Binding Review: 10-11 Rome 390 BOSS

Location: Winter Park, Colorado

Snow Conditions: Hardpacked snow conditions that softened up during the day with bluebird skies.

Setup: I rode the Rome 390 Boss’s with the Rome Garage Rocker snowboard with my Vans Veil Boots size 8.

Time to set up the binding: We did adjust the canting to moderate canting so it took a little longer than average to set up but didn’t take long. The bindings were quick to adjust and set up for my boots.

Fit: Despite the rome 390’s being a men’s binding, they fit the width of my Vans boots just fine and the highback didn’t cause any pressure or calf issues with my boots. I noticed some space in the heelcup with my boots but nothing to worry about.  I could have adjusted the toe strap to be better since it was definitely pushing it on the size but with the design of the toe strap it snugged my boot that I didn’t need to worry about being on the small end for that binding.

First Impression: I didn’t think the 390’s could get any better but they just did.

Appearance: Just like the struts I tried, I really like the blue color of the 390 Boss’s.  The design is sleek and they intermix a flash of white on the left binding but keeping the right binding blue.

Comfort: Ever since I stepped on 390’s years ago to try them out, they’ve been about comfort on the mountain.  Super padded comfort in the baseplate to the ankle straps that just pads your foot when riding.  The VROD baseplate really quiets any vibrations from the snow and I definitely had some bumpy spots where it saved me from feeling it.  Sometimes the natural flex gives you too much snow feeling but the Vrod didn’t feel that way.  Canting is something that I don’t feel I need but it’s a added bonus when I do ride it, gives a more natural angle feel to riding.

Functionality: The 390 Boss’s continue to be a very functional bindings, easy to adjust the forward lean and tool-free strap adjustment on both the ankle and toe straps.  New this year is the Vrod baseplate which is a rocker design baseplate that gives you a smoother natural board flex and increased side to side freedom and increased power toe to heel.  It’s a very functional binding in it’s all-mountain ride everywhere adaptability, it can handle the park but you can also take it freeriding.

Flex: Most of the stiffer flex of the binding is in the highback, the side to side flex is more forgiving and softer than the heelside flex of the binding.  There was some room for forgiveness with the binding and wasn’t too overbearing on my size 8 women’s boots or riding.  In terms of the VROD baseplate and flex, I found that it helped with a better connection to the board but not the too much connection that other bindings might have.  You still feel like your riding a binding on top of a board and there’s good dampening/absorption to give you a enjoyable ride.

Response: The 390 and 390 Boss get the new 390 Asym highback which gives you support and response but not overly done.  It’s a good balance for the mountain, when you start to transfer into a heelside or toeside turn it helps give you power into that turn.  I really noticed it on heelside turns where I could just hold the heelside carve and power into it.

Toe Strap: The 390 Boss’s continue with the conformist 2 toe strap, which means you can rock it either cap strap or regular.  I rocked it over the toe and found the comformist doing what it does best, conforming to my boot and keeping me locked in.  It’s supportive and didn’t give me any pressure points on the boots.

Overall Impression: The legacy of the 390’s is about a solid freestyle binding but one that can handle the entire mountain and with the new tech they definitely added to the legacy by making it that much better.  The new cant system gives you a range of options from maximum to zero and the asymetric system adds to your natural alignment with the highbacks.  The new VROD baseplate has some added advantages, I found it helped for Overall they’ve improved the classic 390’s and if you want canted the boss’s give that extra option.

Shay’s Honesty Box: My size 8’s were on the smaller end for the 390’s but it still gave me a good feeling on how they’d ride but I definitely would love to try the madisons with the VROD but unfortunately they don’t have the asym or canting so it’s a tough choice.  The 390’s definitely won me over and while the madisons would be a better fit, the 390’s have too much good stuff to pass up…how come the men get all the good stuff?

Ready to buy? Head over to evo for the Rome 390 BOSS or shop their full line of Rome snowboard bindings

On Snow Photos

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Rome 390 Boss Description

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Review Disclosure: I rode this binding at a demo day.