Straps and Highbacks
The lightweight feel of the 390 Boss is complimented by its PureFlex ankle strap. Gone is the thick padding of yesteryear; in its place is a tough webbing that hugs your boot and won’t rip apart or soak up water and freeze. Its medium flex is good for cranking methods and general ripping alike.
The toe strap is a slight step up, featuring the AuxTech material found in many premium binders right now. Rome were the original champions of this technology, which works via a geometric pattern of hinged cells that expand evenly across the foot, with no stretching or deforming. It really works, and for riders that like their toe strap to go over the end of their boot it’s ideal.
Both straps have been upgraded for 22/23 to include Rome’s Fast Entry tech; basically the ladders are pre-creased to encourage them to fall out of the way when the binding is open, speeding up the strapping-in routine. OK, we’ve seen other brands do something similar before, but there’s nothing wrong with stealing a few ideas – especially good ones. The straps also feature new BombProof Buckles made from one-piece forged aluminium. As you’d expect, they’re tougher than hell, and the wider teeth give you more purchase when cranking in; that in turn leads to less damage to the plastic ladders.
The highback is simple in the extreme: a smooth piece of curved nylon that fits the back of your boot seamlessly. It offers plenty of torsional flex which, again, will appeal to riders who want to style out their tricks. The forward lean adjuster is classy-looking and tool-free, and a special nod has to go to the 20th anniversary colourway which (being Rome) is just black and white, with a dude smashing his board in the corner. Raaaargggh!
“The 390 Boss benefits from some great tech while swerving the most expensive bells and whistles”
Roundup
After a couple of decades in the business, Rome have learnt a thing or two about making bindings. The latest version of their best-selling 390 Boss is an exercise in the old cliché, ‘everything you need and nothing you don’t’. It’s simple, stylish, comfy and durable. With solid edge-to-edge response and a tweakable highback, it would make a great choice for intermediate riders upwards who like to hit the park and recognise good value when they see it.
Pros:
- Solid yet relatively lightweight construction
- Great value for money
Cons:
- Less customisable than Rome’s higher-end models
