Logo
    Show
    Hide
    Login
    Close

    SITE LOGIN

    • Forgot your password?

    Register

    New Ski Touring Maps and Guides
    • REVIEWS
      • Ski Gear
        • Skis
        • Boots
        • Bindings
        • Climbing Skins
        • Poles
        • Snowboards
      • Clothing
        • Hard Shells
        • Soft Shells
        • Insulation
        • Mid Layers
        • Base Layers
        • Gloves
        • Socks
      • Accessories
        • Safety Gear
        • Goggles and Helmets
        • Ski Touring Packs
        • Ski Boxes and Bags
        • Sleeping Bags - 4 Season
        • Technology
        • Sunglasses
        • Insoles & Braces
        • Books
      • Off-Season Gear
        • Hiking
          • Rain Shells
          • Day Packs
          • Apparel
          • Footwear
          • Safety
        • Camping
          • Backpacks
          • Sleeping Bags
          • Sleeping Pads
          • Tents
          • Coolers / Cooking
          • Furniture / Storage
          • Lighting / Power
        • Biking
        • Paddling
        • Climbing
        • Mountaineering
        • Running
      • Lifestyle
      • Lodges and Accommodation
      • Nutrition
      • Manufacturers
      • Destinations
      • Training
      • Gear of the Year
      • Best New Summer Gear
        • Best New Summer Gear 2022
        • Best New Summer Gear 2021
        • Best New Summer Gear 2020
      • Holiday Gift Guide
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2022
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2021
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2019
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2018
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2017
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2016
      • Pro Skier Interviews
    • FORUMS
    • STORE
      • Guides & Maps
      • Gear Deals
        • Alpine Touring Boots
        • Backcountry Skis
        • Alpine Touring Bindings
        • Backcountry Accessories
        • Off-Season Gear
        • Climbing Skins
    • ROUTES
    • LODGING
      • Coast Mountains
      • Interior Mountains
      • Rocky Mountains
    • VIDEOS
      • 2022/23 Gear Reviews
      • 2021/22 Gear Reviews
      • 2020/21 Gear Reviews
      • 2019/20 Gear Reviews
      • 2018/19 Gear Reviews
      • 2017/18 Gear Reviews
      • 2016/17 Gear Reviews
      • 2015/16 Gear Reviews
      • 2014/15 Gear Reviews
      • 2013/14 Gear Reviews
      • 2012/13 Gear Reviews
      • 2011/12 Gear Reviews
      • 2020 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2019 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2018 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2017 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2017 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2016 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2016 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2015 SIA Show
      • 2014 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2013 SIA Show
      • 2012 Outdoor Retailer
      • Tips and Tricks
      • Backcountry Skiing
    • SAFETY
      • Plan Ahead
      • Equipment
      • Resources
      • Avalanche Skills Training
      • Managing warmth & heat loss
    • ABOUT
      • Advertise
      • Glossary
      • Contact Us
    • REVIEWS
      • Ski Gear
      • Clothing
      • Accessories
      • Off-Season Gear
      • Lifestyle
      • Lodges and Accommodation
      • Nutrition
      • Manufacturers
      • Destinations
      • Training
      • Gear of the Year
      • Best New Summer Gear
      • Holiday Gift Guide
      • Pro Skier Interviews
    • FORUMS
    • STORE
      • Guides & Maps
      • Gear Deals
    • ROUTES
    • LODGING
      • Coast Mountains
      • Interior Mountains
      • Rocky Mountains
    • VIDEOS
      • 2022/23 Gear Reviews
      • 2021/22 Gear Reviews
      • 2020/21 Gear Reviews
      • 2019/20 Gear Reviews
      • 2018/19 Gear Reviews
      • 2017/18 Gear Reviews
      • 2016/17 Gear Reviews
      • 2015/16 Gear Reviews
      • 2014/15 Gear Reviews
      • 2013/14 Gear Reviews
      • 2012/13 Gear Reviews
      • 2011/12 Gear Reviews
      • 2020 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2019 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2018 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2017 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2017 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2016 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2016 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2015 SIA Show
      • 2014 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2013 SIA Show
      • 2012 Outdoor Retailer
      • Tips and Tricks
      • Backcountry Skiing
    • SAFETY
      • Plan Ahead
      • Equipment
      • Resources
      • Avalanche Skills Training
      • Managing warmth & heat loss
    • ABOUT
      • Advertise
      • Glossary
      • Contact Us

    HOTTEST REVIEWS


    Elan Ripstick 106 Black Edition Skis Dynafit Free 107 Skis Ortovox Diract Voice Transceiver Burton Straight Chuter Splitboard Scarpa 4-Quattro XT Boots Atomic Backland Carbon Boots Plum OAZO Bindings

    VIDEOS YOU'LL LIKE


    Avalanche Transceivers 101 Dalbello Quantum Boots How To Buy a Transceiver North Face FUTURELIGHT Jacket Faction La Machine Skis Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro Boots Plum OAZO Bindings

    NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

    Unsubscribe
    • Home
    • »
    • REVIEWS
    • »
    • Ski Gear
    • »
    • Bindings
    • »
    • Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings

    Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings

    Backcountry Skiing Canada Gear of the Year

    With five heel riser levels and magnets to make it all work more efficiently, it's no wonder we awarded the Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings our Gear of the Year Award. But this is only the beginning, there's so much more to like about these lightweight AT bindings. Congrats.

    The Backcountry Skiing Canada Team.


    Black Diamond has released a new Helio binding to complement their existing Helio 200 Binding which we reviewed here. The 350 adds to Black Diamond's ultralight, high-performance alpine touring tech binding line up with a higher, more burly release value than it’s little brother the 200. With a 5-12 rather than a 5-10 release value, the Helio 350 is made for heavier or more aggressive skiers. The integration of brakes on the Helio 350’s means that they have truly one-upped the Helio 200 without adding any additional weight.

    Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings

    The following video overview of the Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings covers all the essentials so give it a watch.

    SHOW THE REST OF THE REVIEW / PHOTOS / VIDEOS

    Black Diamond touts the Helio 350 as a downhill-oriented, freeride-style alpine touring binding in a lightweight package—and I couldn’t agree more. It gets its name from the fact that it weighs 350 grams which is impressive given the 5-12 release value.

    With a similar design to the Helio 200 Binding, the 350’s incorporate a higher release value and much welcomed brakes.

    Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings

    It’s crafted from aircraft-grade aluminum and stainless steel which makes for a very durable binding that will hold up to years of use and abuse. This is impressive given its small stature.

    Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings
    Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings

    To ensure effective power transmission and responsive feedback the Helio 350 uses a relatively wide mount pattern and offers up an elastic forward pressure system.

    Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings
    Upfront the Helio 350 Bindings have an easy-step-in 2 spring tec toe with a locking lever that can be locked out with minimal effort by hand or with a ski pole. When you step into the Helio 350 they close firm and with confidence.
    Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings
    Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings

    One of the most innovative features on the Helio 350 Bindings is the unique 5-position magentic heel riser system that allows you  to implement one riser at a time and remove both at once since they stick to each other with the use of magnets.

    Let's take a look at all the riser positions with the Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings, starting first with it in ski mode position:
    First riser position:
    Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings
    Second riser position:
     Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings
    Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings
    Neutral position, no riser with the heel piece roatated 180°:
    Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings
    Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings
    Second highest riser position:
     Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings
    Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings
    Highest riser position:
     Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings
    Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings

    The Helio 350’s heel units adjust laterally up to 30mm to accommodate a wide range of AT booth lengths and provide a precise and secure boot hold.

    Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings
    The integrated crampon slot in the toe piece will accommodate a set of cramps for when ski touring is more challenging and conditions are not quite ideal.
    Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings

    Materials:

    7075 Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Polymide

    Features:

    • Low weight backcountry ski binding 
    • Burliest release rating for the rowdiest riders
    • Dual spring toe piece with Monolink for high clamping stiffness
    • New lever designed for easier use with pole tips
    • Adjustable heel plate with brakes 
    • 5-position heel risers
    • 30mm heel adjustment plate
    • Slot for optional Helio Ski Crampon Slot
    • Compatible with tech boots
    Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings

    Verdict:

    Like Black Diamond’s Guide BT and Recon BT Avalanche Transceivers which are rebadged Pieps transceivers, the Black Diamond Helio 350 Bindings are simply rebadged ATK Raider bindings, so it’s hard to give full credit to Black Diamond, however, good on them for selecting such high-quality alpine touring bindings to affix the Black Diamond brand on, rather than reinventing the wheel.

    The Helio 350’s are a super light and minimal AT binding that offers up a respectable 5-12 release value so there is really nothing to gripe about other than the price which is at the high end of the range for an AT binding. The Helio 350’s are easy to use and with the incorporated magnets to help manage the risers you get a little extra cool factor in an otherwise minimalist binding. It’s also nice that the brakes are mounted on the heel piece rather than the toe piece as with Hagan’s Core 12 version of the ATK binding.

    With all my testing I found that there was no easy way to twist the heel piece with your pole but I got around this by just using the risers over top of the heel pins so that no twisting of the heel piece was required. This simplified things and made me enjoy the efficiency of the Helio 350’s even more.

    If you are in the market for a lightweight tech AT binding then the Black Diamond’s Helio 350 should be at the top of your list.

    PROS:

    • Five riser levels.
    • Magneto heel risers makes switching much more efficient.
    • No need to rotate heel piece in order to use first two risers.

    CONS:

    • No way to rotate the heel piece with your pole at transitions.
    • Very pricey.

    SPECS:

    Price: $924.99CAN / $699.95US
    Weight: 350g / 12.3oz (per binding)
    Release: 5-12 (non-DIN certified, adjustable independent vertical and lateral)
    Adjustment: 30mm
    Elasticity: 12mm (Heel Only)
    Risers: Magnetic 5 position
    Skis brake: 86, 97, 108, 120 mm

    RATING: 9/10

    Ski/hike performance   2/2
    Transition                     1.5/2
    Durability                     2/2
    Weight                          2/2
    Quality / Price              1.5/2

    buy backcountry skiing gear


    Did we miss something? Are we totally out to lunch? Let us know what you think. People like/dislike gear for different reasons so chime in below and we'll get a well-rounded evaluation. You'll need to login or register before you can comment but it only takes a few seconds, then you're good to go.

    Leave a Comment:

    Back to the rest of the reviews.


    We built this backcountry skiing community for you, the passionate skier, and hope you enjoy the hard work we put into all the reviews, routes, videos, and posts we create. It’s been free from day one but that doesn’t mean it’s not a valuable resource. If you enjoy this website and value the content we create for you, then please support Backcountry Skiing Canada by donating today or by clicking on those sponsor ads and 'Buy Now' links at the bottom of the reviews. Thank you!

    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2022-23 Backcountry Skiing Canada. All Rights Reserved.