Hello and welcome to my Union Atlas Pro bindings review.
In this review I will take a look at the Atlas Pros as freeride snowboard bindings.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Atlas Pros a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how they compare with other Freeride bindings.
Overall Rating
Bindings: Union Atlas Pro 2024
Price: $469 (USD recommended retail)
Style: Freeride
Other Uses: Aggressive All-Mountain
Flex Rating: Stiff (9/10)
Flex Feel: Stiff (8/10)
Rating Score: 86.9/100
Compared to other Men’s Freeride Bindings
Out of the 13 Men’s Freeride bindings that I rated:
Overview of the Atlas Pro’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Atlas Pro ’s specs and available sizes.
Specs
STYLE:
FREERIDE
PRICE:
$469 - BUYING OPTIONS
$469 - BUYING OPTIONS
Ability Level:
flex:
weight:
Felt normal
Mounts to:
2x4 | 4x4 | Channel
Sizing
SIZE | US BOOT SIZE | EURO BOOT SIZE | UK BOOT SIZE |
|---|---|---|---|
S | 5.5-7.5 | 37-40.5 | 4.5-6.5 |
M | 8-10 | 41-43 | 7-9 |
L | 10.5-13 | 43.5-46 | 9.5-12 |
Who are the Atlas Pro Most Suited To?
The Atlas Pro are best suited to someone looking for a stiff binding to get the most out of high speed carves. If bombing/carving is your main stay, then these bindings will treat you well. But they're certainly capable at more moderate speeds and give you good support and control in uneven terrain as well.
Not for beginners - too stiff for that, and even intermediate riders might struggle with these, unless they're particularly strong or big.
Best matched with boards in that 7/10 to 9/10 flex range. So best for stiffer boards, IMO.
The Atlas Pro in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Atlas Pro are capable of.
Demo Info
Binding: Union Atlas Pro 2024, M
Date: March 16, 2023
Conditions
Sunny, barely a cloud in the sky. Perfect visibility.
Temperature was -1°C (30°F) and -6°C (21°F) with wind, in the morning and 2°C (36°F), which was -2°C (28°F) with wind, in the afternoon. NW winds 5kph (3mph) morning and afternoon.
24 hour snow: 0" (0cm)
48 hour snow: 2" (5cm)
7 day snow: 16" (41cm)
On groomer: Hard pack but not icy. Overall really quite nice. And fast.
Off groomer: Doable but not ideal. Hard and crunchy.
Set Up
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance width: 555mm (22″)
Board tested with: Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker 157
Boots tested with: Adidas Response ADV, size US9.5
Control Bindings: Burton Malavita, M
Baseplate Length: 24.5cm (9.7”)*
*measured on the top side of the footbed - a little bit of angle down to underside of baseplate which was 23cm (9.05").
Baseplate (footbed) Length fully extended: 25.5cm (10")
Highback Height: 21.5cm (8.5")*
* from bottom of heel cup to top of highback. From bottom of baseplate to top of highback is 27cm (10.6")
Weight: 980 grams (2lbs, 3oz)*
* for one binding, including screws and disc. The average weight of a small sample size of around 80 bindings (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024 models) I have weighed is 920 grams (2lbs). So the Atlas Pro were a little heavy than average on the scales, but on snow felt normal.
Flex
In Hand: Barely any twist when twisting the high back in hand. But there's some twist there. More than what the Atlas FC had (high back on the Atlas FC is super stiff!). In terms of pull back, there's basically no pull back flex - though there's just a very subtle hint of it vs the Atlas FC. Bit of flex in the ankle and toe straps. Not super flexy but not overly stiff either.
On Snow: I couldn't get these to a 9/10 flex. They had more forgiveness than that. But I could get them to an 8/10, bordering 7.5/10. In hand the highback feels like it's going to be stiffer than what they feel when riding them.
Responsiveness
Vs my control bindings (Burton Malavita), the Atlas Pro could get deeper and more aggressive on carves. And just felt like they could hold on to carves noticeably better, when digging them in at higher speeds. So sweet to carve with!
At slow speeds, they were harder work than my control bindings. They didn't make the board feel too slow edge-to-edge or anything but definitely took more effort to turn at slower speeds with them.
Board Feel/Butterability
Given there was no mini-disc or anything like that, the board feel was actually really good. There isn't much in the way of padding on the footbed, which is likely why the board feel was better than expected. That doesn't help with shock absorption but for board feel, it helped with these bindings.
Pop/Ollie Power
They took a little more energy input to get them to pop the board, but they were able to extract a little more pop than my control bindings. If you're looking for a casual, effortless pop out of them, I fond my control bindings better for that, but the pop ceiling on these felt higher - you just had to put more effort in to extract it.
Adjustability
Really good adjustability overall. See below for details.
Heel Cup: Yes - which I really like, great for boot centering.
Stance Width: Full disc that can run horizontal or vertical. There are 5 screw placements, so can get nice and micro adjustable stance width with this – and, because of that heel cup adjustability, you should never have to run disc vertical.
Highback Lean: Yes and tool-less. But a very different type to the Atlas FC – this is a little dial thing that twists, like a cog. It’s quite stiff on the Atlas Pro (easier on the Atlas that I also had) – I found it really hard to move, particularly one of them – it almost felt like it had seized.
Ankle Strap Position: No
Toe Strap Position: Yes – 2 positions
Ankle and toe strap length: Tool-less.
Gas pedal/toe ramp extension: Yes, with a 1cm range.
Highback Rotation: Yes - 2 positions.
Compatible with: 2x4 | 4x4 | Channel
Shock Absorption
The footbed has some padding in the toe and heel but it's fairly minimal and feels hard to the touch - not cushy.
On snow, the shock absorption was better than the feel of the footbed would have suggested, but still nothing amazing. But a little better than average.
Entry/Exit
Was easy enough to get in and out of. Ratchets were pretty smooth and didn't have any problem releasing the straps on the move.
Comfort
Overall nice and comfortable.
Ankle Straps: They felt nice and comformed well to my boots with no pressure points.
Toe Strap: Ditto ankle straps.
Canted Footbed: Yes
Padded Footbed: Pretty hard, but shock absorption still decent.
Highback: Minimal padding and stiff, but still didn't get any calf bite or anything and that's the main thing.
Ankle Support
Ankle support was good. Nothing super locked in feeling, but certainly not loose feeling. Secure enough, with some forgiveness/freedom of movement.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | Contribution to Final Score | |
|---|---|---|
CARVING | 4.5 | 27/30 |
SLOW SPEED RESPONSE | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
ANKLE SUPPORT | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 3.5 | 7/10 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
BOARD FEEL | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 86.9/100 |
Overall, the Atlas Pro are really good bindings that handle speed and aggressive carves really well. That's their best attribute, but they ride well at moderate speeds too and overall are comfortable and provide decent board feel.
So they're not something that you have to ride fast and aggressive but when you feel the need for it, they can take you there confidently.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you’re interested in learning more about the Atlas Pro or want to research prices and availability check out the links below.
If you want to check out some other freeride bindings or want to see how the Atlas Pro compare to other freeride bindings, check out the next link.
Hi Nate,
Between the Union Falcor and Atlas pro, which binding would you choose for the Mega Merc?
I am 146 lbs and my style of riding is mostly doing short radius turn and carving. Sometimes play moguls
Hi Derek
Thanks for your message and apologies for the slower than usual response. Flat-out testing gear at the moment!
I would go Falcor, mostly because of your riding style. I find that the Falcor produces a snappier, springier response that I find is better for short radius turns and carves. The Atlas Pro has a more even, smooth consistent response and can really hold onto long radius, high speed carves really well. It’s still good for shorter radius stuff, but I prefer the Falcor for the shorter radius turns/carves.
Hope this helps with your decision
Would you recommend this for a powder (in my case Spring Break Powder Glider) board setup or should I step down to an Atlas that is less stiff and more forgiving? I also fear not surviving a whole day with the flex rating even if the on-the-snow feel is 7.5-8/10.
Hi Yon
I think the Atlas Pro would be a bit too stiff for the Spring Break Powder Glider. We haven’t tested the SBPG specifically, but he has a flex rating of a 5, so I would go Atlas over Atlas Pro. Could even potentially go Force, if you wanted things a little softer/mellow. But the Atlas would work for sure and I’d go with that over the Atlas Pro, in this case.
Hope this helps with your decision
Hi Mate,
Thanks for great review. How would this bindings match with bsod 23/24, alchemist and korua dart? Thinking of getting atlas pro, flux CV or now drive. What would be your recommendation?
Was considering falcors but afraid that big baseplate will overhang.
Hey Marcin
Thanks for your message.
The Atlas Pro would be a really good match for the BSOD, IMO, but so too would the CV and Drive. CV and Drive (I haven’t tested this one in a while and its had a couple of changes, so keep that in mind) to me feel like a 7/10 flex, with the Atlas Pro more like an 8/10 flex. So all 3 are a good flex match, IMO to the BSOD.
We haven’t tested the Alchemist or the Dart. But based on specs:
For the Alchemist I would go Atlas Pro of those 3. The Alchemist is rated quite stiff, so I would err stiffer in the bindings.
For the Dart, I would go CV – the Dart seems to rate more of a medium flex, so the CV would be the better flex match. Really liked the CVs, so they are a good bet.
In terms of matching with the BSOD, between the Atlas Pro and CV, it depends if you want to drive the board harder and get more carvy and aggressive (then go with Atlas Pro) but the CV would definitely work. Personally I would put Atlas Pro on the BSOD, just because I feel it’s the kind of board that feels like it needs something a little stiffer to drive it more optimally. Would depend on your physical specs too, if you’re a bigger guy, then erring a little stiffer is a good idea and if you’re a smaller guy, particularly if you’re on the 156 or something like that, then the CV might be the better bet.
Falcor would match too, but if you’re doing anything freestyle, then I’d lean Atlas Pro. In terms of the baseplate overhanging, that would depend on the size bindings you’ll need and the size board you’ll be riding. If you can give me that info, then I can assess whether it would be likely to fit or not. But I think I’d be leaning Atlas Pro anyway, unless you’re going to be doing some freestyle stuff and want the extra board feel.
Hope this helps
Thank you for advice. Went for Atlas pro.
You’re very welcome Marcin. Thanks for the update. If you think of it at the time, let me know how you like them, once you’ve had a chance to get them out on snow.