ATK recently announced a new binding that’s a pretty big departure for the brand. Up until now, they’d only made touring bindings that held the boot using pins at both the toe and heel.
This new model, dubbed the Hy, is designed to offer skiing performance similar to alpine bindings while letting you skin uphill with a tech / pin toe.
On paper, that puts it into a similar category as other “hybrid” bindings, such as the Salomon Shift2, CAST Freetour 2.0, and Marker Duke PT.
However, ATK says the Hy weighs 675 grams per binding, which would make it 250 grams lighter than the Shift2, which is the lightest of those three other hybrid bindings.
Details are still limited at the moment, but we’ll start testing the Hy as soon as it’s available, which ATK estimates will be some time later this winter. For now, we’ll cover some of the info that ATK has shared. Visuals are helpful, so first, take a look at ATK’s promo video:
Toe Piece Design
The Hy is somewhat similar to the Shift2 in that it uses a toe piece with pins that can move out of the way for ski mode, rather than having removable or swappable components, as is the case with the Duke PT and CAST Freetour 2.0.
The Hy’s toe “arms” flip up for uphill mode, exposing the pins. Similar to the Shift2, you then press the Hy’s toe lever down to open the arms, line up your boot’s toe inserts, and then pull the lever up to lock the toe arms.
For downhill mode, you flip down the arms; they then clamp the boot from both sides, similar (in concept, at least) to how most alpine bindings’ toe pieces function. ATK hasn’t listed elastic travel numbers for the toe, but they do say it’s adjustable and show the toe arms releasing in what looks like a machine that’s used to test the release of alpine bindings.
The Hy reportedly comes with specific spacers to slot between the base plate and the sliding section of the binding’s AFD (“anti-friction device”), in order to be compatible with “most alpine skiing, ski mountaineering, and freeride boots.” They also say they designed softer spacers for use with plastic-soled boots in order to reduce vibrations.
Heel Piece Design
Overall, the Hy’s heel piece looks a bit like that of the Fritschi Tecton and Marker Kingpin (those two bindings feature a traditional pin toe but have alpine-binding-like heel pieces). The Hy’s heel features a spring that allows you to adjust the release values from 4-11 or 6-13 (there will apparently be two versions of the Hy, the Hy 11 Free and Hy 13 Free).
In downhill mode, the Hy’s heel piece looks like it functions similarly to most alpine bindings; stepping down into it clamps the boot vertically, and ATK says the Hy’s heel offers 7 mm of vertical elasticity. ATK says the Hy offers a flat platform from heel to toe when in downhill mode, in contrast to some pin bindings that have a higher heel-to-toe delta.
For uphill mode, you rotate a lever on the heel, which will lock the brakes when you step down on them. The heel piece offers three walking modes. There are +10 mm and +34 mm heel risers, and then, interestingly, a -18 mm setting (instead of a truly flat setting).
Regarding the negative heel-toe delta, ATK says “This 18mm difference enhances stride extension and walking efficiency during long and flat approach. This design is especially beneficial for skiers using freeride boots with a cuff that offers limited mobility.”
Other Specs & Details
ATK says the Hy is primarily made of 7075 aluminum and stainless steel, with some POM plastic parts as well.
As mentioned above, the Hy will reportedly be offered in two variants for different release value ranges (one from 4-11 and another from 6-13). As of right now, ATK doesn’t mention anything about whether or not the Hy will be DIN certified for release characteristics, but we’ll report back if we get any more info on that.
The Hy will reportedly offer 25 mm of adjustment for different boot sole lengths, and it will be offered with 97, 108, and 120 mm brake widths. It also has a slot on the toe piece for ski crampons.
ATK says the retail price of the Hy is €799.
We plan to record a GEAR:30 conversation with ATK about this binding and very much look forward to testing it this season, so stay tuned for updates.
It will be key to know whether this binding will feature DIN-certified release values. I wouldn’t see the reason to go for a hybrid binding if consistency in release is not certified. Looking forward to hear more once you have additional information.
well this looks totally game changing.
The pin height seems a bit to excessive for long tours. My take from the video.
This is nice, but the Trab Tr1, which is on its third iteration and is very similar, is proven reliable and is already available.
It also weighs the same as the claimed weight of this new ATK binding.
The Tr1 is a pin binding with a regular heel – similar to the Tecton – it is not a hybrid binding like this one (or the Shift, etc.).
There is a proposed new ASTM test method that will apply to all touring and alpine bindings.
Snownaut, no offense but why is DIN certification so key in your mind? I can almost guarantee that NO ONE buying a hybrid type binding like this is worried about DIN certification.
Every time I have a binding mounted (alpine, touring, hybrid or otherwise) the first thing I have to do is throw them on the tailgate and crank-em down so you can actually ski, without blowing out.
Been skiing Dynafits of all varieties for 20++ years. Until the FT12 was released..I’m not even sure there was DIN cert available. I’m still on original knees in Telluride at 54.
I think you are confusing hybrid type bindings with pin or tech type, although you seem knowledgeable. Hybrid usually refers to bindings like shift, or Marker Duke, or Cast which give you “alpine” DIN certified downhill performance with pin “tech” performance on the uphill. I own a shift and bought it for its DIN rating in down hill performance. I estimate the vast majority of hybrid owners bought it for exactly that reason.
What you saw makes sense for pin bindings and bindings such as Marker Kingpin, where you ski down hill with your toe anchored with the pins. I would agree with you on those types.
I run my alpine bindings around 10 DIN and never come out. You must ski very “rough” if you are popping out at 16 or higher DINS.
Wonder how well the ski crampons will be engaged, given the high suspension of the boot? That said, I appreciate the flat delta very much. I could bear some delta in my old ZGTPs, not so much in the more forward leant 24/25 Model.
“ATK hasn’t listed elastic travel numbers for the toe” – on the page for the product if you expand the Product specification you can see they have Toe piece elastic travel listed as “18mm each side”.
It wasn’t there yesterday am, looks like they just added. I guess it’s equivalent to ’36mm’ vs shift claimed 47mm. Pretty impressive, pending caveats.
Trab TR1 is more of a competitor than you’d think, btw. It is a pin toe, but with lateral release and elasticity. They don’t publish a number for that afaik, though.