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 2021

Price: $329

Style: All-Mountain-Freeride

Other Uses: All-Mountain

Flex Rating: Baseplate = 7/10 | Highback = 7/10 (based on Union's flex slider graphs)

Flex Feel: Medium-Stiff (6.5/10)

Rating Score: 85.6/100

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

Out of the 16 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 too stiff. Something that will match well with medium to medium-stiff flexing boards (ideally 5/10 to 7/10 flex 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 should be well suited to this binding. 

Bindings angles: +15/-15

Stance width: 550mm (21.7″)

Board demoed with: Rossignol One LF 2018, 159

Baseplate Length: 24.4cm (9.6")*

*measured on the top side of the footbed (gas pedal all the way in) - a little bit of angle down to underside of baseplate which was 23cm (9.05"). 

Baseplate with gas pedal extended: 25.4cm (10")

Highback Height: 21cm (8.3")*

* from bottom of heel cup to top of highback. 

Height from Bottom of Baseplate to top of Highback: 27.2cm (10.7")

Weight: 940 grams (2lbs, 1oz)*

* for one binding, including screws and disc. The average weight of a small sample size of around 30 bindings (2019, 2020 & 2021 models) I weighed, was 895 grams. The lightest was 760 grams and the heaviest was 1,020grams. So the Atlas is just slightly heavier than normal based on those samples. 

2021 Model

I tested the 2020 model and I wouldn't don't test a binding two years in a row unless there have been significant changes. But there have been significant changes between the 2020 and 2021 models, so I had to retest them (see end of this section for details on the changes). 

Sizing

With my old Vans Aura snowboard boots (size 10), I easily fit in a Union medium with plenty of room to spare - would definitely be confident getting a 10.5 and possibly even 11 of that, and other low profile boots, into a medium Union. With my Salomon Lo-Fi (size 10 but not very low profile), it maxed out the toe strap.

Still fit in fine in the Lo-Fi size 10, but I wouldn't be that confident going to a 10.5. So for a bulkier boot, I would go to the large size for the Atlas for 10.5 and up - but for lower profile boots, you should be able to get a 10.5 in the medium fine. 

Flex

Whilst the new flex ratings from Union for the 2021 Atlas look to show the Atlas as stiff as the Falcor, I would say that they're still just a hair softer. Not by much at all, very similar, but subtly softer overall, IMO. 6.5/10 vs 7/10 for the Falcor. 

Also on the flex slider from Union, it makes the Atlas look just a touch softer than the Atlas FC, but I rode the 2 the same day and the Atlas FC felt considerably stiffer - more like 9/10. 

Union also now rates the highback and baseplate as stiff as each other, but I would still say that the highback is softer.

Responsiveness

These bindings allow you to get into a deeper, harder carve than the average binding. But they balance that well with still allowing maneuverability at slower speeds. You get a little more on a carve vs my test bindings (Burton Malavita) but just that slight bit less maneuverability at slower speeds. 

Board Feel/Butterability

The board feel is decent, given they don't have a mini-disc or anything. But not as good as say the Strata or Falcor (or my test bindings). 

Pop/Ollie Power

Didn't notice any less or more than my test bindings or typical bindings. I find it's only very few bindings that actually make this better or worse. The Falcor just that little bit better in this respect. 

Adjustability

One of the more adjustable bindings going around. 

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. 

Let’s Break up this text with a Video

Shock Absorption

Really good in this area. Probably a little better than the old Atlas. The footbed doesn't feel overly soft to the touch, but it's thick enough and the most important thing is that it does provide good dampness against chatter and good shock absorption on flat landings. 

Entry/Exit

I found the ankle strap to be smoother than the previous Atlas - and even a little smoother than on the Strata and Falcor. Similar in smoothness to the Malavita (my test bindings) - and I found the Atlas FC to be the same. 

Comfort

Overall nice and comfortable.

Ankle Strap: Nice strap and a good upgrade. Still prefer the Falcor/Strata strap, but I really like those, so this is a really good ankle strap.

Toe Strap: Had no issues with the toe strap - seemed to do the job nicely. 

Canted Footbed: Yes

Padded Footbed: Some good padding in the footbed and good shock absorption. 

Highback: Some padding there, but the main thing is that there's no calf bite or anything like that. The highback feels quite soft flexing compared to the overall flex feel of the binding, and that helps too with comfort. 

Ankle Support

Good ankle support on these bindings - this has really improved over the years on this and other Union bindings. Still no option for a higher ankle strap position, which some might like, but I liked it where it was and wouldn't change a thing. 

Changes for the 2021 Model

What's changed for the 2021 model - well basically everything. The easier question might be to ask what hasn't changed. Well overall, the flex feels about the same, strangely - given all the changes they made and given how Union rates the flex. But to me it seems very similar flex-wise. 

But to sum up the changes: 

• The Ankle strap is new
• The toe strap is new
• The baseplate is new
• The highback is new
• The heelcup is new
• The bushings are new

So, basically everything!

Changes for 2020 model

There were 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 great all-round binding, that's nice and responsive and really comfortable and nice and damp, with smooth entry/exit and good ankle support... you get the picture, it's basically good across all areas. 

And it's one of the more adjustable bindings you'll find, so should have no problem fitting any boot well and any board well, given you get the right size.