Rome National Written Review Review by The Good Ride

• User Reviews
• Past Reviews
• Product Specs
• Product Images
• Questions?

Ethics Statement: We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews and this is our unfiltered opinion. 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.

Rome National Snowboard Review- How it rides and who it is for

How This Review Happened:

Borrowed this for an extended demo and sent it back.
Size: 158
Days:  4
Conditions:  and an early morning slackountry time with Drift Boards & Union Rovers
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-190lbs),
Boots: Burton Kendo
Insoles: F.I.T. Gamechangers
Bindings: Union Atlas, Rome Vice, Rome Katana
Helmet: Smith Maze
Goggle: Smith 4D Mag

Similar Boards (but not the same): Korua Otto, Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker, Capita Mercury,YES NSB, Endeavor Pioneer, Jones Mountain Twin, Endeavor Ranger, K2 Manifest, Yes Typo, Jones Frontier, Ride Algorythm, Ride Wild Life, Borealis Tundra, Tahoe Labs Directional Twin

Set-Up: 21.5” Wide. Sance Angles +15/-15. Close to Reference.

How It Was Tested

I rode this same day with the Jones Mountain Twin and Mercury with Union Atlas and Burton Kendo’s. Then I rode it same day as the Rome Stale Mod and Agent. The next day against the Stale Crewzer, Warden and Freaker to see how it sat on the Rome riding spectrum. Then I rode it with Rome Vice and Katanas.

Approximate Weight

The Rome National feels a little on the light side of normal and a touch lighter than the other 158’s from Rome I had for demo.

(We don’t put in the exact weight because with wood cores there is no consistency in a boards weight)

Sizing

The Rome National felt pretty good at 158 but I’m pretty sure the 156 would be the size I would want to own.

Here are some ideal US boot sizes for these boards. You can of course go bigger or smaller but these work best for not turning the board slower than it should be and not having the dreaded Toe & Heel Drag.
149: 7.5-8.5
152: 8-9
154: 8.5-9.5
156: 9-10
158: 9-10
160: 9-10
157w: 11.5-12.5
160w: 12.5-13.5

Shape/Camber/On Snow Feel/Ability Level

The Rome National is a a directional twin with a nose a little longer than the tail but on sidecut it feels very much like a true twin. It might be a touch on the twinish side but I’m splitting hairs here. The camber profile has a pretty prounounced camber under foot. Then a mellow early rise that rises up a little more when your weight is on it. It is pretty easy to skid turns and get off your game but it isn’t as easy as some hybrid camber rides. Still a confident intermediate could easily ride this.

Flex Personality

The Rome National has a very dynamic and poppy flex that loads up pretty well a little after the bindings. The early rise is so mellow it’s almost like a flat spot that allows you to pop out of the tip/tail pretty well. It sits a little on the lighter poppy side so it can get a little bucky in hard micro bumpy snow or wet messy snow than other boards in Rome’s line but it’s still very manageable. I never felt it was cranky or passed up that chatter into my joints. It is a very competent all day/all condition resort ride.

Speed

The Rome National base has a good glide to it when well waxed. It’s almost there with the Jones Mountain Twin and other high end bases. The board can point it pretty well and tracks well on short straight lines.

Edge Hold

I was pretty impressed with the Rome National’s edge hold. It grips pretty well in hard morning spring snow and it’s close to many boards with mildly disrupted sidecuts.

Turning Experience/Carving

So I felt the 158 was on the medium side for initiating a turn but once it’s on edge I liked the balanced turning radius. I think it’s a touch wide for my size 9’s at 158 so it felt a touch slower than medium fast but when on edge I could make any kind of turn I’d like without the Rome National complaining. It didn’t have the pop and drive out of a hard turn like the Stale Crewzer but it was really fun and rewarding to turn. I liked it better than the Jones Mountain Twin and more so than the Capita Mercury.

Powder

I didn’t get any powder but I think this early rise, longer nose than tail and set back on board of -1.625” at a 22.75” will do pretty well as long as it’s not too deep.

Switch/Pipe/Jumps

Very doable switch when centered on sidecut for riding switch. It tracked well into jumps and I think I would like the 156 a little better in the pipe but overall it’s a great board for jumps and pipes. Little bucky for jibs for average riders like me.

Conclusion

So getting to compare the Rome National same day against the Jones Mountain Twin and Mercury really helped me see what a fun ride this is. I find this to be a very recommendable one board quiver. Especially if you like getting air.