ATK Crest 8 Binding
Small and light skiers know it can be hard to find a touring binding that meets all your needs without infringing on your safety. A lightweight, full featured binding with low release settings can be a rare gem, but thankfully ATK has excavated the gleaming sapphire that is the Crest 8 from the mines of touring technology. The fully adjustable lateral and vertical release values can be set in a range from 3-8, perfect for kids, lighter weight shredders, or skiers protecting old injuries with wide safety margins. Adamant that skiers with lower release settings deserve the same functionality as their bigger brethren, ATK has included brakes, three riser options, and elastic heel travel in the Crest 8, as well as many of their technologies such as the Cam Release System and Easy Entry System that improve the safety and user experience of the binding. Perhaps most impressively, ATK has stuffed all of this hoopla into a sub-300g package, meaning that you get the performance without the weight.
- Adjustable vertical and lateral release from 3-8 for lighter weight skiers.
- Elastic Response System keeps release forces constant as the ski flexes through your turn (or fall).
- 20mm of track adjustment allows you to use multiple boots or setup the binding with "room to grow" into bigger boots.
- Cam Release System governs how the heel vertically releases your boot for more consistent and accurate ejection.
- The Easy Entry System is a combination of specific toe piece geometry and construction to make stepping in easy and satisfying.
- Flat-touring mode plus two risers ensures that you'll be climbing in comfort.
| Specifications | |
|
Weight |
283g [91mm] |
| Weight (pair) | 566g [91mm] |
|
Boot |
Tech |
|
Brakes |
75, 86, 91, 97, 102, 108 |
|
BSL |
20mm |
|
Riser |
2+ flat |
|
Vertical |
3-8 |
|
Lateral |
3-8 |
|
Crampon |
Yes, Removable |
| Specs Verified | Yes |
| Design | |
|
|
7075 aluminum, stainless steel, POM plastic |
| Skimo Co Says | |
| Usage | Touring, mountaineering |
| Notes | Asymmetric toe springs for easy and clean step in |
| Bottom Line | A featureful binding tailored for lighter/smaller skiers |
| Compare to other Full-featured Bindings | |
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Questions & Reviews
5/19/2024
Hi! Thinking of getting the bindings for my next touringski setup as they’re on sale now (probably a faction agent 2 or something similar 95ish wide). I’m an 8 DIN (59kg, 165cm, 299mm skiboot and ski pretty aggressively and in all kinds of terrain). Should I opt for the crest 10 or would 8 be enough?
5/20/2024
Hi Kira, since you say you ski fairly aggressively, I would suggest opting for the Crest 10. If you calculate at an 8 release value, technically the 8 would be sufficient, but it gives you no room to adjust upward if you find that's needed.
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2/22/2023
If I understand correctly, the crest 8 binding has 3 riser settings (flat plus 2), but only 2 settings are available without rotating the heel?
2/22/2023
Christina, If you count flat. Low riser is the flap over the pins, no rotating. Second riser is rotating the heel, which is also flat. To get two risers without rotating the heel, then you would want one of the Raider series bindings.
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I really like these bindings! They work very well, have a nice fit and finish, are very easy to step into, and reasonably light. The mechanism for locking the brakes flat for uphill travel, works better than other branded touring bindings I've used. All typical of ATK, the "Cadillac" of touring bindings! I recently mounted some on DPS skis, but I had been already been using the similar Hagan Pure regularly. The lower release value is plenty for me, I'm older, ski mellow, don't drop big jumps. Never had a prerelease, even at my 200lb weight. I also have the high end "Raider" ATK's on some other skis, but the Crest works as well for me, and costs less. The toe pins are lower than the ATK Raiders though, resulting in a steeper ramp angle. I compensate for this with shims under the to toe bindings. These toe bindings have a mount hole pattern of 27x30mm, need-to-know info for ordering shims. Same hole pattern and Kruzspitsze, if you are upgrading. There are two places to adjust the release tension on each heal binding, so make sure you don't miss one of them.
3/12/2023
great binding. I have them on my Orb Freebird skis. Ski brake pad has a sliding release plate too.
Only caveat is , going from skinning , to rip skins and ski down it is possible to stomp down on the heel pins, but forget to release the ski brake. Then in the event of a fall and release, the ski brake would not extend. Ask me how I know.
However it is easy to reach down, with ski on, and press the red tab, to release the brake before dropping boot onto heel pins.
Only caveat is , going from skinning , to rip skins and ski down it is possible to stomp down on the heel pins, but forget to release the ski brake. Then in the event of a fall and release, the ski brake would not extend. Ask me how I know.
However it is easy to reach down, with ski on, and press the red tab, to release the brake before dropping boot onto heel pins.
3/12/2023
Hi Raymond, some would consider that a feature since you can opt out of using brakes in some circumstances. Those that consider it a bug will be interested in ATK's forthcoming Evo bindings which require turning the heel 180 degrees for uphill mode (turning back will auto-deploy the brakes).
Comment on this review:
7/19/2021
what's the standoff between the toepiece pins and the center of the turret pins?
7/20/2021
Augustus, Not quite sure what you are asking. Can you email us at help@skimo.co with more detail?
1/11/2023
I think he is asking what the delta is, if so its +11mm. So I'm two years late, might help somebody.
1/11/2023
Thanks, Calvin! You are spot on as usual.
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7/6/2021
Does flat mode work with brakes on the bindings?
7/6/2021
Hey Elliott, the ATK Crest does have a flat mode. If you rotate the heel 180 degrees with the heel riser covering the pins you will be in flat mode.
7/7/2021
Hi Elliott, the brake retraction mechanism is separate from the rotational housing, so yes it works fine!
1/19/2023
I really like these bindings! They work very well, have a nice fit and finish, are very easy to step into, and reasonably light. The mechanism for locking the brakes flat for uphill travel, works better than other branded touring bindings I've used. All typical of ATK, the "Cadillac" of touring bindings! I recently mounted some on DPS skis, but I had been already been using the similar Hagan Pure regularly. The lower release value is plenty for me, I'm older, ski mellow, don't drop big jumps. Never had a prerelease, even at my 200lb weight. I also have the high end "Raider" ATK's on some other skis, but the Crest works as well for me, and costs less. The toe pins are lower than the ATK Raiders though, resulting in a steeper ramp angle. I compensate for this with shims under the to toe bindings. These toe bindings have a mount hole pattern of 27x30mm, need-to-know info for ordering shims. Same hole pattern and Kruzspitsze, if you are upgrading. There are two places to adjust the release tension on each heal binding, so make sure you don't miss one of them.
Answer this question:
3/22/2021
Hi. Are there any differences between the ATK Crest and the Hagan Pure besides the price? They're both made by ATK and they look exactly the same.
3/22/2021
Mark, you are correct, these are the same binding and will be available shortly.
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