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The Race Face Atlas pedals have been around for a fair few years, but they've been redesigned this year to be wider, thinner, grippier and easier to service than before. So do the new versions live up to Race Face's marketing claims and could they be one of the best mtb flat pedals on the market? Well, lets take a look.
Design and specifications
The new Race Face Atlas gives riders a wider platform than the original versions, the 2022 model measuring up as 110mm long by 108mm wide. The new dimensions are very similar to DMR's massively popular Vault pedal, but the front and rear edges on the Atlas are slightly shorter to accommodate its more rounded corners.
Profile-wise, at 14mm (without pins) the Atlas comes in slightly thinner than most. 10 pins adorn each pedal face, which at 2mm in diameter and 6mm long are narrower and longer than most rival pedals. The pedal's pin length can be shortened by adding the included washers and you also get several spare pins. The chamfered faces have the faintest whiff of concave, which you can make feel deeper by adjusting the pin length to suit your tastes.
If minimal weight is a key factor for you, comparing other aluminum pedals that also offer outstanding grip: DMR Vaults weigh in at 438g, Nukeproof Sam Hills are 420g, while the Atlas pedals come in around a Mars bar's worth lighter at 386g per pair.
The Atlas have a matte anodized finish with a topographic design and are available in nine different colors
Performance
I rode all kinds of terrain during the four months I spent testing the Atlas and even on the roughest conditions, in terms of grip, the pedals are as good as it gets. The long, thin pins properly lock your shoes to the pedals and if I had a complaint, it would be this locked-in feel make minor positional adjustments a tad tricky.
While the pedal body may be slightly thinner than most leading rivals, the Atlas has proved to be surprisingly durable. The only damage over months of abuse on rock-strewn trails has been a couple of lost pins. Even the anodized finish is yet to show any sign of wear and looks as good as it did on day one.
Race Face claims the Atlas is simple to service and I'm happy to report that it's very straightforward. It's easy to remove the bearing cover with a 30mm socket, vice, or adjustable spanner and extract the axle to re-grease. You'll need an extraction tool to change the oversized cartridge bearing though.
The platforms were ideal with my size 9 UK shoes (10 US, 44 EU) with plenty of room for larger footed riders. Anyone with significantly smaller feet may wish to check their shoes against the pedals before buying though.
Verdict
The new Race Face Atlas pedals are seriously hard to fault. The level of grip they offer is superb, the curved and chamfered low profile bodies make them less of a target for rock strikes, and they have proved to be highly resilient to wear too.
They're serviceable with a single tool and should you have any issues, Race Face covers the pedals with a lifetime guarantee.
Tech Specs: Race Face Atlas pedals 2022
- Price: $179.99 / £149.99
- Dimensions: 110mm (L) x 108mm (W) x 14mm (D without pins)
- Weight: 386g per pair
- Pedal body: 6061 aluminium
- Axle: Chromoly steel
- Number of pins: 20 (10 per side)
- Pin length: 6mm
- Spare pins included: Yes
