UPDATE: Check out our review of the 2017/2018 Union Atlas here

The Details:

Union have a reputation for making tough-as-nails binders, which is why they offer a lifetime warranty on their bases and heelcups. The re-released Union Atlas is no exception, designed to cater for the likes of Norwegian hammer-thrower Torstein Horgmo.

Various materials have been used here; the heelcup is made of super-strong aluminium, while the baseplate is a nylon composite that’s been engineered for extreme cold.

While regular plastic can become brittle, and therefore more fragile, the stuff used on the Atlas won’t. A hi-tech material usually found in running shoes provides the dampening, while the ratchet buckles are made out of magnesium which is both light and strong.

Much like this binding; should you need something that can endure the forces involved in agressive, no-holes-barred freeriding, this will do the job without giving you unnecessary weight and bulk.

Another thing to bear in mind is that less than one-fifth of the binding actually makes contact with the board, meaning the natural flex of your deck won’t be overly impeded.

If you’re after a binding that is suitable for either freeriding or high-end freestyle, the Atlas is one to consider.