Fellow WildSnow contributor Slator Alpin skis the BD Helio Binding in a steep and icy chute in the Gore Range.
There I was, perched at the top of a committing line deep in the Gore Range, my sole focus on navigating a tight choke before the couloir opened up above a rock band. I side slipped down the slope, my skis chattering against the bulletproof windboard when I heard a mysterious pop and felt my heel slip sideways. I quickly caught myself on my downhill ski and looked at my uphill boot. The heel turret on my binding had exploded. The plastic casing lay open like a clamshell and the interior pieces sat ajar, doing nothing to lock in my boot to my ski.
I snatched up the dangling pins before they careened down the steep couloir and then sank my ice tool into the firm snow. I pulled off my right ski and got to work with a handful of Voile straps. Three well-placed straps later I had relative peace of mind that the jerry-rig should hold long enough to get me through a couple of jump turns.
The moral to that story: I no longer opt for plastic in my tech bindings. At least in steep and consequential terrain. The simpler the better.
The Black Diamond Helio 145 is a rebranded binding from the Italian ATK Trofeo that fits neatly into this category of lightweight bindings that are a half-step above a full randonee race binding. And yes, there’s no plastic. ATK’s reputation for making durable, lightweight, and innovative bindings arrives overseas through Black Diamond’s distribution network.
Construction
The binding construction is a testament to the skill of ATK’s engineers when it comes to low-tolerance CNC machining work. A combination of alloy metals and stainless steel, this binding tops the charts in build quality and long-term durability. Even though the Helio 145 was first introduced under the Black Diamond brand in 2019, it comes from ATK’s strong reputation for high quality and durable construction.
At 145 grams the Black Diamond Helio 145 sits very comfortably on the light end of the binding spectrum. In this category of binding, we are dealing with something that is a half-step above the purely racing binding and something that is at home on long days in the mountains.
Toe Piece
The feature that sets this binding apart from the rest is the unique use of a single spring in the toe piece that is dubbed by ATK as “Monolink Technology”. Where in other bindings you will find two springs, one for each side of the binding arm, you will only find one spring and the other arm is rigid. This design decision does two things. First, it reduces the weight of the binding by simplifying the system, and second, it increases the torsional rigidity of the toe-piece.
Close up view of this minimalist toe piece featuring the monolink technology. A fixed arm on one side and a single spring on the other.
The first impression of stepping into these toe pieces is that the mechanical action is very smooth. The construction of this binding is very precise. The single spring provides a satisfying pop in engaging the binding arms.
After putting some mileage into these toe pieces the benefits of the Monolink technology become apparent. The torsional rigidity of this minimalist toe piece is impressive, these bindings can be skied very hard without the toes locked.
Looking at the smaller details, the toe locking mechanism is smooth, sturdy, and certainly near the top of the pin binding class. The toe-piece uses a roller bearing for a satisfying locking operation. Another under-appreciated feature in pin bindings is that the lock-out lever is very easy to use. A common misstep in lightweight pin bindings of this category puts a small, plastic lever that sits near-flush with the ski. Not only have these plastic levers broken on me in the past, but also they are just a tiny bit annoying to pull up on to lock out the toe. The Black Diamond Helio 145 features a metal lock-out lever with a good purchase to lock off the toe.
A close look at the toe piece of the Black Diamond Helio 145 binding. Fully locked out, the smooth action of the lever is achieved through a rolling cylinder that snugly locks into place.
The next feature I want to highlight seems insignificant and perhaps a little exacting and fastidious. A common feature in modern pin bindings is this little groove machined out of the toe pin called an “auger”. For myself, this is a very welcomed feature in other bindings that is notably missing from the Black Diamond Helio line.
Why is a pin auger important? It maintains binding performance in the field. As you rock your boot back and forth on the binding, this auger will dig snow and ice out of your boot’s tech insert. Walking and climbing in snow will cause snow and ice to buildup inside of the small inserts in your toe. Snow and ice build-up inside of your tech insert will negate the effectiveness of the binding by preventing the pin to fully slide into the insert. In the field, this can easily lead to your boot unexpectedly popping out of the toe piece. This is a critical feature if you are using the binding for a ski mountaineering purpose because it is a feature that lends to reliability and dependability in consequential terrain.
Another notable omission for a pin binding in this category is the fact that the crampon slot is missing. This attachment can be purchased separately but it is disappointing that a binding marketed for ski-mountaineering is missing a feature that allows the use of ski crampons.
Heel Piece
The BD Helio 145 features a simple race-style heel piece. The attraction here is that this type of minimalist binding is very reliable. With fewer moving parts, simple components in construction, there are fewer critical points of failure. I don’t expect this heel piece to blow up on me as others have in the past.
By choosing this style of binding you are making an intentional choice to forgo more sophisticated binding designs that values dynamic heel release. It is important to note that this is not a “fixed” heel as you would find in many race bindings. The heel turret rotates, offering a lateral rotation which also plays a role in release. In this binding, you will find an interchangeable u-spring that you will choose when buying. Three options are available to you (6, 8, 10 release values) and you will be forced to commit to your release value at the time of purchase. With that trade-off, you get reliability in heel retention.
This binding does not feature an adjustable DIN setting, instead you can order this binding with one of three DIN options (pictured is DIN 8) determined by the stiffness of the U-Spring.
There are three walking modes: A flat mode (+0 mm), a pin flap that prevents your boot from clicking in (+37 mm), and a small riser option (+45 mm) by turning the heel 180°. This third mode does not offer much of a difference from the second heel riser options so I did not find myself using it very much. Other bindings in the market offer a substantial third heel rise between +45mm to +90mm that you won’t find with the BD Helio 145. Worth noting if you like higher risers.
Side by side comparison of the three riser settings. Flat Riser (+0mm) Second heel riser (+37mm) and Third heel riser (+45mm)
The minimalist heel piece of the Black Diamond Helio 145. I mounted this binding with an adjustment plate (sold separately) adding a 60 gram weight penalty and 30 mm of adjustability.
In terms of adjustment, this is a fixed adjustment binding, meaning that it cannot be changed to accommodate different boot sizes without remounting. I chose to include an adjustment plate when mounting up these bindings. The separately purchased plate offers 30mm of adjustment at the cost of 60g of additional weight.
How do they ski?
As expected, the uphill is dreamy with these bindings. Pair them with a lightweight ski and you will be flying up the skin track. The ease and simplicity of use make transitions very easy and fast. Just flip the heel flap back and click in. These are bindings designed for fast uphill travel and they live up to that description.
The BD Helio 145 bindings ski as would be expected. They are simple in nature and securely affix your boots to your skis. You won’t get the elasticity and play that you would expect from a fully-featured binding but the fact that your feet are firmly attached to the ski lends well to responsiveness.
A symptom of this race-style of binding is that they take some time to get used to and are not forgiving. After a few seasons on race bindings, I find that I am able to maintain my hard-charging and directional skiing style. I can still arc turns on hardpack and ski dynamically in powder but there was a learning curve. For such a small package I feel comfortable skiing hard on them which is something I cannot say for other bindings in this class.
Best paired with a lightweight pair of skis, this binding can handle a wide range of backcountry ski applications. This binding feels at home in a ski-mountaineering race (pictured) as well as a long backcountry day in a variety of conditions.
Not only will this binding do well in a skimo racing context, but I also see this binding for someone putting together a dedicated lightweight backcountry skiing kit. Put this on a mid-waisted and versatile ski and you will be very happy. Such a big portion of your ski tour is spent going uphill that a binding that will make the uphill easier is a significant consideration.
The Final Word
The rebranding of ATK’s iconic Trofeo binding is a welcome sight on North American shelves. For a binding that is so minimalist and simple, the small details become increasingly important. The Black Diamond Helio 145 is an almost-perfect binding in its class of lightweight and minimalist race-style bindings. This style of tech binding is not for everyone but finds a perfect home in the realm of ski-mountaineering and big days in the backcountry. This binding is a reliable option for the wear and tear of backcountry skiing and dependable on steep and consequential terrain.
SPECS
Weight: 145 g / 5.1 oz
Weight per pair: 290 g / 10.2 oz
Materials: Alu Alloys, Stainless Steel, POM
Release value: Fixed 6, 8, 10
Adjustment: Optional Plates
Shop for the Black Diamond Helio 145
Testing Conditions
Testing location: Aspen and Marble, Colorado
Snow Conditions: Powder, Piste, Variable Crud, Steep and Icy Chutes.
Skier Height/Weight: 5’11 – 150 lbs
Ski: WNDR Vital 100
Ski Boots: Atomic Backland Carbon and Dynafit Hoji Pro Tour
Aidan Goldie is a ski mountaineer and avalanche professional based out of Colorado. When he is not climbing and descending peaks in the American West, he is an educator, working with schools and nonprofits guiding groups through the Colorado wilderness. Follow his work in developing a more equitable mountain ethic: @aidan.goldie
Aidan Goldie is a Basalt-based backcountry skier and photographer. When he is not climbing and descending peaks in the American West, he is an outdoor educator, working with schools and nonprofits guiding groups through the Colorado wilderness.
33 comments
Great review!! I’ve personally used and have had great luck with Helio 145’s for the past two years in the Wasatch range – I’ve paired them with La Sportiva Skorpius Boots and Fischer Transalp 90 skis. The minimal height difference between the second and the third position riser hasn’t been an issue for me, I’ve actually never felt like I needed to use the third position. I’ve found that with such a versatile and lightweight setup it’s easier to squeeze in another lap before work and I’m less fatigued after full days in the backcountry. My heavier, bomber setup has started to gather a bit of dust in my garage, even on blower days, and will likely soon be hitting Craigslist.
Looks like a great binding, but I’m curious why you would go with the 145, rather than the Helio 200, which features adjustable release values and rotating heel pins, crampon receptor, taller and easier to access high riser, at the same weight (since you have the adjustment plate).
I’d only see going for the 145 if I didn’t plan to get an adjustment plate. Also, there is the $200 price difference I suppose…in which case you could still go for the Helio 200 LT, which is marginally more expensive, but does provide the increased riser height and adjustable release.
Getting the Helio 145 and adding the adjustment plate and crampon receptor still puts you at $600 and over 200 grams.
Steve, great point. Adding the adjustment plate makes the weight near identical to the Helio 200 only without the more sophisticated heel piece. I only added the adjustment plate in order to properly test out this binding with a couple of pairs of boots. If I remount this binding to another ski I will do so without the adjustment plate and commit to a single pair of boots.
Interesting that there is no auger on the toe pins. That concept makes a lot of sense. I could see lack of an auger on the pins being less important for general touring/powder skiing since the boot is in the toe piece more than out of it. But as Aidan points out, it could be a bigger deal when climbing/booting/walking in snow. Can anyone who has used BD, ATK or Hagan bindings comment on whether they miss the auger? I agree with Steve’s take on the 145 vs. 200- price vs features vs weight. Using the adjustment plate or not can also help with binding ramp.
I’ve always wondered about the “auger” or “ice breaker” (as Dynafit calls it) feature as well. It sounds like good marketing, but is there concrete evidence that it actually performs better than non-augered pins to remove snow from the boot/pin interface? I’d think even without the “auger” pins that giving the ski a quick shake to rotate the toe pins before locking in your heel would remove most of the snow/ice build up.
There might be some comments about the auger on the TGR ATK thread but I can’t recall. I agree that pins with no auger and a few lifts of the leg to rotate the pins should also clear much of the debris. I’ve also wondered if the auger wears on the boot toe sockets. Seems unlikely since the auger is not a a cutting surface raised above the surface of the pin, and I think the metal used in both toe sockets and pins is pretty dang hard.
I mentioned the missing auger in the pins, with my ATK Crest 10 over on the TGR ATK thread. It appears this lack of the auger, in the pins is common across all the ATK RT series too.
I have been skiing pretty hard, on this ATK Crest binding, even resort groomers, with Orb Freebrids, and F-1 boots, and haven’t had any pre-release yet. Crest toe piece appears identical to this BD 145 one.
After walking in snow, I do step into the toe piece, then do a few heel lifts, with the toe pulled up into tour mode. Hopefully that is enough to clear any ice, before I pop the toe back into ski mode..I always try and rip skins, with my skis still on too.
ATK Crest 10 Binding, with 97 mm ski brake are 282 grams each.
Unrelated but wondering about dirt/rocks caught in the heal inserts. Has anyone ever had debris (small pebbles) clog the heal insert? After booting up bare ground last week in the very thin 2021 snowpack of the Wasatch I could not clip-in to the heal and had to pry out the pebbles with a leather man. My initial instinct was to jump with some force to clip-in but the thought of breaking or bending the binding pins, or the boot insert itself, calmed the beast. Any thoughts?
the “auger” has 2 functions in principle and theory.
1. it serves as a channel for water, which is generated by melting the built-up ice at the very sharp tip of the pin inside the boot hole {for principle, see regelation of ice https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regelation}. this water then can flow out of the whole hole space of the boot {more easily and faster thru a channel than via a larger cover-space of the hole-the conus area-where it can actually refreeze again fast}.
2. if auger’s edge is not very damaged by age-rust or other mechanical impacts then the edge {2 edges at each pin} serves as a mill/grinder/knife blade to remove the excess ice by scratching along during rotation of boot. not a perfect mechanism but also your steps are not perfectly balanced on skis, and this is how the pressure is variated in the pin holes and auger does its job.
how much of the function is really used and helps in terrain is hard to measure exactly.
more and more bindings start to omit the “auger” > ATK {surprisingly}, Fritschi Xenic, Kreuzspitze {i think whole lineup}. it saves cost of a precise milling operation during pins production {cost cutting optimization, nothing else}.
+ blockade in the rear insert area of the boot is always to be cleared out with hands or tools, never by binding itselft. heels of tech insert bindings were not invented for this cleaning function. brute force might end up with brute results.
I’ve been wondering about the lack of toe pin grooves for a while, nice to see a discussion. I lucked out and got a pair of Helio 180s for half price. They are the rebranded ATK Trofeo Plus I think, (Trofeo with adjustment plate, crampon receptor, and leashes.) They are perfect so far, though I haven’t skied them much yet.
The former machinist in me loves the fit and finish of these things. Everything is tight and smooth, nothing flopping around. The roller in the toe lock lever is sweet, and as the review says, hardly any plastic. (There might be a bit where the toe arms meet?)
That is interesting, I have a few of these bindings and my main complaint is there is annoying slop in the toe lever when unlocked
Ben, mine have a catch for the little roller in ski mode. Just push the lever down part way without opening the wings. Idk, maybe they develop slop over time.
Bard, yup that center bushing piece on the toe is POM. And second on they don’t have slop if you just press down slightly on the toe lever catching the roller in the little curved section milled in to hold it. Funny to think that someone would find that annoying…
Thanks for the review!
Regarding the ski performance you state “elasticity and play is not the same as fully featured binding” & “they take some time to get used to and are not forgiving”. I would be curious which bindings you take as a reference for this. Especially I wonder if there would be any ski performance difference compared to bindings like Plum Guide, Dynafit Speed Radical that seem (when completely stripped of crampon slot/heel riser & set to similar release settings) almost the same as those “heave duty” skimo style bindings.
It would be very interesting to see an exploded view of such race style heel piece. How the U spring defines vertical release is pretty obvious but it is less obvious for the lateral release.
The only touring bindings that ACTUALLY have binding elasticity/ suspension; Vipec (toe), Tecton (both), Kingpin(heel), Shift (both), Beast (heel), plate bindings and Cast (both). Then you have “zero gap” tech bindings like the Ion or Zed that don’t rely on a rear gap to compensate for ski flex but don’t have true suspension to the bindings. There is a middle ground where there is a small gap but also uses a spring loaded rear turret to compensate for ski flex (Rotation, mot of the plum stuff), again no true elasticity. Then you have the pure u-spring and older dynafit bindings that rely completely on the “tech gap” to compensate for ski flex. Sure it could be a semantic argument but there really needs to be a term for addressing the difference between a binding’s ability to elastically hold a boot into the binding (lateral and upwards movement of the boot) vs its ability to adjust for the ski flexing (changes in the distance between the front and rear toe piece).
That being said I run everything from fully elastic bindings on my skis to u-spring bindings and know what each is best at.
Hey Cody, thanks for your comment.
I agree with your point that there is no point in talking about real elasticity apart form the bindings you mention. My question is more on whether there is a difference ski feeling between the heavier pinbindings that don’t have the ability to adjust for the ski flexing (Salomon MTN, Plum Guide, Plum Summit 12… ) and the lighter skimo like bindings (f.e. Helio 145, Dynafit Superlite).
Besides this I would also wonder if this ability to adjust for ski flexing is something one actually feels… or if it has to do rather with having a more reliable release when the ski is extremely flexed,
Do other ATK bindings have the pin auger?
from the current ATK production 20/21 marketed on their website I could find only Raider 12, Front 12 with the auger. maybe they used old stocks of pins for these models and no binding type will have this nice feature next season.
Thanks for the review and quality photos Aidan. This is a phenomenally simple, durable, and elegantly-designed binding that I consider to be the minimum viable product for backcountry touring. What you need and nothing more (cough cough…though crampon receptors and adjustment plates are nice additions) However, I’ve found the functional ceiling of these bindings. I wouldn’t put the BD 145 toe on anything wider than 110 underfoot. For wide planks that are intended to be skied hard through variable snow, it’s best to get a toe piece with a wider mounting pattern (Plum Guide toe is my preference moving forward). With wide skis, there is so much leverage on the toe piece that a more robust option with a wider hole pattern would do better. So three solutions:
1. Don’t use wide skis because they’re too heavy and excessive for backcountry use
2. Do use wide skis and stick to powder skiing where you impart minimal force onto the bindings
3. Get a toe with a wider hole pattern and keep the BD 145 heels because they’re simple and awesome
this XXL plate is what you need for the front piece if you ski the wide skis.
https://www.atkbindings.com/en/prodotto/accessories/free-touring-accessories/r08a-2/
or older version {narrower supporting area} was XXL R03
https://www.amazon.co.uk/PIASTRE-ADATT-SCI-XXL-OFF/dp/B01N57YBH4
and ATK also had made {but it seems no more sells} a rear XXL R03 P plate
both front and rear plates have drill pattern 60x60mm which is just enough.
i use these XXL plates on 92mm Head allmountain/freestyle ski with Kreuzspitze bindings, exactly due to leverage forces pulling out the screws off the ski when traversing on hard icy snow or crud turning. it adds weight and it adds safety feelings.
Great review and one of the only ones I can find on either the BD Helio 145 or ATK Trofeo.
I just purchased the Trofeo because it was $210 cheaper than the BD version. I assume that if I need any parts I can replace them with BD parts? Also can I add the base plate later (after initial mounting) if I need to change boots and what not?
Sorry for basic questions, but these are the first AT bindings I have bought and will be going on some Dynafit Speed 76 and used for basic inbounds fitness skiing.
Thank you
You can add the base plate later but you will need to drill new holes as the base plate inherently has a larger mounting pattern than the heelpiece itself
On the mounting pattern vs ski width point, how much does the width vs the length factor in? For example, the BD 145s are a 30mm width x 27mm length. Compared to many Dynas (speed rad, speed turn, superlite) being 30W x 39L. I’d like to think my Speed Rads toes are a stronger mount, but most of the force is lateral so maybe the width (30mm on both) is the much more important dimension? And I’m basically in the same boat. (Although Speed Rad heels are mounted wider.) I was thinking of putting Speed Rad inserts in my pow skis for meadow skipping.
PLUM bindings seem to have similar all-metal machining beauty. I have been considering he Plum Oazo- any thoughts on how the BD’s compare to plum generally?
Jon: we haven’t done a side by side comparison, but you might find helpful insights in Gary’s review of the Oazo from last season https://www.wildsnow.com/27821/tested-and-dissected-the-plum-oazo-8-binding-review/
I own the Trofeo bindings, including the adjustment plate. I find the difference between the two heels lifter positions very small. To fix this I have mounted a nylon spacer on top of flipable heel lifter piece so that I have a better option when it gets steep. I drilled a hole in the aluminium, threaded it and mounted the spacer with a countersink screw. This has worked fine. After some use I had to lubricate the spring/steel ball mechanism that keeps the heel part from rotating freely. I disassembled the heel piece and added some grease. I could hardly rotate the heel before that, it got worse and worse. However, lubrication is no big job. Other than that I am happy with the binding, especially the weight and the price. I have them mounted on a pair of light Dynafit skis that are about 100mm in the waist. I also have some Dynafit TLT vertical ST bindings on a different pair of skis, and I have not noticed much difference in the ride feel.
Movement sold the same binding with their logo for a few years. I have a pair, with no adjustment plate. They still perform as described in the article. After 5 years and perhaps 300 days on them now, mounted on Atomic UL 78 skis, it seemed like a little slop developed in the heel. A P-tex candle, mounted sideways underneath the heel like a xc binding heel popper plate, fixed the problem. When locked in for downhill travel, the boot sole just kisses the P-tex candle, eliminating slop. Maybe an extra 5g per ski? Cost, >$1.
SCOTT R > XXL plates for toe have 3 positions for mounting the toe. designed for toe pattern 30×26.5 mm but 30x27mm mm fits as well {old Dynafit TLT/Speed/ST/FT Vertical style}. more on patterns > https://skimo.co/tech-binding-hole-patterns
more on plates > https://skimo.co/binding-adjustment-plates {which might suit your Dynafit Radical toe pattern 30x39mm}
Hey Cody, thanks for your comment.
I agree with your point that there is no point in talking about real elasticity apart form the bindings you mention. My question is more on whether there is a difference ski feeling between the heavier pinbindings that don’t have the ability to adjust for the ski flexing (Salomon MTN, Plum Guide, Plum Summit 12… ) and the lighter skimo like bindings (f.e. Helio 145, Dynafit Superlite).
Besides this I would also wonder if this ability to adjust for ski flexing is something one actually feels… or if it has to do rather with having a more reliable release when the ski is extremely flexed,
I’ve been skiing the ATK Trofeos for two seasons now and love ’em. Heel risers are obsolete with modern touring boots. When walking up a steep trail, do you put heel risers on your shoes or boots? I don’t, and who does? No one. Same for skiing. A touring boot’s cuff allows you to bend at the ankle, just like hiking. Heel risers are now merely a bad habit and a fiddly one, too.
As for grooves in toe pins, I haven’t missed them. Since I have only one pair of boots, the Atomic Backcountry Carbon Lights, I passed on getting the anchor-like 60g adjustment plates, but I did get the 8g crampon hooks and haven’t regretted it. I like ski crampons.
I often forget to lock the toes for uphill, but I can’t remember ever walking out of the bindings. In avalanche hazard terrain, it’s best not to lock the toes anyway. (To be candid, the main reason I lock the toes uphill is for ease of clearing snow and ice from under the lever, which is not at all necessary.) One other thing, these bindings are very easy to click into.
I noticed that the ATK Trofeos (or the equivalent BD Helio 145s) weigh little more than half the weight of my skins. Why are my skins so heavy? And, for that matter, why can’t skis and boots be nearly weightless like my bindings? I need all the help I can get.
I just got my Trofeos in and they weighed 149g each. Outrageous!!! Need to change their name to 150’s so I can be pleasantly surprised by saving a gram.
Hi,
I have toured on the helios 200 now about a dozen times and they ski great but the heel riser is bothering me. It isn’t tall enough. As a result I am not able to cut a steep enough skin track and when following others, I am stretching and sressing out my hamstrings. (Getting old I suppose). I was thinking about 3d printing a little insert to make them taller, but wanted to check in here first to see if anyone has already gone down this path or if there are any replacement heel pieces to get closer to the dynafits radical height.
The highest heel height is like the medium on the radicals. Kinda lame in my opinion
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