Could these securely hug your feet anymore??? The answer is no, nope, nah. The new ankle strap on the 2021 Union Atlas is crazy good.

I got to give these a spin on my own Capita Mercury and wow, it was a swipe right moment – deadly combo. I had just gone from riding a pair of my own binders (named after a Mexican drug gang… ahem) and found the Atlas way better. The straps feel very secure on your boots, you don’t move anywhere in the binding, you are locked down! Much nicer than some other bindings I’ve owned, where to get that level of support and response your toes start to get the tingles. The highback, ankle strap and chassis are mid-stiff so they very reactive. If you are a freerider, love a carve, ride big park lines or just like everything to be solid and responsive look no further. Easily the best bindings I’ve ever ridden!

“Being the binding of choice for two of my favourite riders – Kazu Kokubo and Arthur Longo – I had mixed feelings about strapping into the Union Atlas. I’d hoped these would be the missing link in my riding and help me channel those boy’s hard-charging backcountry style. In reality, it was a bit like being handed Jimi Hendrix’s guitar only to bust out a very ropey rendition of Kumbaya.

That was to be expected I suppose. What did happen though, was that I immediately felt myself attacking the mountain with far more aggression and accuracy than I had earlier in the day.

The Atlas bindings have had a bit of an upgrade for this season, which is really apparent when you’re riding them. The redesigned asymmetric highbacks work in perfect unison with the canted footbeds. Being a taller rider, I often find that flat footbeds and straight highbacks offer me limited connectivity, but the Atlas bindings had the feeling of being locked in and super responsive. That flex is definitely on the stiffer side, so not the best for lazy riding – you’ve got to step up to the plate and ride with a bit of panache to get them working.

“The Atlas bindings have had a bit of an upgrade for this season, which is really apparent when you’re riding them”

The all-new heel strap is great. There’s no stitching to come loose or material to pad out, yet it still delivers full 3D comfort and instant response. Apparently, the materials in the toe strap have been upgraded to stay soft and supple right down to the coldest sub zeros, too.

The Atlas bindings are another quality addition to Union’s already stacked range. They have something to cater to every rider out there. If you’re going more down the freestyle route, maybe consider something like the Strata. If you’re on more of a budget then the Force bindings will suffice. If you’re wanting aggression, response, and comfort in equal measure then the Atlas is your best bet.”