ATK C-Raider 12 AP - Orange 2024

ATK C-Raider 12 AP

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 AP is an intermediate model between the "Efficient" Crest 10 and the "Free-Rando" R12 in both terms of weight and performance. 
For 2024 ATK have added the new AP Brake System to create the C-Raider 12 AP. The AP brake system really couldn't be easier to use. Simple press down on the brake plate and rotate the heel unit to block the ski brake. Activated in one simple movement, the AP Brake System guarantees safe and reliable transitions between walk and ski modes, improving the functionality of the bindings.
The new system only adds 15 g weight per ski, (but 50 € to the recommended retail price). We've used the C-Raider 12 in all conditions over the years, the manual push-button mechanism is simple and reliable but does require a little more care than the new AP system. If you prioritise ease of use then the C-Raider 12 AP bindings will be a good choice

The toe unit of the C-Raider 12 AP has an innovative design resulting 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 AP shares the same heel unit as the Raider 12 and C-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 12 AP has ATK's Elastic Response System, providing 14 mm of travel, 2 mm more than the C-Raider 12.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 AP 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.
The C-Raider 12 AP  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.

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

See our TABLE ATK 2024 Binding Specifications for a technical comparison of all ATK 2024 bindings.

Features ATK C-Raider 12 AP 

AP Brake System: ATK's AP brake system really couldn't be easier to use. Simple press down on the brake plate and rotate the heel unit to block the ski brake. Activated in one simple movement, the AP Brake System guarantees safe and reliable transitions between walk and ski modes, improving the functionality of the bindings.
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.