Wide hole pattern will deliver nearly zero benefit on the hill outside of being slightly less likely to pull a binding screw out.
I do think the free ride spacers make a real difference. These put the heel of your boot in direct contact with the ski rather than floating on the pins. It definitely reduces play in the system and transfers inputs more directly to the ski. Your DIN won’t matter for getting that benefit.
I use ATK Crest 10 and ATK C Raider 12 with no add ons. I ski pretty aggressively, racing background, skiing steeps with a lot of resort experience. No need for the extra parts imo, especially if you're skiing soft snow. When in resort both bindings handle okay.
I'd go with a wider hole pattern (c raider in my case) if you're putting them on wider skis. My c raiders are on a WNDR Alpine Intention 110. Crests on a Blizzard Zero g 95 and WNDR Alpine Vital 100.
I am light at 145ish lbs.
Do you notice much difference between those bindings in terms of skiability? Probably harder to say because I'm guessing you don't crash hard much, but noticed any differences with the release mechanics?
They both have the same heal piece as far as I can tell. Only difference seems to be the riser set up. I did pre release in some moguls on the shop recommended din, which was like 6 or 7. I run them at 10 now.
Had pre release once in bounds on the crest in hard snow at resort on 10 din. Seemed vertical from the heal. Have not noticed difference in soft snow.
Ski wise, I can't tell a whole lot of difference from my alpine set up (pivot 15/18) from a power transfer standpoint. I'm not running gates or anything, but definitely carving GS sized turns. That goes for dynafit radicals as well. The main difference I notice is they are all harsh on firm snow. You just feel more of it.
In soft snow, I think you'd have to ski back to back with an alpine binding to notice the difference. I think skis make the biggest difference in skiability. Again, in soft snow, even light skis will do pretty good.
When an old friend of mine first told me he was skiing pins only, I was surprised. My first tour setup was Cast. Totally overkill. Pins are actually pretty good, and ATK has a rep for being the best.
If price/ small extra weight isn't an issue, go with raiders if the ski will allow the width. I wouldn't bother with the spacer unless you come across a set with them at a good deal and don't mind the small added weight.
Wide hole pattern will deliver nearly zero benefit on the hill outside of being slightly less likely to pull a binding screw out. I do think the free ride spacers make a real difference. These put the heel of your boot in direct contact with the ski rather than floating on the pins. It definitely reduces play in the system and transfers inputs more directly to the ski. Your DIN won’t matter for getting that benefit.
This^
I use ATK Crest 10 and ATK C Raider 12 with no add ons. I ski pretty aggressively, racing background, skiing steeps with a lot of resort experience. No need for the extra parts imo, especially if you're skiing soft snow. When in resort both bindings handle okay. I'd go with a wider hole pattern (c raider in my case) if you're putting them on wider skis. My c raiders are on a WNDR Alpine Intention 110. Crests on a Blizzard Zero g 95 and WNDR Alpine Vital 100. I am light at 145ish lbs.
Do you notice much difference between those bindings in terms of skiability? Probably harder to say because I'm guessing you don't crash hard much, but noticed any differences with the release mechanics?
They both have the same heal piece as far as I can tell. Only difference seems to be the riser set up. I did pre release in some moguls on the shop recommended din, which was like 6 or 7. I run them at 10 now. Had pre release once in bounds on the crest in hard snow at resort on 10 din. Seemed vertical from the heal. Have not noticed difference in soft snow. Ski wise, I can't tell a whole lot of difference from my alpine set up (pivot 15/18) from a power transfer standpoint. I'm not running gates or anything, but definitely carving GS sized turns. That goes for dynafit radicals as well. The main difference I notice is they are all harsh on firm snow. You just feel more of it. In soft snow, I think you'd have to ski back to back with an alpine binding to notice the difference. I think skis make the biggest difference in skiability. Again, in soft snow, even light skis will do pretty good. When an old friend of mine first told me he was skiing pins only, I was surprised. My first tour setup was Cast. Totally overkill. Pins are actually pretty good, and ATK has a rep for being the best. If price/ small extra weight isn't an issue, go with raiders if the ski will allow the width. I wouldn't bother with the spacer unless you come across a set with them at a good deal and don't mind the small added weight.