Rome 390 and 390 Boss Binding Review |
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Day's on the bindings- 50+ The Rome 390 SDS has been the Burton Cartel for Rome's binding division. After riding the 2010 and below model and now riding the new re-vamped 2011 and 2012 model we have to say that the 390 and 390 Boss is a solid choice for riders of all styles. Our only complaint is the amount of parts and how difficult it is to adjust the bindings. When you have a lot of parts you have more chances for something to break. So let's get into the detail of the changes that happened in 2011 and that are still in place for 2012. First off the ankle strap seems to be softer and a little more flexy. Second the high back is new. The old symmetrical high back now sits on the Rome Arsenal and the 2011 high back is asymmetrical. This is a pretty big change that is very similar to the latest tech that many companies are using now. The biggest change is the entire re-construction of the base plate. Both the front and back of the base plate have been hollowed out to have EVA foam and some sort of plastic to create a better flex in the board and a much more shock absorbent foot bed. This is done by creating two halves that merge together in the middle with one screw. The foam is medium density so it looks like it can keep response but also handle a flat landing. The one thing we were a bit worried about is the plastic that holds the 2 footbeds together seems a little weak for something that is going to be continuously stomped on by feet holding the weight of your body. We'll see over the long term. The 390 Boss has a canted footbed that creates an angle so your boot will align correctly with your body. It also creates a little leverage on the outer part of a rocker snowboard so you don't have to ride like a bow legged gorilla who needs to take a crap. If you are riding a rocker board or what to be more aligned then the 390 Boss are probably the way to go.
Flex- Like we say above this is a medium flex that is compatible with a wide range of boards and boots. Adjustability- The one issue with the Rome 390 is it's not easy to get everything dialed out. The biggest pain is adjusting the bindings to your foot size. You have a metal piece connecting to a metal or plastic piece that isn't easy to align so you can get the screw in. This was incredibly frustrating to us and took us almost an hour to get both bindings dialed out. Also when there are a lot of parts there are a lot of possibilities for those parts to break. We have to say though that we haven't had any issues but the writing is on the wall. It's also not easy to change from one board to another. You have to take off a small screw on the top, remove 2 pieces and then un-screw the discs. For us it was a pain in the ass to change these bindings from one board to another but for the average rider it won't be terrible if you mainly keep them on one board. Comfort- Once you get the bindings set up these are some of the most comfortable bindings out there. None of us experienced any pressure points even when we cranked them super tight. Also the new canting system makes a big difference when it comes to keeping your hips, knees and ankles better in line with your body. I (editor) have bad hips from too much hard livin and when I'm done with a day of snowboarding they can get tight. When using the canted system they feel much better when getting off the hill. You see the canted trend increasing across the binding world and I really like this. The rest of the crew liked the cant but I liked it the best for obvious reasons. Response-The response is good for what Rome sees as a freestyle snowboard binding. We see it more as an all mountain do anything type of binding and it can handle a soft continuous rocker snowboard as well as deal with even a moderately stiff camber board. edge to edge response with the 390 and 390 Boss is very good for it's flex and design. The 2011 and 2012's have a distinct advantage over the 2010 but all are good. Weight- The Rome 390's are not light. We don't really put any binding on a scale and can be wrong but the 390 Boss and 390 seemed heavier than the other bindings in their class. The 2011 and 2012 models are a little lighter than the 2010. Lateral Movement- The new ankle straps for the 2012 and 2011 models give a little more ability to flex the board laterally a lot better than the 2010's. Dampening- The 390's from every year almost have that freeride feeling of damp and can handle most speeds you feel fit to address without injury. Shock Absorption- The 2011 and 2012 have superior shock absorption and some of the best in the industry. The addition of EVA foam throughout the entire base makes for a very friendly ride when making that awkward flat landing. The 2010 was pretty good but it doesn't hold a candle to the 2011 and 2012. The Rome 390 and especially the Rome 390 Boss is a great binding for all kinds of riders and if you can live with the adjustability issues you might have a binding that will make you very happy. The Good Ride Take on Rome A Good Ride Take on Binding Tech This is a Goodride breakdown for all you that are having a tough time choosing your bindings and what to make of the material you are looking at. Most bindings are Metal, Plastic or some combo of the 2. Metal Bindings have a lot of great aspects. Almost all-metal bindings are made from aluminum. Aluminum is great when it come to weight to stiffness ratio and also pretty durable. There is one key issue with metal/aluminum bindings; they transfer all the vibrations from the board right into your feet. This is the same principle that pelage “bass-less” bindings, your feet got totally tired or fatigued. The newer generations have much better/damp bases so this problem has been minimized and in some cases eliminated. There are some companies that make great bindings despite the vibration issue with Aluminum. Some that come to mind are Ride and Rome. Plastic Bindings also have many great features but let’s address some technical stuff first. Most plastic bindings are really hardened glass plastic mix. The high-end stuff tends to have a more carbon, and carbon fiber added for extra stiffness and weight savings. Plastic bindings really dominate the market right now and most top bindings these days are mostly or all plastic. They can be really stiff and react well to your commands. The new bindings finally dialed in the carbon/ fiber integration to the point that the bindings will perform with the stiffness of metal and absorb more chatter. Most industry leaders have limited or completely eliminated metal from their bindings and we feel that with the materials used right now this is the future. Some mostly plastic companies that we feel rock are Burton, Flux and Union. What kind of binding should you buy? It’s a tough call. Both Plastic and Metal bindings offer freestyle, freeride and all mountain styles. At this point we feel that plastic bindings are edging out metal bindings when it comes to the very high end $300+ category. However it is a tough call in the below $300 category as to which material has the advantage. 390 Boss side-to-side tweakability with edge-to-edge power; canting customization for power and anatomical comfort; minimized footprint for natural board flex; 0-degree forward lean for the jib life; up to 24-degree forward lean for riders who like more support; enhanced board feel MSRP: $230.00 USD Buttery-Poppy 390 mid-air tweakage; all-mountain slashin’ fun; smooth on-rail balance; anatomically-correct heelside support; narrow baseplate footprint for optimized board flex; side-to-side freedom with toe-to-heel power MSRP: $210.00 USD Buttery-Poppy MSRP: $210.00 USD Buttery-Poppy “Rocker” baseplate design that lets the board flex while delivering toe-to-heel power and side-to-side freedom Unmatched leverage over toe and heel edges, at a reduced weight Canted inwardly, but with a pronounced lateral corner for a powerful, anatomical fit. Cored for lightness. The best-fitting, lowest profile toe strap in snowboarding, with added grip for more control The 3D shape and cold-resistant gel ensure a bio-correct fit with your ankle. Low-profile for greater freedom. Softens hard landings, dampens, and adds side-to-side flexibility 0° to 12° of rotation places power where you like it You decide how much ankle support you want Customized fit to the length and shape of your boot Cleared for strapping in quickly Tool-free strap length adjustment. Screw screws. Tool-free forward lean adjustment Buckle In and Get Tweaked A merger of SDS technology and freestyle fun by the ton. Mid-flexing highbacks and super comfy gel-cushioned ankle straps provide an ample range of motion, while a megadose of Inbase padding dampens harsh landings so your feet can look for that next bomb drop. Toss in the coring of the highback and UnderWrap heelhoop and you have one of the lightest bindings on your local shop wall. MSRP: $210.00 USD, $230.00 USD (Slasher/AC) |
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Rome 390 and 390 Boss Binding Review
Bindings - Binding Reviews
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5.0 (2) |
User reviews
Average user rating from: 2 user(s)
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PRO Bindings
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
I got this binding in Park City recently and immediately noticed a difference in my riding. It holds very well and is very responsive for quick and easy edge to edge control. It is very adjustable and customizable. The binding is extremely sturdy and has great quality. The "yes I can't" system in the base of the binding is very innovative and provides extra, solid control that can't be found in any other binding. Overall a PRO binding that is one of the best on the market. I couldn’t be happier with my purchase.
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Reviewed by Joe Trevena
February 27, 2012 |
390boss - gr8 bindings!
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
I ride park oriented all mountain.tested them for 6 days - havent had any problems. i like the ajustability with footbets in terms of cant options, the straps are rly soft and have a cool elastic feeling to them when they are cracked down. the cap stap is reduced to the minimum of what u need. just a piece of material, which forms on every boot ->perfect hold. The buckles are also nice and get their job done. Maybe the only one complain is that capstap deforms the nose part of my boots. Didnt find it any disturbing, it just didnt happen with my older binding(07 burton mission). But maybe my boots are just getting older.=) All in All a great binding with mega hold and lots of stuff to play and personalize. Happy with the purchase! |
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Reviewed by Alexey
January 15, 2012 |