ATK C-Raider 12 - Black Orange 2024

ATK C-Raider 12

ATK have become the leading alpine touring binding brand through relentless innovation and attention to detail, enabling ATK to create aluminium bindings that are both lightweight and rigid, thereby offering superior control and safety.
ATK's development laboratory has turned their attention to carbon fibre composites. For many people “carbon” equals “light and fragile”, but for ATK “carbon” means “bombproof structure” with the lowest possible weight.
Once again the key to ATK's success is innovation and an understanding of the material's properties.

The C-Raider 12 is an intermediate model between the "Efficient" Crest 10 and the "Free-Rando" R12 in both terms of weight and performance.

ATK designed a new toe unit for the C-Raider 12  which features a high performance carbon reinforced composite baseplate offering a very high weight/stiffness ratio.
The innovative structural design results in lower weight while the wide drilling pattern ensures direct power transfer even on wider skis. 
The toepiece also features ATK's Pack Proof system: the design of the toe unit prevents any accumulation of snow, ice or debris under the jaws, making step in and out faster and easier as well as preventing snow accumulation when climbing.
This innovative toe unit gives the C-Raider 12 a weight of only 305 g per ski, with similar performance to the R12.

The C-Raider 12 shares the same heel unit as the Raider 12, and lateral and vertical release can be adjusted independently with a range 5-12 DIN. 
The heel unit has ATK's excellent Cam Release System. This stabilizes the heel pins and provides the torsional stiffness ATK bindings are reknowned for.
The special cam profile is pressed against the heel pins by a pre-tensioned spring: during step in, or on the event of a fall the pins are forced to go through the cam profile which provides a precise resistance to pin release depending upon the release value set on the bindings. 
This mechanism provides the most stable downhill performance on the market with consistent reduction of boot torsion compared to any other tech heel unit design. It also provides the softest heel step-in of any bindings.

Most modern free rando insert bindings now include a system to compensate for ski flex and the C-Raider has ATK's Elastic Response System. 
The heel unit is mounted on a baseplate that can slide forwards and backwards to absorb ski flex. 
Unlike some other brands who no longer recommend a gap between the heel unit and boot (since the heel unit will move with ski flex), ATK still recommend adjusting the heel unit to have the 4 mm space.
However the principle is the same, allowing the ski to flex without the binding and boot blocking the centre of the ski, reducing pressure on the bindings during ski compression and giving more reliable release performance.
The C-Raider 12 also features ATK's Magneto Heel Flaps: A simple yet ingenious magnet system provides stability to the heel unit and ease of use and a choice of 3 heel heights: flat, +26.5 mm, +40 mm.

ATK bindings with brakes have a unique design for the ski brakes. Most brands combine the ski/walk mechanism with the base of the heel unit tower. This automatically reduces the rigidity of the tower block. 
ATK have separated the ski brake function from the heel tower, allowing them to create torsionally stiffer bindings. 
Ski brakes are instead activated by a button on the side of the heel base plate. Push the button in, press the ski brake plate flat and the ski brakes are locked up. Push the button to unlock for ski mode. It works very well. 
The C-Raider 12 is available with a choice of six ski brake widths from 86-120 mm.

For skiers looking for even more power transfer to the ski, the ATK Freeride Spacer AL09 is available as an option.

The lightest of ATK's "Free Ski" bindings, the C-Raider 12 offers an interesting combination of low weight, high performance and a very attractive price.

See our TABLE ATK 2022 Binding Specifications for a technical comparison of all ATK 2023 bindings.

Features ATK C-Raider 12 

EES Easy Entry System: Toepiece design gives easy and confident step in action with all tech boots, even when boot soles are worn.
Cam Release System: This mechanism inside the ATK heel units to facilitate both boot entry and binding vertical release in the event of a fall. 
Elastic Response System: The heel unit moves on a rail to absorb ski flex and provides more reliable release performance at all stages of the turn.
Up-Hill Hardness Variator: Compensates for boot toe insert wear and enables the skier to customize walk mode closure to their weight and skiing style.
Magneto Heel Flaps: A simple yet ingenious magnet system provides stability to the heel unit and ease of use.