Union Atlas Bindings Review

Hello and welcome to my Union Atlas bindings review.

In this review, I will take a look at the Atlas’ as All-Mountain-Freeride snowboard bindings.

As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Atlas’ a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how they compare with other All-Mountain-Freeride bindings.

Overall Rating

Bindings: Union Atlas 2020

Price: $309

Style: All-Mountain-Freeride

Other Uses: All-Mountain

Flex Rating: Baseplate = 8/10 | Highback = 6/10 (based on Union's flex slider graphs)

Flex Feel: Medium-Stiff (6.5/10)

Rating Score: 85.1/100

Compared to other Men’s All-Mountain-Freeride Bindings

Out of the 14 Men’s All-Mountain-Freeride bindings that I rated:

Who are the Atlas Most Suited to?

The Atlas are best suited to anyone looking for a versatile binding, that's a little stiffer than medium, but not by much. Something that will match well with medium to medium-stiff flexing boards and offers a large amount of adjustability and comfort at the same time. 

Too stiff for beginners, but anyone intermediate and up, looking to match to a mid to mid-stiff flexing board are well suited to this binding. 

Bindings angles: +15/-15

Stance width: 550mm (21.7″)

Board demoed with: Rossignol One LF 2018, 159

Baseplate Length: 24.0cm (9.45")*

*measured on the top side of the footbed

Baseplate with toe ramp extended: 25.0cm (9.84")

Highback Height: 21.3cm (8.4”)*

* from bottom of heel cup to top of highback 

Height from Bottom of Baseplate to top of Highback: 27.0cm (10.63") 

Weight: 920 grams (2lbs, 0.5oz)*

*for one binding, including screws and disc. The average weight of a small sample size of 26 bindings (2019 & 2020 models) I weighed, was 894 grams. The lightest was 760 grams and the heaviest was 1,000grams. So, the Atlas is just a little heavier than the average. 

Flex

Union rate the flex of the baseplate at 8/10 and the flex of the Highback 6/10. Certainly, the flex feel on snow is a little more than what you'd expect with the feel of the highback in hand, so it's not surprising that the baseplate is rated as stiffer. I would say the Highback is even a little softer than 6/10. In fact at the very top of the highback it's quite flexy - maybe more like 4 or 5 out of 10, but then it stiffens up a lot towards the base of the highback. Which is typical, but the Atlas is this way even more so. Overall flex feel is around 6.5/10. 

Responsiveness

Really good response, typical of Union bindings. Not quite as maneuverable at slower speeds as my Malavitas or the Union STR, which I tested on the same day, but felt I could hold a carve deeper and long vs both of those. Made it easier to get higher on the edge and execute a deeper carve. 

Board Feel/Butterability

The board feel of the Atlas is much better than I remember it being when I tested the 2018 model. Not sure that much has changed in terms of board feel, but I got a much more dead feeling from it the last time I rode them, but this time more. Certainly not as much as you get from Union bindings with the mini-disc or my Malavitas, but OK. 

Pop/Ollie Power

Made my board feel about as poppy as my Malavita's, which is good - notiveably more pop vs the Union STR. 

Adjustability

These bindings are very adjustable - in most ways you can think of - as well as being compatible with all major binding mounting systems - 4x4, 2x4 and the channel - out of the box. 

Heel Cup: Yes - which is great for centering boots - which in turn frees up the disc to be run horizontally for more stance width options. 

Stance Width: Can run disc vertically and horizontally

Highback Lean: Yes, tool-less

Ankle Strap Position: No

Toe Strap Position: Yes

Ankle and toe strap length: Tool-less

Gas pedal/toe ramp extension: Yes

Highback Rotation: Sort of

Compatible with: 2 x 4 | 4 x 4 | Channel

So basically the only adjustability it doesn't have is being able to move the position of the ankle strap. This isn't as big a deal as I found on the 2018 Atlas. On that model, I would have liked the option of a higher ankle strap position for better ankle support. But the new ankle strap used on the Atlas does a better job of supporting the ankle and holding the boot in place.

Let’s Break up this text with a Video

Shock Absorption

These bindings absorb shock and chatter well, which isn't surprising with a good amount of padding underfoot. There's about 2cm of padding. The padding is quite firm and does a good job. 

I found them a little more shock absorbing than the STR but not quite as good as the Malavita. 

Entry/Exit

Good smooth ratchets, like all Union bindings, so getting in and out is smooth and easy. 

Comfort

Really comfortable bindings overall.  

Ankle Strap: The ankle strap feels really stiff in hand and I was wondering how comfortable it would feel. But I didn't notice them when riding (which is a good thing) and when I purposely paid attention to how they felt, it felt like they conformed really well to my boots, without any pressure points. 

Toe Strap: I really like Union's toe straps and this was no exception. Conforms to the boot really well and feel like you're nice and secure and no pressure points. Easy to adjust to fit it just right across the toes. 

Canted Footbed: Yes

Padded Footbed: As mentioned above under "shock absorption" there is some  good padding. Not really soft padding - more firm, but still adds to the comfort vs no padding 

Highback: A good amount of padding on the highback. Didn't feel any kind of calf bite whilst riding. Perhaps having that softer top part of the highback (see flex section above) helps there too. 

Ankle Support

Ankle support feels very good. Feel nice and secure in them without feeling so locked down that it's uncomfortable. 

Price/Value for Money

The Atlas come in just a little under the average price for this category of bindings - and they perform very well, so I would say good value for money. They're still not ultra-cheap, but good value for what you get and good value for a mid-stiff binding.

Changes from 2019 model

There have been a few changes for the 2020 model: 

1. The ankle strap has changed to the "Exoframe 2.0 Direct Connect with hinge" from the "Exoframe" on the 2019 model. This is a subtle improvement. It's a bigger improvement vs the 2018 model (which were already pretty good, IMO). So yeah basically really nice ankle strap!

2. New "Hexgrip w Secure Lock" toe strap. This is a good improvement from the "Ultragrip X" on the 2018 & 2019 models. 

3. The baseplate has changed from a "Duraflex ST" to a "Duraflex CB". This essentially means there is there is now some carbon in the material for the baseplate to help to make it stiffer but also reducing the weight. 

Overall, the Atlas is a super versatile binding that can work with a wide range of boards - medium to medium-stiff in flex - can adjust to your boot and board easily and fits on pretty much any board out there. 

Performance-wise, I got a much better feel from the 2020 model than I did from the 2018 model I tested previously. The board feel was the biggest difference I noticed. It's just a solid all-round binding.