Hello and welcome to my K2 Lien AT review.
In this review I will take a look at the Lien ATs as all-mountain snowboard bindings.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Lien ATs a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other all-mountain bindings.
NOTE: The 2023 model was the last model of the Lien AT.
Overall Rating
Bindings: K2 Lien AT
Price: $279 (USD)
Style: All-Mountain
Other Uses: All-mountain Freeride, Freestyle
Flex: Medium (6/10)
Rating Score: 88.7/100
Compared to other Men’s All-Mountain Bindings
Out of the 25 men’s all mountain bindings that I rated:
Overview of the Lien AT’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Lien AT's specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | All-Mountain |
Price: | $279 |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Edge-to-Edge: | Medium-Fast |
Weight: | Normal |
Mounts To: | 2 x 4 |
Sizing
SIZE | US BOOT SIZE | EURO BOOT SIZE | UK BOOT SIZE |
|---|---|---|---|
M | 5-9 | 36-41.5 | 4-8 |
L | 8-12 | 40.5-46 | 7-11 |
XL | 11-15 | 44.5-50 | 10-14 |
Who are the Lien AT Most Suited To?
The Lien ATs are for anyone who wants one set of bindings that can do everything. They are on the stiffer side of medium in terms of flex but they still butter really well.
You can use them in the backcountry, on the groomers or use them in the park or for freestyle-type riding outside the park. They’re responsive but at the same time have great board feel.
They are good for a range of different boards too, so if you want just one pair of bindings for multiple boards then they are a good choice.
The Lien AT in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Lien ATs are capable of.
Demo Info
Bindings: K2 Lien AT 2018, Large
Date: April 15, 2017
Conditions: Cloudy with some sun in the morning. Started snowing around midday (have had so much snow in April – it’s awesome!) Some fresh overnight snow made the snow nice and soft in the morning – hardened up as it was compacted but was still soft-packed. Then Softened up again a bit in the afternoon with the snow.
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Flex
While some label this as a mid-stiff binding, I definitely felt that it was medium. It feels like a 6/10. So on the stiffer side of medium but still medium. Which I think is great for this type of binding.
I have ridden the Lien ATs on a few different flexing boards too and they worked just as well across a range of flexes.
You can also change out the tripod ‘grommets’ in the baseplate to fine tune that flex even further (see video below for more details). I only tried them with one set of grommets so I’m not sure how much they actually change the feel.
Board Feel/Butterability
The bindings flex really well with the board and this makes them great for buttering. The kind of buttering you might expect out of a softer flexing base plate.
Whatever they’re doing there is working. They achieve great response but also great board feel.
Adjustability
These things are super adjustable and super easy to adjust.
These were one of the easiest bindings I’ve had to adjust and everything is tool-less, so if you’re like me and you’re fussy with how you bindings are set up – you can make small adjustments on the fly until you have tweaked them just right.
You can even adjust their flex (see video below) which is pretty unique!
Shock Absorption
They’ve got some really good padding in the footbed and that really helps them to absorb shock well.
Entry/Exit
Easy to get in and out of. The ratchet system is smooth and it’s pretty fast to get in and out of. What you’d expect from this level of binding.
Let’s Break up this text with a Video
Comfort
The Lien ATs felt really comfortable. This is down to a few things.
- Firstly, the ankle strap is really nice and I didn’t notice it on at all.
- Secondly, it has a canted footbed which aligns your hips, knees and ankles better.
- Finally, that padding in the footbed also really adds to the comfort.
Responsiveness
The responsiveness of the AT is just that little bit better than you’d expect from a medium flexing binding. This is great because you get some great response but you still get some movement and forgiveness too.
Ankle/Boot Support
I felt that I could get the straps dialed in tight without it feeling uncomfortable. So if you like a really firm, locked down feeling, then these do a great job of that without digging into your feet. They have a good level of ankle support.
Changes for the 2023 Model
The 2023 model looks to be same as the 2023 model as far as I can tell, apart from the colorways.
Changes for the 2022 Model
The 2022 model looks to be same as the 2021 model as far as I can tell.
Changes for the 2021 Model
As far as I can tell the 2021 model is essentially the same as the 2020 model.
Changes for the 2020 Model
As far as I can tell the 2020 model is essentially the same as the 2019 model.
Changes for the 2019 Model
The “pod” on the heel in the tripod chasis is now much larger. Not so much a pod anymore.
Changes for the 2018 Model
As far as I can tell the 2018 model is the same as the 2017 model except for the different colorways available.
Changes for the 2017 Model
K2 have added a different toe strap for the 2017 model. I didn’t notice this make too much difference but the toe strap felt nice nonetheless.
The 2017 model also includes the 3 different types of ‘Grommets’ for the tripod chassis (if that made no sense to you check out the video above – it explains it better than I can!), which is great because it allows you to customize the flex.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
RESPONSE | 3.5 | 14/20 |
BOARD FEEL | 5.0 | 20/20 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.0 | 12/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 12/15 |
ANKLE SUPPORT | 4.5 | 9/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 88.7/100 |
The Lien ATs are one of the most versatile bindings out there. So if you’re looking for a do it all kind of binding, then these should definitely be on your radar.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you are interested in the Lien ATs check out the links below to learn more and for current prices and availability.
If you want to check out some other all-mountain bindings or see how the Lien AT compares to others, check out the next link.
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