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Positives
- Excellent Shock Absorption
- Excellent Adjustability
- Easy Flex Underfoot
- Adjustable Response/Support
- Canted Highbacks
- Improves A Boards Pop
- Hybrid Disc Works With Set Back Inserts
Negatives
- Springy Foam Makes Bucky Boards More Buky
- No Stance Width Adjustability On Set Back Inserts
- More Parts Means More Chances To Fail
Summary
The Rome Katana is a binding we have liked here since it got a major overhaul in 2022. We still like the 2024 and there are few faults with this binding.Where To Buy
No obligation, but these links support the site.
Blauer Board Shop
Snowboards.com
SnowCountry
No Results Found
Riding Level | Beginner - Expert |
Quick Release | No |
Manufactured in | China |
Canted Footbed | Yes |
Burton Channel Compatible | Yes |
Mini disc | Yes |
Approx. Weight | Feels Normal |
Flex | |
Boot Support | |
Turn Initiation | |
Buttering | |
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Where To Buy
No obligation, but these links support the site.
Blauer Board Shop
Snowboards.com
SnowCountry
No Results Found
Rome Katana 2024 Written Review Review by The Good Ride
Welcome to the Rome Katana Snowboard Binding Review from an average objective rider with extensive gear knowledge.
Ethics Statement: This review has zero brand oversight. This is our best effort at an honest, objective review to help you, the consumer.
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A Breakdown of How this binding rides and who it is for
How This Review Happened: I borrowed this for an extended demo and sent it back.
Size: Medium
Days: 10+
Conditions: Everything from hard morning snow to powder. Early morning slackountry time with Drift Boards & Union Rovers
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
Redundancy: 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 – On the lighter side of normal.
Highback Flex
The Rome Katana highback does not have that same dynamic energy as the Black Label, but I like how it feels better in uneven snow. It has a decent amount of give in the top and a good twist but is still very responsive. I personally like more mellow high backs as they make the response more symmetrical.
Flex Underfoot
The Rome Katana has a very easy flex underfoot even though its disc is larger than a full-size disc. It’s almost too easy and easier than many true mini-discs. I think it’s all that soft, springy foam everywhere but the disc.
Turn Initiation/Response
The Rome Katana has different responses according to how you adjust the ankle strap angles. This is a really cool feature, and you can spend weeks playing around with the different angles to get the perfect amount of response as well as support. So you can go from a pretty mellow response to really responsive. I personally like it just a touch above the middle to make the response feel more symmetrical.
Shock Absorption/Dampness
So the Rome Katana has all the shock absorbency you could ever want, and it is somewhat damp too. The foam on the Katana also amplifies the pop of a board while making landings easier.
I did notice a problem with some boards in uneven snow. The same tech that amplifies the pop can make a bucky board more bucky. I really noticed that testing the Salomon Taka EP had a pretty bucky nature in uneven snow. When I put the Atlas on the same day to test against the Rome Katana and Black Label, the ride got a little quieter.
Boot Support
There is excellent boot support with the Rome Katana, and just like the Black Label, this strap feels almost pressure-point-free. It’s a very cool new tech that gives you good support, good freedom of movement and no hot spots around your ankle.
The toe strap is not my favorite, though. It stretches too much in the center, and it’s hard to crank down the toe. I love to keep the ankle strap comfy but not super tight to keep my feet from having issues. However, I love to crank down the toe strap because there are zero pressure points and it really locks my boot into the heel cup. You can’t really do that with the Katana. It’s not a full-on deal breaker, but I wish it wasn’t as flexy.
Ratchets
The Rathcets do their job, and I have zero complaints. Not the smoothest most reliable ratchets out there but pretty good.
Adjustability
The Rome Katana’s adjustability is unparalleled in the industry. You can adjust the support/response by moving the ankle strap angle up or down. There is also a canted high back to match up with the canted footbed to give a really good alignment. It feels so much better on my joints being aligned like this.
Then there is an almost toolless setup for straps and such that most have, but all appreciate.
What I like the most about the Rome Katana is the boot-to-binding adjustability. You have an adjustable gas pedal and heel loop. That means you can center just about any boot in the suggested size range in your binding to get a proper response. I can’t stress how good this feels and how important this is. I personally can’t own a binding that doesn’t allow you to center your boot in the binding.
Because you can center the boot in the binding and on board, you can turn the hybrid full/mini disc sideways and get excellent stance width adjustability.
These discs can 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 Katana was a special binding a few years back and still is. Other than a few nitpicks with the foam amplifying some bucky boards in uneven snow and a soft toe strap this is a special binding.
Rome Katana Past Reviews
Rome Katana 2022 Snowboard Binding Review
Turn Ons/Swipe Right: Super adjustable. Adjustable Response. Damp & Shock Absorbent. Great feel underfoot.
Turn Offs/Swipe Left: Not much. A little worried about the ankle strap adjuster’s reliability but not a deal breaker.
Summary
The Rome Katana has a lot of unique features that make it very adjustable but it didn’t forget to make it a great ride underfoot.
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.
How This Review Happened: Borrowed this for an extended demo and sent it back. Didn’t want to though.
Days: 4+
Conditions: Pretty rough spring conditions to pretty great spring conditions. That is all we had in the time I had to test these.
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-190lbs)
Boots: Burton Kendo
Insoles: Footprint Insole Technology Gamechangers
Boards: Jones Mountain Twin, Rome Stale Fish, Rome Ravine Select, Rome Stale Crewzer
Jacket: Burton AK Gore-Tex Pro 3L Tusk Jacket, Volcom TDF Infuse 3L Gore-Tex Jacket
Pant: Burton AK Gore-Tex Pro 3L Hover Pant, Burton AK Gore-Tex 2L Swash Pant, Burton Gore-Tex Ballast Pant
Helmet: Smith Maze, Smith Vantage
Goggle: Smith IO Mag, Smith 4D Mag
Gloves: Burton AK Clutch Mitt, Burton AK Tech Leather Glove, Burton AK Tech Glove, CG Habitats Glove,
Similar (but not the same) Bindings: Union Atlas, Union Falcor, Union Force, Salomon Highlander, Nitro Phantom Carver, Now O-Drive, Now Drive.
How These Were Tested
I did a sampler with my Jones Mountain Twin on the first day with Rome Vice, Rome Cleaver, Rome DOD, Rome 390 Boss & my Union Atlas. Then I just put them on Rome boards each day and tweaked the ankle strap angles from run to run.
Weight
The Rome Katana lightened up a good bit to 2.0 Lbs. Not sure about the weight of the older model, but it used to feel a lot heavier. We always noticed the weight when riding these at the demos. Especially when the boards they were on were pretty light. It is great to see that they didn’t go super light but brought down the weight to what I think is a normal weight. Not too light, not too heavy & just right.
Highback Flex
It’s a little stiffer than the Vice, but the Rome Katana isn’t that stiff. It is still medium and very cool to have a not very stiff high back paired with a very damp and responsive base plate.
Flex Underfoot
The quasi-mini disc is smaller than a full size for added flex underfoot but bigger than a mini disc, so you can mount it like a full-size disc to get a little damper feel underfoot. Great idea. Then you have this foam on the bottom of the binding that looks/feels exactly like what I had in my old Adidas Tactical ADV boots. It doesn’t do too much to interrupt the natural flex of the board. The Rome Katana is very easy to butter, and it blended well with every board I tried.
Turn Initiation/Response
I love the Pivotmount Max (adjustable ankle strap angle), and it helped the Rome Katana blend incredibly well with just about any board or boot out there. Most bindings have no positions for the ankle strap; some have 2, a few have 3, the Rome Vice has 4, and the Katana has 8 per side. That is a shit ton of response adjustability. It might be overkill, but I would like to spend a season playing around with it. I had a blast scratching the surface at the extended demo I had.
You can get almost there with the Black Label and Cleaver, and it is a really responsive/freeride-oriented binding when you put the ankle strap up high. Then you lower it, and it becomes more of a mountain freestyle to park binding.
On top of the adjustability, there is a smooth feel to the response overall, and it feels consistent throughout the turn.
Shock Absorption
I would say this is getting very close to the NOW/Jones bindings but without the cramping in the arch of my foot. They do an incredible job with this. It felt about the same as my Union Atlas when it came to dampness at speed but more shock-absorbent.
Boot Support
This adjustable ankle strap angle/Pivotmount Max is pretty special when it comes to support. The straps of the Rome Katana sit much further outside your ankle than other bindings, but being able to put it up higher or lower really changes the support. I put it up pretty high, and I had a very supportive/locked-in feel around my ankle. I felt like I could charge through uneven terrain all day. Then, lowered most of the way down I felt like I had a much more free/skate/surfy feel underfoot.
Ratchets
Seemed good. Nothing amazing and nothing terrible either. It never glitched, so that is all I can hope for.
Adjustability
The Rome Katana has more adjustability than any other binding out there. There is an adjustable gas pedal and heel loop. That is great for centering the boot in the binding and this eliminates a lot of turning issues people face like not having the heel side turn the same as the toe side.
On top of good high back rotation you can also cant your high back to match the cant of the base plate. I love this idea.
You have all the other quick and easy tooless adjustability as well. Toolless toe straps, ankle straps, high back forward lean, etc. You still need a screwdriver for the Pivotmount Max, High back canting, rotation, and discs.
The best is the quasi-mini disc on the Rome Katana and all Rome binders. It is bigger than a regular mini disc. Because you can center just about any boot in this binding, you can center it on board and get exceptional tip-to-tail/stance width adjustability when set up like a mini disc. The kicker is you can also set this up like you can with a full-size disc. It’s like Burton Re:Flex bindings that can’t slide at all, but it can be done. That is more than any other mini-disc I’ve tried.
Conclusion
So all this adjustability, especially when it comes to adjustable response, makes the Rome Katana a very recommendable and versatile binding. All these extra parts do cause more chances of failure, but I personally think it is more than worth the moderate to minor risk.
Rome Katana 2029 Snowboard Snowboard Binding Review
The Rom Katana is more on the heavier side of normal and feels a bit large in terms of footprint on board in relation to some bindings we have compared it against in the past but it offers up a lot of unique ankle strap adjustability, has some serious dampness to it and a good amount of response compared to what you would think.
Ethics Statement: We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews. No one is perfect, and we do make money from the “Where To Buy” links below, but this is our best attempt at an honest and objective review from an average riders’ perspective.
Days: 1 and a few days on past years models.
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-195lbs), Peter (Size 8, 5’11” 185lbs), Grant (Size 11 6’ 160lbs)
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV, Burton SLX,
Insoles: Sandsole Custom Insoles, Footprint Insole Technology Gamechangers,
Boards: Rome Tramline
The Rome Katana Snowboard Binding is a new and kinda fun looking binding in Rome’s line. I’m pretty familiar with D30 for body armor and it’s a great idea and this is the first time I have seen it on a binding.
Days: 3
Riders: James, Peter
Boots: Burton Imperial, Nike Kaiju,
Boards: Dupraz
Flex: Interesting flex that’s softer than you would think for the response.
Adjustability: It takes a bit of work, but you can dial out this binding to fit most boots out there.
Comfort: One potential issue could be the toe strap for some is because it never locks down over your toe. It just keeps stretching over your toe and that was bothersome. It also pinched the sides of our boots and we weren’t into that feeling.
Turn Initiation: It feels a touch less responsive than the Targas but in that same general area, which is pretty unique because they are not as stiff as the Targas, so it makes it a much more well-rounded binding without having to add/remove the inserts in the Targa’s ankle straps.
Buttering: The Dupraz board we were riding the Katana’s on wasn’t really an easy butter board, so we didn’t really get to understand how it can allow a more normal flexing board to bend in a butter.
Boot Support: I loved how the ankle strap wrapped around our boots, and it felt like there was decent support. It’s not a tight wrap but it for sure wraps.
Ratchet System: It felt pretty smooth but nothing exceptional.
Shock Absorption: It was hard to tell if the D30 putty on the base plate was working or not. I know for a fact it works on body armor, and it’s saved my ass (literally) a few times. D30 looks like a doughy, rubbery substance and acts like it until it’s hit, and then it instantly forms an exoskeleton. So it’s a great idea for the bottom of a binding. Seems like it would make the ride more damp, but I’d like to go out and do some A-B testing to know for sure. Regardless of whether D30 works like it does for body armor, the binding was damp.
So, all in all, other than the toe strap, we liked the Rome Katana and found it to be an interesting binding. The D30 is a cool idea for a dampening system, and we’d like to ride this binding more. The only other thing I’d mention is Rome bindings generally run on the heavy side. This doesn’t feel as heavy as the Targa, but it still feels heavier than many bindings we tried.
Rome Katana Specs
Rome Katana Images
Rome Katana User Reviews
Hopefully you ride with a vice grip
Haven’t even had a chance to ride these things yet. I pulled them out of the box and the ratchet wouldn’t work. Finally pried that off and it’s functional now. You better pray to god you don’t have to tighten your screws on a powder day. You need a vice grip to snap the base pad back into place and I can see this being a nightmare on a powder day.
katana
dont buy these! claim dep sucks!
Baseplate broke the third time i used it, heel cup got bent cheap quality plastic! 400$ No!!!
If you can - don't buy these bindings
Was happy with Katana bindings until toe buckle got damaged (picture attached) - sign of poor quality ? Let's say it was just me - unlucky guy... But hey, I do have lifetime warranty for my bindings! Good opportunity to check how it works thought myself. Opened ticket in Rome warranty support page and then the fun started. Got first reply just after one week. Warranty guy said that he's going to send a new toe buckle and it should be at my place until next week. Two weeks passed and have received nothing. After two weeks asked where's that toe buckle and got response:
"I have already sent you a toe buckle. But it seems that you didn't received it. So I'm going to send you another one. This time it'll be on which is trackable. Because the parcel before coudn't be tracked because our local post office doesn't provide tracking"
What a joke thought myself ;) And guess what? again two weeks have passed and have nothing. Neither package tracking no. neither new toe buckle.
Conclusion is quite simple here: Rome lifetime warranty is just a bad joke which does not work in reality, so you might be in a big trouble if something will go wrong with your bindings... Will never ever buy something from Rome again
Where To Buy
No obligation, but these links support the site.
Blauer Board Shop
Snowboards.com
More stores to buy from:
Blauer Board Shop
Snowboards.com
SnowCountry
SnowCountry
No Results Found
No Results Found