Official ATK Binding Thread

[KM14]

Trying to decide whether to wait for the new c-raider 12 or grab an FR14. Any opinion on these two?

I wonder whether the carbon base plate would help reduce vibrations on hard snow vs all-aluminum?

Anyone have experience with the FR14? I assume the toe piece lateral release is stiffer than the new 12 binding. Anyone find it too stiff to safely release? I’m 200lbs 6’.

Also is the toe piece spring design similar to the Raider (4springs) but fully enclosed ?

[CaliBrit]

Trying to decide whether to wait for the new c-raider 12 or grab an FR14. Any opinion on these two?

I wonder whether the carbon base plate would help reduce vibrations on hard snow vs all-aluminum?

Anyone have experience with the FR14? I assume the toe piece lateral release is stiffer than the new 12 binding. Anyone find it too stiff to safely release? I’m 200lbs 6’.

Also is the toe piece spring design similar to the Raider (4springs) but fully enclosed ?

Just seems you get a plastic toe plate vs metal.

Up to you. I think the actual toe design is identical. The FR14 and R12 don’t have regular springs.

[Kreemcheese]

Trying to decide whether to wait for the new c-raider 12 or grab an FR14. Any opinion on these two?

I wonder whether the carbon base plate would help reduce vibrations on hard snow vs all-aluminum?

Anyone have experience with the FR14? I assume the toe piece lateral release is stiffer than the new 12 binding. Anyone find it too stiff to safely release? I’m 200lbs 6’.

Also is the toe piece spring design similar to the Raider (4springs) but fully enclosed ?

Mounted my FR14's last week and got about 5 mellow tours in so far (still allowed here in Sweden). Loving how they perform on the up coming from Ions and Shifts most recently. The all metal toe-piece feels bomber and oozes of quality in my opinion.
Unsure if the carbon infused plastic will help in reducing vibrations, dont think it will be a big noticable difference actually. I really like the fr14 and will probably get another pair next season if nothing happens with them during spring so highly recommended!

[DGamms]

Would one of you ATK binding experts mind schooling me on the BD Helio equivalents? I was thinking about getting a pair of Helio 110s for someone as a gift. The skier is 5’ 5” and 125lbs and looking to significantly lighten her touring setup. Thoughts? Anyone have experience with this binding in particular?

Thanks in advance.

[mall walker]

Would one of you ATK binding experts mind schooling me on the BD Helio equivalents? I was thinking about getting a pair of Helio 110s for someone as a gift. The skier is 5’ 5” and 125lbs and looking to significantly lighten her touring setup. Thoughts? Anyone have experience with this binding in particular?

Thanks in advance.

the 110 is the world cup iirc, it's more a race binding than a touring binding (I have a friend who races a lot and has broken one, which is pretty rare for ATKs). the 145 is the way to go for touring imo.

[DGamms]

Thanks MW!! Care to expand at all? Is the main concern that the 110 is just less durable than the 145? She doesn’t need anything higher than a RV of 8, so that part is a non-issue.

Also, does the 110 even have an option for ski crampons?

[galibier_numero_un]

Would one of you ATK binding experts mind schooling me on the BD Helio equivalents? I was thinking about getting a pair of Helio 110s for someone as a gift. The skier is 5’ 5” and 125lbs and looking to significantly lighten her touring setup. Thoughts? Anyone have experience with this binding in particular?

Thanks in advance.

See the chart I put up in post #1.

The answer depends on whether she wants to be able to adjust the lateral release value.

... Thom

[mall walker]

Thanks MW!! Care to expand at all? Is the main concern that the 110 is just less durable than the 145? She doesn’t need anything higher than a RV of 8, so that part is a non-issue.

Also, does the 110 even have an option for ski crampons?

that is my understanding, weight and subsequently durability. you can get the 145 in a 6, 8 or 10 cheap on t-p fwiw

[Dshack89]

FYI BD Helio 180's (aka ATK Trofeo Plus) are $287 on backcountry.com...basically the same price as T-P

[mall walker]

FYI BD Helio 180's (aka ATK Trofeo Plus) are $287 on backcountry.com...basically the same price as T-P

jfc that is cheap

[North]

I will just say I am ecstatic with my ATK Trofeo Plus. Everything just works, super dialed. Heel flap can be lifted with the handle on my ski pole during transitions. The rotation to/from flat mode is not too difficult when it's very cold (ahem Plum).

Anybody have a direct comparison with the BD branded version in regard to heel rotation effort? I know they're the same binding, but this is the primary complaint I'm seeing with the Helio 180. Same priced shipped right now for either version.

[margotron]

C-Raider 12 intriguing

[plugboots]

C-Raider 12 intriguing

Yup. But I want to see some other people beat the shit out of that front Carbon base plate before I buy a pair. So for 2022 perhaps?

[galibier_numero_un]

C-Raider 12 intriguing

Where are you seeing this version? [edit]Never mind ... I found this video ...[edit/]

Anybody have a direct comparison with the BD branded version in regard to heel rotation effort? I know they're the same binding, but this is the primary complaint I'm seeing with the Helio 180. Same priced shipped right now for either version.

I can't believe they're any different apart from the anodized color. At the same price, why not just go with BD for the added warranty support and not look back?

Regarding spinning them, I've been musing about making a simple tool - a combined binding spinner and skin scraper. I set my Helio 200s to about 7.5 lateral and it's a bit of a challenge to rotate them.

My idea is a simple, piece of 1/8" x 2.0" aluminum stock, bent into an "L" shape with the short side being about 5/8" long. Drill two holes that mate with the pins and voila! The long side (say 3" and used for leverage) can be used to de-glop skins. Maybe drill a hole at the end of the long side to run some 2mm cord through.

... Thom

[mall walker]

fwiw the 180s don’t have adjustable anything release and they’re fine to rotate (I run the “10” RV so theoretically the stiffest offering for that particular model). maybe it’s just my pair but if you think those rotate tough you haven’t skied a plum. and I’m 5’10” / 145lbs so not exactly a big muscle man.

no clue on the adjustable lateral RV ones though.

[North]

Ya price + warranty support was too good to pass up. Sounds like a non-issue anyway.

[Adrgha]

I'm probably a moron, but is there any difference between the R12 and the Raider 12 2.0 (and the R14 - Freeraider 14 2.0) other than the rear/front brakes? Can you use the freeride spacer with the rear brakes? Any other differences? Their naming scheme doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

[galibier_numero_un]

I'm probably a moron, but is there any difference between the R12 and the Raider 12 2.0 (and the R14 - Freeraider 14 2.0) other than the rear/front brakes? Can you use the freeride spacer with the rear brakes? Any other differences? Their naming scheme doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

This year's Raider/Freeraider have the brake at the toe. The R12/FR14 have it at the rear. Different toe piece design between the siblings, and I believe the Freeride spacers are different as well - to accommodate the different heel pieces.

Follow the link to the ATK site in post #1.

The chart in that post will likely help you suss out the naming schenes - at least a bit.

... Thom

[Adrgha]

This year's Raider/Freeraider have the brake at the toe. The R12/FR14 have it at the rear. Different toe piece design between the siblings, and I believe the Freeride spacers are different as well - to accommodate the different heel pieces.

Follow the link to the ATK site in post #1.

The chart in that post will likely help you suss out the naming schenes - at least a bit.

... Thom

Thank you. It's still not clear to me why you would pick one over the other. Do they have any advantages/disadvantages over each other?

[kid-kapow]

Where are you seeing this version? [edit]Never mind ... I found this video ...[edit/]

Post #2 in this thread.

I'm probably a moron, but is there any difference between the R12 and the Raider 12 2.0 (and the R14 - Freeraider 14 2.0) other than the rear/front brakes? Can you use the freeride spacer with the rear brakes? Any other differences? Their naming scheme doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

The main functional difference is that the Raider 12/14 2.0s have brakes that are always active -> you step out, they engange, vs R12/14s that are either fully locked or active. The toes are also different, where the R12/14 toes can be adjusted wrt clamping force. The Freeride spacers are also completely different between the two designs. On R12/14s the spacer is placed around the brake stomp pad and mounted as a part of the binding. On FR12/14s the Freeride Spacers is bolted on the bindng after it has been mounted, then adjusted for height.

So the choice really boils down to if you want fully active brakes at all times or not, then which you can get cheaper. I doubt there is much of a difference in ride feel - the heel tower is the same between the two designs (I think). I have not used them back to back.

[Adrgha]

Post #2 in this thread.



The main functional difference is that the Raider 12/14 2.0s have brakes that are always active -> you step out, they engange, vs R12/14s that are either fully locked or active. The toes are also different, where the R12/14 toes can be adjusted wrt clamping force. The Freeride spacers are also completely different between the two designs. On R12/14s the spacer is placed around the brake stomp pad and mounted as a part of the binding. On FR12/14s the Freeride Spacers is bolted on the bindng after it has been mounted, then adjusted for height.

So the choice really boils down to if you want fully active brakes at all times or not, then which you can get cheaper. I doubt there is much of a difference in ride feel - the heel tower is the same between the two designs (I think). I have not used them back to back.

Great info, thank you! I've never tried ATK, but I'm very intrigued and will probably get a pair the next time I'm in the marked. How are brake sizes? True to size or oversized? (I'm looking at you, Fritschi...)

[kid-kapow]

Pretty much true to size They are at least more true to size than either Fritschi or Salomon/Atomics.

[kevino]

Question for those with ATK usage. Any lateral slop developing in the heel at all? My wife and I have used Salomon/atomic MTN/Backlands for the last 3 seasons and really like the binding, however the heels are all developing lateral slop, which I think is coming from the heel track for length adjustment. I'm thinking that the ATK bindings that have two length tracks (trofeo plus, haute route, that wouldn't be as vulnerable to this problem?

[plugboots]

Question for those with ATK usage. Any lateral slop developing in the heel at all? My wife and I have used Salomon/atomic MTN/Backlands for the last 3 seasons and really like the binding, however the heels are all developing lateral slop, which I think is coming from the heel track for length adjustment. I'm thinking that the ATK bindings that have two length tracks (trofeo plus, haute route, that wouldn't be as vulnerable to this problem?

Zero slop between Mrs. Plug and I. Ha.
4th season on Raider 12 2.0

[Dshack89]

Would be curious to get feedback on my gameplan for the BD Helio 180s / ATK Trofeo Plus that just showed up at my door:

Setup #1 (lightweight spring ski, I will only use with a 310 BSL boot)
-Toes with quiver killers
-Heel with QK (no adjustment track, just the heel to save a few grams)

Setup #2 (powder ski, I may use a 310 or 327 bsl boot based on day)
-Toes with quiver killers
-Mount heel track with traditional mount (would just attach heel onto track, might later QK if needed)

My powder boards may not come back out this season, so my most pressing question is whether it's ok to mount the heel piece without the track. My guess is this is the same as the standard BD 145 / ATK trofeo. Looks like the screws will stick out about 0.5 mm longer than when going thru the adjustment track, but dont think that will matter.