The ATK HY 11 Free: A revolutionary hybrid binding weighing only 675g. Featuring a CNC-machined 7075 aluminum construction and an alpine-style heel. Built for the Vernon skier who wants the performance of a Shift with the weight of a touring binding. Read more.
Lightweight hybrid binding — ATK — 2026/27
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Who this is for The ATK HY 11 Free is for the backcountry-focused freerider who refuses to sacrifice downhill security for uphill speed. If your typical day in the Monashees involves a 1,000m climb but you still want to charge hard on the way down, this is your binding. It’s the ideal "Goldilocks" option for someone who finds the Salomon Shift too heavy for touring, but finds pure pin-bindings too "chattery" for the resort. |
The ATK HY 11 Free is a masterclass in Italian engineering. While most hybrid bindings rely on heavy plastics and complex "transforming" parts, ATK uses CNC-machined 7075 Aluminum to keep the weight down to a staggering 675g per binding. At Attridge, we love this binding because it feels "mechanical" in the best way possible—there’s no plastic "creep" or wiggle.
You get the effortless, low-friction stride of a pin-toe for the climb, and the rock-solid retention of an alpine-style heel for the descent. On Revelstoke side country missions or deep laps in the backcountry, the HY 11 Free delivers a level of power transfer that you usually only find in bindings twice its weight
1. CNC-Machined 7075 Aluminum Construction:
The Benefit: Unlike plastic bindings that can flex or wear out over time, this machined aluminum chassis provides incredible rigidity and durability. It ensures that every bit of energy you put into your boot goes directly into your ski’s edge.
2. Flat-to-Ski Descent Profile:
The Benefit: Most pin bindings have a "tip-toe" ramp angle that can feel unnatural. The HY 11 Free sits your boot flat on the ski in descent mode, providing a true alpine feel, better balance, and more predictable power transfer.
3. Negative Walk Mode (-18mm):
The Benefit: This is a life-saver for long, flat approaches. By allowing the heel to drop slightly below the toe level, it increases your stride length and efficiency—especially if you're using a stiff freeride boot with limited cuff rotation.
4. Elastic Response System (9mm Heel Travel):
The Benefit: To handle the variable, "chunky" snow we sometimes find in the Monashee backcountry, the heel has 9mm of elastic travel. This absorbs shocks, prevents "pre-release" during high-impact landings, and keeps the ride feeling damp and smooth.
This is the "Showdown of the 50/50 Bindings." While both the Salomon Shift (10 or 13) and the ATK HY 11 Free claim to be the one-binding solution for the Okanagan, they go about it in completely different ways.
One is an alpine binding that can tour; the other is a touring binding that tries to ski like an alpine binding.
THE ATTRIDGE VERDICT
Buy the Salomon Shift 10/13 if you are "Resort First." If you spend 3 days at the lift for every 1 day in the backcountry, the safety and dampness of a real alpine toe are worth the weight penalty.
Buy the ATK HY 11 Free if you are "Backcountry First." If you’re hunting stashes in the Revelstoke backcountry and only occasionally spin resort laps with the family, the weight savings will make your season significantly more enjoyable.
