I fitted these bindings to my 4Frnt Ravens last season and I fully concur. They’re epic! I fitted the toe shims because ultimately they’re for touring so more level comfort and I’m also older so who am I kidding trying to be ‘aggressive’ 😂. For clearing snow and ice out of them I use an MSR pot/pan scraper. It’s palm size, flat, costs about a tenner and you don’t notice it in your pocket. It worked on my Ions and Zeds and works on these too. See you around Cham’ 🤙🏻😎
I love that you made this video. I find that there isn't a lot of discussion/videos on YT regarding ski bindings as compared to the actual skis or even ski boots. Particularly in the Backcountry/Alpine Touring space it can be difficult to find good information. A detailed video like this goes a long way towards educating new or prospective backcountry skiers and I'm sure those with more experience can find something useful in here as well. Thanks for making and uploading this video.
This was fantastic, Dave - I learned a lot. Great tip on removing ice from the front pin holes. And I wish more toe pieces had the 'No Snow' feature. Thanks!!
what an amazing Video this is!! Thank you so much for your effort in this Videos😍 i‘m currently searching for a new touring setup - and not quite sure about which atk binding to get… is there a chance we could get a video on the different kind of ATK bindings and when to use which? Cheers!
It would be a pretty big video! Reach out to the guys at ATK and they can advise you. My top picks are the raider series or the rt 11 evo (ski Alper binding of the year 2025)
Ace video Dave, thanks so much. Love how indepth you go! Would you be happy skiing these all day on piste? I know they'll not be as safe as an alpine binding as designed for a different purpose, but just curious after your comment of them being the perfect do it all binding. Gonna stick some on a set of echos so well excited!
Brilliant vid Dave I loved all the technical info. I've just gone over to ATK Binding from Shift , all skis previously mounted with quiver killers. I've got the 13s on Scott Superglide 95s but have some heavier and wilder skis that these 15s would suit . Are the 15 evos a more heavy duty binding compared to the 13 evos ? I have spacers. I don't intend to go as high as 13 Din Are the mounting points the same ? Could I use quiver killer inserts on the ATKs for the 13 & 15 ?
I got the Raider 12s last season, and was very impressed vs others I've tried before. Feeling slight fomo on the new evos, but i expect to stay on these for quite a few seasons. Got em on a couple pairs of skis now (Also you still don't have snow over there? I probed 170cm while skiing in BC, Canada last weekend 😁. I'm often feeling the lack of infrastructure/access we have vs the alps so gotta take the wins where they come)
Random opinion: it's not very good. It's hard to justify an overpriced simple paulownia core/carbon weave combo for that high of a price it still comes in as heavy as 1550g in a 184cm. There's pure Poplar core skis that are almost that weight and/or hybrid cores that ski far better if the snow is anything but pristine which is what the La Machine 2's absolutely require. Spent a season on them and sold them.
Why do you have the Kuluar? Like you said, stepping in is harder, it doesn’t have the newer closed toe piece design. It also creates a high ramp angle. Haute Route Plus is similar weight, nice easy to step and easy to turn heels, and now has the new toe piece design too.
Do you not ski with leashes on the Kuluar? Noticed no leashes/brakes when you showed it. Have been contemplating this move for my pow skis as I find brakes less effective than one would hope and leashes too fiddly.
Hello dave. What position you mount the binding in faction la machine 2 and 4, i thinking to buy this faction skis and i am between new school or progresive. What is your experience. Thanks
Too bad that they require turning the heel. The Front12 is a much better binding in my view. Hopefully they bring back a Front15 EVO. Also in the manual it states that the freeride spacer can have up to one mm of pretention to the boot sole. But sounds a bit much in my view to I set them up with less but still couldn't do the paper test.
I use atk for more than 10 years...and yeah, they have good and prizey products...but not enough quiality for this prize rate and not good aftermarket standarts. i have the freerider 14 evo and in 2 seassons the sliders and the freerader spacers of my 2 skis broke...so really poor quality for a 600€ binding..but worse, cant be replace by myself so need to send to a distributor and the replacement its 70€ more...not fun and not fair for a 75k skier that even having a "freeride binding" didnt jump at all:) Another improvement will be brakes...are too soft, thin and short for the skis we are talking about...just falling in alps and see my ski with the brake released and in soft snow cant stop after 300m sliding...happy to my partner can catch it before go straigh into a crevasse... So i vote for a much stronger brake spring, longer pauls, and bigger and rugered plastic brake ends in my opinion. Thanks for your channel
The problem with bigger is that it’s heavier and this type of binding still needs to be light. No brakes really work in powder in my experience… I’m sorry to hear about the service I’ve always had great service and I’m sure they will take on the feedback!
I think if you are only ever downhill free riding then something like a look pivot would be better but there are no legitimate reasons you can’t take this binding anywhere that skis have already been.
ATK should def pay you for this video. It's by far the most comprehensive explanation of the binding.
I'll let them know!
@@DaveSearle let them know I agree!
BUILD quality and materials in ATK are top-notch! Functionality is superb.
👊
The people DO want to see the kitty cat! 😅
I fitted these bindings to my 4Frnt Ravens last season and I fully concur. They’re epic! I fitted the toe shims because ultimately they’re for touring so more level comfort and I’m also older so who am I kidding trying to be ‘aggressive’ 😂. For clearing snow and ice out of them I use an MSR pot/pan scraper. It’s palm size, flat, costs about a tenner and you don’t notice it in your pocket. It worked on my Ions and Zeds and works on these too.
See you around Cham’ 🤙🏻😎
The best ATK binding video out there
Thanks!
I love that you made this video. I find that there isn't a lot of discussion/videos on YT regarding ski bindings as compared to the actual skis or even ski boots. Particularly in the Backcountry/Alpine Touring space it can be difficult to find good information. A detailed video like this goes a long way towards educating new or prospective backcountry skiers and I'm sure those with more experience can find something useful in here as well. Thanks for making and uploading this video.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I would like to see a full setup video of one of these Bindings on a new Ski. This wold be really helpful to see if the Binding is set up correctly.
The Full setup requires a Ski Jig for making the holes that I don't have unfortunately.
Nice one Dave. I'm on the ATK Crest and love it !
Nice! good choice.
This was fantastic, Dave - I learned a lot. Great tip on removing ice from the front pin holes. And I wish more toe pieces had the 'No Snow' feature. Thanks!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
yes to all of this.
Great video Dave. Rocking the gringo ‘tache as well. 🤘
Own a pair of these and another Kuluar one for lighter touring skis, they are amazing. It's expensive, but I'm sold to ATK.
Excellent information.
what an amazing Video this is!! Thank you so much for your effort in this Videos😍
i‘m currently searching for a new touring setup - and not quite sure about which atk binding to get… is there a chance we could get a video on the different kind of ATK bindings and when to use which?
Cheers!
It would be a pretty big video! Reach out to the guys at ATK and they can advise you. My top picks are the raider series or the rt 11 evo (ski Alper binding of the year 2025)
again, awesome content!
Ace video Dave, thanks so much. Love how indepth you go! Would you be happy skiing these all day on piste? I know they'll not be as safe as an alpine binding as designed for a different purpose, but just curious after your comment of them being the perfect do it all binding. Gonna stick some on a set of echos so well excited!
Brilliant vid Dave I loved all the technical info.
I've just gone over to ATK Binding from Shift , all skis previously mounted with quiver killers.
I've got the 13s on Scott Superglide 95s but have some heavier and wilder skis that these 15s would suit .
Are the 15 evos a more heavy duty binding compared to the 13 evos ? I have spacers.
I don't intend to go as high as 13 Din Are the mounting points the same ?
Could I use quiver killer inserts on the ATKs for the 13 & 15 ?
Well done Video.
I may go for this one should I replace the Marker Alpinist
If I had to choose one binding for the rest of time it would be this.
I got the Raider 12s last season, and was very impressed vs others I've tried before. Feeling slight fomo on the new evos, but i expect to stay on these for quite a few seasons. Got em on a couple pairs of skis now
(Also you still don't have snow over there? I probed 170cm while skiing in BC, Canada last weekend 😁. I'm often feeling the lack of infrastructure/access we have vs the alps so gotta take the wins where they come)
Hi! Could You please make a quick review of the Faction La Machine 2 for us?
Random opinion: it's not very good. It's hard to justify an overpriced simple paulownia core/carbon weave combo for that high of a price it still comes in as heavy as 1550g in a 184cm. There's pure Poplar core skis that are almost that weight and/or hybrid cores that ski far better if the snow is anything but pristine which is what the La Machine 2's absolutely require. Spent a season on them and sold them.
Why do you have the Kuluar? Like you said, stepping in is harder, it doesn’t have the newer closed toe piece design. It also creates a high ramp angle. Haute Route Plus is similar weight, nice easy to step and easy to turn heels, and now has the new toe piece design too.
Instead of keeping special shims in various thicknesses on hand to check binding gaps, just use something you already own: a set of metric Allen keys.
Great tip. 👊
Doesn't that freeride spacer inhibit the sideways release of the rear binding, especially if the ski is compressed against the boot heel?
Do you not ski with leashes on the Kuluar? Noticed no leashes/brakes when you showed it. Have been contemplating this move for my pow skis as I find brakes less effective than one would hope and leashes too fiddly.
Never leashes for me. I really dislike them. Fiddly and also not good in an avalanche.
Hello dave. What position you mount the binding in faction la machine 2 and 4, i thinking to buy this faction skis and i am between new school or progresive. What is your experience. Thanks
I’m progressive for both and it feels good for me.
Too bad that they require turning the heel. The Front12 is a much better binding in my view. Hopefully they bring back a Front15 EVO.
Also in the manual it states that the freeride spacer can have up to one mm of pretention to the boot sole. But sounds a bit much in my view to I set them up with less but still couldn't do the paper test.
I use atk for more than 10 years...and yeah, they have good and prizey products...but not enough quiality for this prize rate and not good aftermarket standarts.
i have the freerider 14 evo and in 2 seassons the sliders and the freerader spacers of my 2 skis broke...so really poor quality for a 600€ binding..but worse, cant be replace by myself so need to send to a distributor and the replacement its 70€ more...not fun and not fair for a 75k skier that even having a "freeride binding" didnt jump at all:)
Another improvement will be brakes...are too soft, thin and short for the skis we are talking about...just falling in alps and see my ski with the brake released and in soft snow cant stop after 300m sliding...happy to my partner can catch it before go straigh into a crevasse... So i vote for a much stronger brake spring, longer pauls, and bigger and rugered plastic brake ends in my opinion.
Thanks for your channel
The problem with bigger is that it’s heavier and this type of binding still needs to be light. No brakes really work in powder in my experience… I’m sorry to hear about the service I’ve always had great service and I’m sure they will take on the feedback!
🐈 ⛷️
*if you only tour* . Would never ski that in a real freeride setting or at whistler.
I think if you are only ever downhill free riding then something like a look pivot would be better but there are no legitimate reasons you can’t take this binding anywhere that skis have already been.