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Rome Katana 2019-2020 Snowboard Bindings Review

  • Sizes: M/L, L/XL
  • Flex: 7-9
  • Entry System: Classic
  • Price: £330 / €380
  • BUY FROM SURFDOME

Why we chose the Rome Katana Snowboard Bindings: Because they may just be the greatest bindings ever.

Few bindings come close to the levels of innovation and customisation that Rome provide. The Katana maybe exemplifies this better than all of them. This is right up there as the best all-mountain binding in the world. Whether you’re looking to spend days, maybe even weeks dialling in the perfect fit, or screw them to your deck before you’ve even left the shop, they won’t disappoint.

“That looser lateral side of the bindings allows you to get more creative with your riding, surfing every windlip and roller like it’s your own frozen wave”

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AsymWrap Technology delivers power and flexibility in equal measure through a pretty unique design in the heel hoops. On the inside of the binding, there are two points of contact with the baseplate (while on the outside you have only one). When you release the handbrake and ride with no regard for your own livelihood, the Katanas provide enough support to keep you securely held in for directing power between the edges. That looser lateral side of the bindings allows you to get more creative with your riding, surfing every windlip and roller like it’s your own frozen wave. With these bindings, you’ll find plenty of mobility for all the cutbacks and tweaked out grabs you desire.

New for this year is Rome’s ProGrip strap with AuxTech. The kind of riders the Katanas are aimed at should be generating hefty levels of torque and leverage on the straps – whether that’s out in the backcountry or lapping slush laps through the park. This strap beats just about anything else on the market when it comes to connectivity with a deceptively secure hold, despite none of the pressure points. It’s designed as a mesh-like material that spreads itself across the boot, rather than cutting into it, when you crank up the ratchets.

Even what’s hidden from plain view is working overtime to dampen and cushion the overall ride here. There’s less than 2% of the baseplate in contact with the snowboard, and the remaining contact area is a cleverly devised asymmetric layout of D30 foam, providing two different densities: one to help with cushioning and avoid interfering with the board’s natural flex; the other to direct power more directly from edge to edge. It certainly beats the standard industry tagline of “there’s some EVA cushioning underfoot”. We told you they were good.

“With the near-endless ways you can alter them, they practically sit in a league of their own”

Lastly, but crucial to the Katana’s success, is the infinite number of ways you can dial a customised fit. Footbeds, forward lean, highback canting and strap height adjustment are just some of the options at your disposal. This is an orthopaedic memory foam mattress for your snowboard boots right here.

Out the box, the Katana’s would have still sat right up at the top of our 100 selection. With the near-endless ways you can alter them, they practically sit in a league of their own.

Tester’s Verdict

Rob McCreathWhitelines

“I challenge anybody to not find their perfect fit with these bindings. You know they say there are over 170,000 different ways to customise your drink at Starbucks? Well, it’s the same for the Katanas. Fit and performance can be dialled down to the nerdiest levels of detail.

Way back at the start of the season I got my hands on a pair and was absolutely blown away by the comfort straight out the tester’s tent. A perfect blend of a looser, surfy feel in powder, with more than enough response between the edges back on the piste.

It wasn’t until later in the season, when I got a chance to ride them for a whole week. I had the chance to get every angle, from the highbacks to the baseplates, dialled in exactly how I wanted them. I was also fortunate enough to ride them in a whole variety of conditions and on both a true twin and directional board.

I can now categorically confirm that these are the best bindings on the market. I say that as an opinion, not a fact, but one I will defend to the grave.

Every detail has been taken into consideration. The canting adjustment in the highbacks allowed me to get them perfectly aligned to the back of my boots for total connectivity. The three different options of heelside strap heights with the pivot mount are great if you’re wanting one binding to ride park and pow that will happily screw onto any of your quiver decks.

A special mention has to go to that most exciting of things – the toe straps. I used to think if they didn’t come off and didn’t have awkward pressure points then they’d done their job. The new ProGrip strap does both these things without a mention – what makes it stand out is that it genuinely improves the performance and control you’ll have of the board.

When you click it tight, you can see the strap spread out and mould right around the ends of your boot. It’s completely malleable and, as a result, the response is way less on/off and binary, but more subtle, smooth and dynamic. The slightest input is transferred to the binding for razor-sharp precision.

“I can now categorically confirm that these are the best bindings on the market. I say that as an opinion, not a fact, but one I will defend to the grave”

Riding in crud, taking hits on the landings and generally just giving your ankles abuse throughout the day is made a lot less fatiguing with the D30 impact cushioning. For those who haven’t come across this before, it’s used in sports protection, military equipment and even phone cases. It remains soft and supple (good for natural board flex) until it comes under more severe impact where it firms up and absorbs the impact (good for saving your feet).

I thought product testing would be all about riding snowboards, and for sure I rode a few absolute belters this year, but the Katana’s arguably left the longest-lasting impact. I really didn’t expect to be this impressed by the thing often more overlooked in a setup.

I could keep going on, there are so many good things to say about these and nothing negative…. except for the price tag, maybe? To be honest with you though, for a binding as quality as this, the cost is completely justified. In fact, they could probably get away with charging mo…. No, wait I didn’t say that.”

Trade Secrets

Matt Stillman – International Marketing Manager, Rome SDS

“The Katana is our ultra-light binding that pushed the envelope on customization and connected comfort. Now a staple in the line thanks to its groundbreaking AsymWrap Tech, this versatile beast of board-feel helps keep you darting through trees, but doesn’t lose the power you need to rail eurocarves. Always the innovator, the Katana gets our new ProGrip Toe Strap for an even more snug fit. The AsymChannel Highback provides the backbone for all-mountain precision, while the fan favourite Ultralight Ankle Straps keep the good times cranked to 11.”

Tester’s Verdict 2018/19

Andrew Duthiewhitelines.com

“Is that price tag making your eyes water? The long and the short of it is that yes, these are among the most expensive ones you can buy – but before you go running scared, consider the long-term benefits.

“There’s probably still not another binder out there that’s this light and this solid”

There’s probably still not another binder out there that’s this light and this solid – and before you feel that all that metal will leave you feeling locked in, the side-to-side movement really is there, and it’s great.

Over several seasons of use, the upgraded padding – it’s got that D30 stuff that you see on everything from impact shorts to phone cases – will probably pay for itself, especially if you are as good at finding knuckles as I am.

So while I’ll never blame anyone who wants to put that extra cash elsewhere, those who can afford it will get their money’s worth. They’re like an extended warranty for your feet.”

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