix of ACL-integrity AND maximum anti-pre-release. Super-wide toe-cup, heel-cup, toe-AFD, and heel-pad provide powerful edge-control. Low 21.5mm stand-height minimizes cumulative ACL, MCL, meniscus, tibial-plateau and femoral-condyle stress —or— allows added lifters (lifters not included). Utility-patented.
Howell Planet-B DIN 8 – 22 This is the real deal. Today's only all-metal race binding — with high-strength aluminum alloy housings. Powerful F1-adapted valve-springs. Super-wide toe-cup, heel-cup, toe-AFD and heel-pad provide maximum edge-control. Solid stainless-steel inner-workings for maximum durability during harsh race conditions. Low 21.5mm stand-height allows race-plates while complying with FIS stand-height regulations. Race-plates not included. Cant-kit included. Utility-patented. Limited production.
CAUTION: HOWELL PLANET-B IS ONLY FOR EXTREME SKIERS AND HIGH-LEVEL ADULT RACERS.
_________________________
Footnotes for research orthopedic surgeons, research biomechanical engineers, sport science researchers, research physiologists, and skiing epidemiologists.
Footnote 1
Proven, biomechanically, through peer-reviewed / peer-approved scientific research conducted and presented by Rick Howell, published in British Journal of Sports Medicine. Formalized as a legal-monopoly in U.S. Patent 9,463,370.
Presented at:
IOC (International Olympic Committee) World Conference on Prevention of Injury in Sport, Monaco, 2017 and 2021;
ICSS (International Conference on Science in Skiing) Voukatti, Finland, 2019; Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, 2023;
SITEMSH (International Society for Snowsports Medicine) Flachu, Austria, 2015; Barcelona, Spain, 2016; Inawashiro, Japan, 2017; Serre-Chevalier, France, 2022;
ESSKA (European Society of Surgery-Knee and Arthroscopy) Barcelona, Spain, 2016; and Madrid (virtual), Spain, 2021.
ISSS (International Society for Skiing Safety) Pontresina, Switzerland, 2003 (research grant-application and thesis promulgated by Rick Howell; research performed by University of Montréal researchers, Professor Nancy St-Onge, PhD and Professor Jacques DeGuise, PhD; presented by Professor Nicola Hagemeister, PhD, and Yan Chevalier, MS).
ISSS (International Society for Skiing Safety) — research conducted AND presented by Rick Howell at — Niigata, Japan, 2005; Aviemore, Scotland, 2007 (two papers); Bariloche, Argentina, 2013 (two papers); Cortina, Italy, 2015; Innsbruck, Austria 2017; Palisades (Squaw Valley), California, USA, 2019; Serre-Chevalier, France, 2022.
____________________________________
Biomechanical Proof of ACL Integrity:
The biomechanical proof surrounding the utility-patented ACL-integrity that is uniquely provided by Howell Ski Bindings, Howell recommended lateral-heel release-settings, and Howell anti-pre-release functions:
During ‘Slip-Catch’, ‘Phantom Foot’ and 'backward-twisting' events, large ‘abduction loads’ can be generated when the center of force produced by shaped skis enters the medial-edge of a ski, laterally, under or close-behind the projected-axis of the skier’s tibia.
“Events” means ‘crash’ or ‘loss of skiing control’. “Abduction load" (applied 'abduction-force', 'abduction-lever-arm', resultant 'abduction-moment') are defined, below. See drawing.
More specifically — during Slip-Catch, Phantom-Foot or backward-twisting events, shaped-skis do not typically slide-out at one end. Both ends bite in the snow. Therefore, rotation of the ski about the long-axis of the tibia is minimal — but lateral abduction loading is maximal.
A lateral 'abduction-force' entering the ski under or near the projected axis of the tibia — acts over the length of the lower-leg plus boot-sole thickness plus binding stand-height (the 'abduction-lever-arm') to produce an 'abduction-moment' within the ACL, MCL, meniscus, tibial-plateau and femoral-condyles. (An engineering "moment" is position-specific bending-torque — in this case, a 'lateral overturning moment' in civil engineering terms; an 'abduction-moment' in orthopedic research terms.) The applied abduction-force (located at the ski/snow interface) that's necessary to cause injury to these musculoskeletal elements can be less than body weight — especially in the presence of a long abduction-lever-arm (that's why the FIS regulates stand-height to minimize the total abduction-lever-arm.)
The naturally-formed center of the applied abduction-force (a 'centroid') that enters a shaped-ski under (or close-behind) the projected of the tibia — cannot be sensed by ordinary 2-mode alpine bindings — because the center of the abduction-force is located in the same place along the length of a ski as the center of rotation of an ordinary 2-mode alpine binding. This means that an ordinary 2-mode binding has no lateral lever-arm in which to produce lateral-toe release.
There is no release.
This lateral blind-spot is especially true for pivot / turntable bindings because it is impossible for any ski-boot to release laterally through the side-lugs of a pivot / turntable binding.
Ordinary 2-mode alpine bindings do not provide lateral-heel release because the sides of their non-laterally-releasing heel-cups block lateral-release.
No binding release — while at the same time the abduction-moment that is located in the center of the knee is maximal — can mean (if the applied abduction-force has enough magnitude) ACL, MCL, meniscus, tibial-plateau, and/or femoral condyle injury.
Again, abduction-force that is applied under, near, and/or slightly-behind the projected-axis of the tibia can produce injury to the ACL, MCL, meniscus, tibial-plateau and/or femoral condyles even when the magnitude of the applied abduction-force is less than body weight — if a binding does not provide lateral-heel release, first.
Said in another way ... during highly loaded Slip-Catch, Phantom-Foot or backward-twisting events (comprising approximately 75% of all skiing-ACL injuries: ref. Robert J. Johnson, MD) ALL ordinary 2-mode alpine bindings have a lateral-release blind-spot located in the same position as the center of the applied abduction-force — which abduction-force simultaneously acts over the vertical length of the lower leg (the abduction-lever-arm) to generate an injury-producing abduction-moment centered in the ACL, MCL, meniscus, tibial-plateau and/or femoral condyles.
Pop.
This 'kinematic' scenario involves high-school physics (vector-analysis) applied to human anatomy and to ski-bindings.
( Other types of skiing-ACL injury mechanisms involve very different kinematic load-paths — and are far less prevalent in terms of frequency of occurrence ('incidence' of injury mechanisms, adjusted for population-at-risk, is presently unknown — but prevalence is known). For example, Boot-Induced-Anterior-Drawer (BIAD) skiing-ACL injuries have a prevalence of approximately 10% of all skiing ACL-injuries. Vertical-toe release can address BIAD events — as long as smooth recreational skiing is involved. Only Howell Venus ski-bindings — for smooth, recreational female skiers — provide a 4th-mode of vertical-toe release. Howell Mars and Planet-B models have an additional 3rd-mode of lateral-heel release.)
Adding emphasis — ordinary 2-mode alpine ski-bindings have no possibility of release before ACL, MCL, meniscus, tibial-plateau, femoral-condyle injury when large abduction-loads enter a shaped-ski — irrespectively of an ordinary 2-mode binding’s release-settings. Even a small child’s release-settings in a 2-mode binding block necessary-release for an adult alpine skier during largely-loaded Slip-Catch events — leading to the possibility of ACL, MCL, meniscus, tibial-plateau, and/or femoral-condyle injury.
"R" is the abduction lever-arm.
Only a special 3-mode binding with additional lateral-heel release can release a ski from a boot when an injury-producing abduction-load flows through the kinematic-path between the point where an abduction-force is applied to a ski and where the ACL, MCL, meniscus, tibial-plateau and femoral-condyles reside.
Special, non-pre-releasing, 3-mode bindings with additional lateral-heel release — together with special lateral-heel release-settings scaled for different size skiers, large and small — can address this adverse flow of loading — by releasing the ski from the boot at a release-magnitude that is lower than the integrity-threshold of an ACL, MCL, meniscus, tibial-plateau, and/or femoral-condyle (scaling is also involved for different sizes of skiers. See Howell Recommended Release Settings chart, below — only for Howell Ski Bindings).
The special non-pre-releasing 3-mode binding with additional lateral-heel release and special lateral-heel release-settings is Howell SkiBindings. No other bindings have these combined advantages. Patented.
Actual test-data. The thin black line with small, round, data-dots represents the unique 2D ‘release envelope’ of ACL-friendly Howell SkiBindings — operating in the white-space below the integrity-thresholds of the tibia, ACL and MCL and above the pre-release threshold — of a 50th-percentile male as modeled within the Hybrid-III crash dummy of the U.S. Highway Transportation Safety Commission developed by Humanics.
TWO IMPORTANT HOWEVER’S.
Anti-pre-release.
Special bindings with additional lateral-heel release MUST NOT pre-release. Pre-release can sometimes cause injuries that are more severe than injuries caused by non-release.
Release-settings are only one-part of how a good binding mitigates pre-release — because if pre-release in a given binding is mitigated solely by high release settings, a key function of the binding — necessary release — can become blocked.
—> Only utility patented Howell SkiBindings mitigate dangerous pre-release — without high release settings — in all 3-modes of release. See the above points near the top of this page regarding the six unique anti-pre-release functions within Howell Ski Bindings.
Other bindings do not provide these combined features, benefits and advantages because only Howell Ski Bindings has refined them during more than 57 years of testing — including 24 years of testing bindings with ACL-integrity without pre-release — and because the unique anti-pre-release functions within Howell Ski Bindings are utility-patented and must not be made, used, sold, or induced by others to make, use, or sell bindings with the claims within the Howell utility patents.
Warnings.
No ski-bindings, including Howell Ski Bindings, can ‘prevent’ all skiing injuries.
The term, ‘safety’ is a misnomer. A ‘safe' ski binding can be very dangerous if it’s overly-focused on ‘release’ without also mitigating adverse pre-release. Pre-release can sometimes become more severe than non-release.
Skiing injury can occur by simply falling down or by impact with an object — including impact with ‘firm snow’. These types of injury-producing events are not sensed by any ski-binding (loads produced by these types of events never flow through the binding). In-boot injury means that a load sufficient enough to cause release never reached the binding (the boot was not properly buckled). Fibula-injuries caused by direct lateral contact to the fibula are also not sensed by any binding. No binding can avert femur-shaft or hip injury. These points are not inclusive of all alpine skiing scenarios / types of injuries.
Advantages.
➡️ Uniquely, Howell Ski Bindings are proven, biomechanically, by
1— providing integrity to the ACL, MCL, meniscus, tibial-plateau and femoral-condyles by mitigating (never completely eliminating) episodic (single traumatic event) non-release through lateral-heel release;
2— providing integrity to those same musculoskeletal elements by mitigating chronic (cumulative) abduction-moments through, in-part, low ski-binding stand-height;
3— mitigating adverse pre-release (see above six points and international alpine ski binding standard ISO 9465 as well as Howell-proprietary anti-pre-release test methods);
4— providing integrity to the tibia mid-shaft through ordinary alpine ski binding function as defined by the international alpine ski binding safety standards, DIN / ISO 9462 and ISO 8061;
5— providing ski-brake function according to ISO 11087;
6— providing durability according to 'standard industry practice'.
Howell Ski Bindings combine an extraordinary new paradigm shift together with planned, forthcoming, compliance with international standards for ordinary ski binding function — to provide happy, healthy, pure alpine skiing.
Footnote 2
Rick Howell was never a student at MIT. Rick performed “dream research” at MIT at the remarkable bequest of and sponsorship by MIT Aerospace Engineering Professor Lawrence Retman Young, Sc.D., who at the time, was Chairman of the interdisciplinary Harvard-MIT Biomedical Engineering Department. The research conceived and performed by Rick Howell at MIT (1974 - ‘77) led to a groundbreaking method to measure dynamic structural fatigue — still in use, today. Rick is a graduate of New England College with a double undergraduate major in business and civil engineering.
Footnote 3
Peer-reviewed and approved abstracts (and presentations) on the extensive biomechanical experimental-testing of patented Howell Ski Binding technology:
Br J Sports Med 2017;51:283-412
Br J Sports Med 2021;55(Suppl 1):A1-A188
10.1136/bjsports-2021-IOC.367 [402]
Publisher’s 2nd correction: Br J Sports Med 2022;0:1. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2021-IOC.367corr2
Footnote 4
Recreational-skier release-setting chart only for Howell Ski Bindings:
Chart available now for purchase. See 'Catalog' within menu. Menu, top-left of this page.
To find Howell Ski Binding models that are best suited for you, click an image at the top of this page.
Howell Ski Bindings (sm)
PO Box 1274 • Stowe, Vermont 05672 USA
1.802.793.4849 • rick.howell@howellskibindings.com
Copyright © by Rick Howell and Howell Ski Bindings, 2016 through 2026. All rights reserved. U.S. Patent 9,463,370.
Contents subject to change without notice.
'ACL-integrity', ‘Anti-Pre-Release', 'It was inevitable.', ’Howell Ski Bindings’, 'Howell Venus', 'Howell Mars', 'Howell Planet-B', ‘Functional Decoupling’ — are Service Marks (sm) of Howell Ski Bindings and Howell Product Development Holding, Inc.
It was inevitable. (sm)