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Bindings

Rome D.O.D 2019-2020 Snowboard Bindings Review

  • Sizes: S/M, L/XL
  • Flex: 7
  • Entry System: Classic
  • Price: £260 /€300
  • BUY FROM SURFDOME

Why we chose the Rome DOD Snowboard Bindings: Go anywhere. Shred anything. Do or Die, sucker!

The DOD is Rome’s bombproof binding that’s egging you on to push your riding wherever you happen to be stood on the mountain. Top of the kicker line? Straight line. Top of a couloir? Straight line. Ski school snake taking up the entire piste? Straight line. Do or Die, sucker!

This was one of the only bindings we tested this year to feature UnderWrap, which is Rome’s more conventional system of connecting the heel hoops to the baseplate. Here, there are two points of contact on either side of the feet (as opposed to just one on the AsymWrap binding range). That achieves pistons of power, tightly containing the boot inside the binding’s walls and delivering crazy response between the edges, as well as longitudinally on the snowboard.

“That achieves pistons of power, tightly containing the boot inside the binding’s walls and delivering crazy response between the edges”

Not that all the sturdiness should prevent any natural flex happening underfoot. The VRod SubBase Pad help to enable impossible levels of natural board flex right by the inserts pattern. There’s only 1.56% of the baseplate in contact with the snowboard, which seems impossibly low. The rest of the interface is made up of a combination of thicker, softer foam along the outsides, with thinner, more rigid and responsive cushioning for transmitting energy right underneath you, between the edges.

Flex underfoot is given equal priority to flex in the highbacks. The DOD feature a specially constructed hinge which acts as a buffer and dissipates impact shocks before they travel up your leg, whilst also enabling you to bend and work them a little more effectively for presses or jibbing.

“Whatever you throw at them, they’re built to take it on the chin so you don’t have to”

It seems that just about every feature of the DOD presents a double advantage. That’s even down to the customisable options and multiple tiny adjustments you can make to the fit and feel of these bindings. Whatever you throw at them, they’re built to take it on the chin so you don’t have to. One of the stand-out bindings, not only from Rome but across the field this year. If the Black Labels were a pair of brogues – sleek, elegant, sophisticated and not the most forgiving option out there – then the DOD would be a big old slipper with a traction sole – comfortable, reliable and exactly what you want to put your feet into the moment you step out of bed.

Tester’s Verdict

Mike BrindleyWhitelines

“Overall these are an exceptional set of bindings that are ideal for aggressive all-mountain activities, a perfect mid to stiff flex that give you the support and response when you need it. Super sturdy and well made, with some of the best adjustment capabilities you can get.

I rode them for 2 days in a wide variety of spring conditions, lots of park runs and on-piste missions. I rode a Burton Custom and a Lib Tech Snake Kink. I like a medium to stiff binding – so the DOD was up my street.

“Super sturdy and well made, with some of the best adjustment capabilities you can get”

In your hand you can tell these bindings mean business, they are oozing with tech and are clearly well made. I was stoked to see you can adjust the canting on the footbeds with different padding, I would have liked to have played around with this more as it is a great option for a binding you could be using for 3-4years. The straps are comfortable, no pinching, or loosening, again you can adjust these with ease.

On the snow you can feel the response, they’ve got great pop, and are very much in tune with the board. The base plate is comfortable and takes abuse without making the board feel distant or dull.

The highbacks feel really good, with nice lateral movement allowing you to move your body around the board, yet nailing in aggressive turns on your heel and toe without compromise. Overall stability levels are really good, feeling easy and in-control in varied terrain, definitely easy on the legs for bindings of this stiffness.

Overall the DOD is a great pair of bindings, that will do the job and do it well”

Trade Secrets

Matt Stillman – International Marketing Manager, Rome SDS

“Born in the park, raised in the alpine, the D.O.D. is never out of its element. Equally comfortable picking lines in the woods as they are picking apart park features,the D.O.D. is the bread and butter of our binding collection. Built on our Full UnderWrap platform and loaded with AntiShock 2.0 Highbacks, these working-class heroes have got your back whether you’re squaring up to a heavy down flat down or just taking speed all damn day.”

Tester’s Verdict 2018/19

Andrew Duthiewhitelines.com

Bindings aren’t as subjective a choice as snowboards are (and neither come close to boots in that regard), but there are surely some riders out there who don’t get on with a rigid metal chassis. If that’s you, stay away – but aside from that I can’t see anyone else finding the Rome D.O.D. to be anything but stellar.

“Comfortable, lighter than expected, and with just the right amount of flex”

I didn’t have to do much adjusting to get them to fit just right, and once they were on they felt even better than my own pair; comfortable, lighter than expected, and with just the right amount of flex.

These are right up there with the best premium freestyle bindings around – and their reputation for durability more than justifies the price tag. If your riding style ever comes close to ‘Do Or Die’, then these are the kind of binders you want.”

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