 This Product
Atlas Run | |||||
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| Awards |  |  |  | | |
| Price | $220.00 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $350 List $349.95 at REI | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $220 List $219.95 at REI | Check Price at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Easy to run in, spring-loaded suspension, natural stride, smooth decking dumps snow, BOA fit system is easy to adjust | Stellar traction, heel lifts for steep terrain, easy to use, add-on flotation tail compatible | Great for varied terrain, comfortable bindings, super easy to use, good floatation, large crampon and traction rails, pivot limiter for a natural stride, well-rounded | Comfortable and simple binding system, carbon steel crampons, uniquely placed heel crampons, quiet | Affordable, stellar traction, wide fit bindings |
| Cons | Speed Helix binding takes a minute to fit to your shoe, poor float on deep snow, traction is better while running than walking | Expensive, front of binding difficult to navigate with thick gloves on, side and back stepping are laborious | Traction suffers a little while descending, expensive | Extra rotation causes shin impact, mediocre flotation on fresh snow | Loud on packed snow, duck waddle for those with a narrower gait, straps can flow around a little |
| Bottom Line | With its minimalistic design, spring-loaded suspension, and smaller crampons, this snowshoe is designed for running on packed snow and ice | This is a serious snowshoe for people that want superior traction and versatility while out in steep and variable backcountry terrain | A high-performing, all-terrain snowshoe with a comfortable and easy-to-adjust binding system and excellent traction | With its outstandingly comfortable binding system, decent floatation, and stellar traction, this snowshoe is perfect for casual use | This affordable shoe is equipped with stellar traction and versatile bindings, making it a wonderful pick for varied terrain levels and snow types |
| Rating Categories | Atlas Run | MSR Lightning Ascent | Atlas Range-MTN - W... | Tubbs Wilderness -... | MSR Evo Trail Snows... |
| Flotation (30%) | |||||
| Traction (25%) | |||||
| Stride Ergonomics (15%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (15%) | |||||
| Bindings (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Atlas Run | MSR Lightning Ascent | Atlas Range-MTN - W... | Tubbs Wilderness -... | MSR Evo Trail Snows... |
| Uses | Flat terrrain | All terrain | Mountain terrain | Day hiking | Flat and variable rolling terrain |
| Optimum Weight Load (per size) | Up to 190 lbs | 22": up to 180 lbs 25": 120-210 lbs |
22": 75-150 lbs 26": 120-200+ lbs |
21": 80-150 lbs 25": 120-200 lbs 30": 170-250 lbs |
180 lbs |
| Weight (per pair) | 2.3 lbs | 3.8 lbs | 4 lbs | 4.1 lbs | 4.0 lbs |
| Binding Mount | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full |
| Binding System | Speed Helix | Paragon Binding | Wrapp MTN, Boa Fit | Quick-Fit Binding | Paraglide |
| Crampon | Dual-TRAC crampons | DTX Crampon | X-Trac toe crampon | Cobra Toe Crampon Tubbs Heel Crampon |
Steel traction rails |
| Frame Material | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum | Martensitic steel |
| Deck Material | Nytex | Nylon | Nytex nylon | Nylon | Polypropylene |
| Surface Area (for tested size) | 161.3 in² | 179.2 in² | 266.4 in² | 228.0 in² | 174.5 in² without tails, 220 in² with |
| Dimensions | 22" x 8" | 7.25" x 25" | 26" x 7.5" | 9" x 30" | 8" x 22" |
| Flotation Tails Available? | No | Yes, 5" | No | No | Yes, 6" |
| Load with Tails (per size) | N/A | 22": up to 240 lbs 25": up to 270 lbs |
N/A | N/A | Up to 250 lbs |
| Men's and Women's Versions? | Unisex | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unisex |
| Sizes Available | 22" | 22", 25" | 22", 26" | 21", 25", 30" | 22" |
| Size Tested | 22" | 25" | 26" | 25" | 22" plus 6" add-on tails |
The Atlas Run is a unique snowshoe made especially for the winter runner. It is relatively short and extremely lightweight. This 22-inch snowshoe weighs 2.3 pounds, which is lighter than any other option in our test suite. Read on to see if the Altas Run is the right option for you.
As the name suggests, the Altas Run is made specifically for running. Since most people do not run through deep snow, it does not concern itself much with float. The single-piece construction of the Speed V-Frame and Nytex decking for flotation paired with the Nytex Infinity Decking and the overall small stature keep the shoe very lightweight. The soft and smooth decking helps dump snow with every stride. While this shoe won't keep you on, or even close to, the surface, it works as it's supposed to on packed trails.
The Run has minimal toe and heel crampons when compared to the other options in our test suite. The Dual-Trac toe crampon has four aluminum teeth at the toe and one larger one on the ball of the foot. The heel crampon is made of two small rails, each with three teeth. This minimal shoe provides a decent amount of traction, although it seems to work much better in higher-impact situations, so it grabs the snow a little better while running than it does while walking. The smaller, sharper teeth also work great on ice, so you can tackle varied terrain without worrying about slipping.
The unique Atlas Spring-Loaded Suspension provides a pep to every step, propelling you forward while you run. It also provides impact absorption, ensuring that your knees, hips, and ankles are protected on long cold winter runs. The small Speed V-Frame is about 8 inches at its widest and 22 inches long, ensuring that most people can run without adjusting their natural stride. The only issue we have with the Run is that the spring is so springy it kicks a decent amount of snow onto your backside, so it's best to wear waterproof pants.
This compact and minimalist snowshoe is simple and lightweight. The flexible Nytex decking is quiet, which is a must for a running snowshoe. It is only offered in one size, which is a double-edged sword. This 22-inch snowshoe can support loads from 75 to 190 pounds. This doesn't mean you cannot use the shoe if you weigh 200 pounds or more, but the more weight, the more you'll find yourself post-holing in deep snow.
Like the rest of the snowshoe, the binding is small. The BOA fit system is very easy to use and can be adjusted on the fly. The position of the top of the binding can be adjusted and is held in place by Velcro. Adjusting its placement can be a little cumbersome, but if you don't plan on running in a wide variety of shoes, you won't need to readjust it often.
The Speed Helix binding is low-profile and mostly easy to use. It fits a wide variety of shoes but takes a moment to get set up. Once it is properly fit to your shoe, it's very comfortable, but it can pinch a little if it's not properly fastened. The BOA Fit System is found on a few high-performing snowshoes in our test suite and has quickly become a favorite. It's easy to adjust on the fly and distributes tension evenly.
The Atlas Run is a very niche snowshoe. It is not meant for trekking through deep snow or taking on the backcountry. It is also not particularly inexpensive. That being said, if you are looking specifically for a snowshoe to run in, the small, lightweight Speed V-Frame, Nytex decking, and Spring-Loaded Suspension work together to propel one foot in front of the other effortlessly.
If you are looking for a snowshoe to run in but don't want to fork over the cash, the Crescent Moon Eva Foam will add a little pep to your step without breaking the bank. It does not provide as much support or traction, but it's fun and bouncy like the Atlas Run. If you want to slow things down with a long backcountry hike and you're looking for the best of the best, the MSR Lightning Ascent is the snowshoe for you. If you plan on hiking around on ice, the TSL Symbioz Hyperflex Elite is a great option.
GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
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