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Bindings

Rome Vice 2019-2020 Snowboard Bindings Review

  • Sizes: S, M/L, L/XL
  • Flex: 6-8
  • Entry System: Classic
  • Price: £240 / €270
  • BUY FROM SURFDOME

Your colour options for the Rome Vice bindings read: Black; Orange; White… and Party Time. Sat in an otherwise understated lineup, the pineapple donning a pair of sunnies design is a little reminiscent of the unpopular guy in the friend group who decides his new “thing” is going to be wearing quirky Hawaiian shirts on nights out. Whichever route you go down, the Vice bindings offer a tough, lightweight binding with some of Rome’s signature design without Rome’s signature price points.

First off, they sit among the AsymWrap camp in Rome’s catalogue. The Vice features a similar baseplate to its high-tech big bros – the Katana and Black Label. The lightweight aluminium chassis runs right from the heelcup to the toe strap on the inside of each foot, but not on the outside.

“The Vice features a similar baseplate to its high-tech big bros – the Katana and Black Label”

What you gain in power on the inside, you gain once again with a more surfy ride on the outside. Whether you’re looking to flex more between the nose and tail, or just tweak out a good old stalefish in the air, the Vice bindings help with it all.

The straps have been somewhat simplified from the upgrades featured in the models up, but you do still get Rome’s Pivot Mount Technology which allows the user to switch between low, medium and high mounting positions on the heel straps. It’s amazing what these subtle differences can make, as the Vice can shift its personality from the loose, surfy turning happy go lucky binding to something altogether more responsive and powerful.

Obviously, you lose out on a couple of key features, like the D30 baseplates and the new super-grippy toe straps, but you save a fair stash of cash in doing so and still come away with a great all-mountain binding.

Tester’s Verdict

Al NasmythFreedom Snowboarding

“The Vice bindings are bomber. As you’d expect from an established brand like Rome they’ve got all the basics nailed: Comfy strap, solid construction, no-tool adjustments, and small area baseplate.

But it’s the little extras that make the difference for me. The strap spring back so you don’t stand on them getting in, the angle of the ankle strap can be adjusted for different response levels and the straps are rubberized so there’s no stitching to fall apart.

“I rode them with the Gang Plank and they worked really well as part of that set up”

They are medium flex, good for any sort riding, ideal for the intermediate rider onwards but probably a bit too much adjustment for someone starting out. The multiple adjustments are possibly one of their downsides as there’s arguably too many of them and they are a little on the heavy side compared to other brands, but that does make them stronger for the heavier rider. I rode them with the Gang Plank and they worked really well as part of that set up, as I think they would with similar all-mountain freestyle boards.”

Tester’s Verdict 2018/19

Andrew Duthiewhitelines.com

The Vice and Katana have similar characteristics but differing levels of tech – one that pulls out all the stops, another that’s pared back at a lower price point. However, the gulf between the two bindings is a lot less than the one you’ll find between those boards.

“You never feel like you need an upgrade”

These feel like they could withstand so much abuse, let the building blocks are all sleek, slim and (most importantly of all) light. The door is immediately open for all types of riding, knowing that you’ve got a foundation you can trust. They’re comfortable as hell, too, so when you’re actually using them you never feel like you need an upgrade.

While the Katanas are undoubtedly more premium, a good plan would be to opt for these instead, then put the savings towards the Rome Marshal!”

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