Rome Black Label Written Review Review by The Good Ride

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Welcome to the carefully crafted Rome Black Label Snowboard Binding Review from an average rider with an exceptionally objective perspective.

Ethics Statement: We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews.  We do make money from the “Where To Buy” links, but this is our best attempt at an honest and objective review from an average riders’ perspective.

A Breakdown of How it rides and who it is for

How This Review Happened:  Borrowed this for an extended demo and sent it back.

Size: Medium
Days: 10+
Conditions: Everything from hard morning snow to powder.
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-190lbs)
Boots: Ride Torrent, Ride Fuse, Ride Deadbolt, Burton Tourist, Nidecker Rift Lace
Insoles: F.I.T. Gamechangers
Redunancy: Strapins in case boots or bindings break.
Jacket: Jones Mtn Surf Anorak, Jones Shralpinist Stretch Jacket
Pant: Jones Mountain Surf Bib, Jones Shralpinist Stretch Bib
Helmet: Smith Maze
Goggle: Smith 4D Mag
Gloves: Burton AK Clutch Mitt, Burton AK Tech Leather Glove, Drop Tahoma Mitt,
Boards: Many

Similar (but not the same) Bindings: Union Atlas, Union Force, Salomon Highlander, Nitro Phantom Carver, Nitro Phantom +,  Now IPO, Rome Cleaver, Rome Katana

How It Was Tested

I rode this solo with a lot of different boots and boards but also rode this in a sampler to really get an idea of how it sits on the spectrum.

Weight

2.0lbs- Much lighter than it was the last time I tried it. I think it’s something like 20%.

Highback Flex

The Rome Black Label highback is special. It’s very snappy and responsive but still has a good twist to it so it doesn’t bite into your calves. It is not like most super stiff high end bindings but I feel it’s more responsive than many ultra stiff bindings just because of the energy it creates after it’s flexed. It feels like a poppy full camber board in how it snaps back after it’s flexed and it’s quite a unique but good feeling for a high back.

Flex Underfoot

You have a hybrid full/mini disc with the Rome Black Label but the way the rest of the binding has that soft springy closed cell foam around the rest of the binding it makes the board flex really easy underfoot. It feels like it ads pop to the board as well as makes it easy to butter.

Turn Initiation/Response

There is variable response according to how you adjust the ankle strap angles. The higher up you go the more response and the lower you go the less response on the toe side. It can feel a little lopsided going really low but overall it’s a great feature to have. Being able to dial it out from 6-9 out of 10 for response is a pretty cool feature for different moods or quiver riders.

Shock Absorption/Dampness

So the Rome Black Label is incredibly shock absorbent but not super damp. In some cases it accentuates the pop too much from the board and can make it a little more bucky/bouncy. For example I was riding the Salomon Taka EP, a pretty poppy board, with the Black Label and it felt too bucky. Then I went to the car, took these off, and put on my Union Atlas (damp but not shock absorbent) and the ride quieted down.

Boot Support

There is excellent boot support with the Rome Black Label while still being one of the most comfortable ankle straps I ever tried. These are almost 100% pressure point free. They also have this on the Katana. Now the Toe Straps stretch too much in the middle for my taste and I’d like to see less stretchy material in the center and more stiff material on the sides.

Ratchets

The Ratchets aren’t exceptional but they work and feel pretty reliable.

Adjustability

There is all around excellent adjustability. Not only do you have really cool features like adjusting the support/response by moving the ankle strap angle up or down on your ankle but you also have a canted high back to match up with the canted footbed to give really good alignment. Then you have really good tooless toe strap and forward lean adjustability.

What I like the most about the Rome Black Label is the adjustable gas pedal and heel loop so you can center most boots in the size range. That means you can turn the hybrid full/mini disc sideways and get excellent stance width adjustability. These discs also fit set back inserts that are 40mm apart instead of 20mm. You can’t slide them up or down but they do fit and that is better than a mini-disc.

Conclusion

The Rome Black Label is more than some snowboards when it comes to cost but I don’t feel the point of diminishing returns is as bad as most higher end bindings. You still get a very usable binding that doesn’t sacrifice anything in comparison to the Katana or Cleaver. You actually get a really special high back in return. So other than it accentuating some buckiness with some boards it’s a very special, adjustable, responsive but also very shock absorbent binding.

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