Binding Review: 11-12 Rome Targa

Location: Mammoth, CA

Snow Conditions: Hardpacked to deep powder conditions

Setup: I rode the Rome Targa bindings on the Rome Mod Rocker with my Vans Veil Boots size 8.

Time to set up the binding: Pretty quick timing to mount up the Targa’s during the demo.  I figured that they might take some time with adjustments but for some reason they were matched good to my boot so setting up was normal time.

Fit: The Targa’s were on the larger side for my boot as they should be since I rock women’s boots, my boot was a bit smaller than the binding itself but nothing major.  Mostly the baseplate was a tad longer than my boot and in the second photo you can see that I could have adjusted the toe strap to be a notch more inwards.  The width was fine on the binding to boot. But overall, the ankle strap was secure around my boot and the toe strap gripped without slipping.However with the mod, I had the same issue on the left ankle strap where I could feel a slight pressure of the ratchet against my boot.

First Impression: The ultimate powerful binding from Rome, responsive and dominating.

Appearance: The Targa comes in two color choices for 2012, the white version I rode and the Bjorn Black version.  Personally I love the Bjorn Black version, red and black badass ninja warrior that wins me over.  The white is the more easy going choice with all the Rome highlights but give me a ninja sword and I’ll take it.

Comfort: All around comfort on the Targa’s, very padded ankle strap that overconforms to your boot.  Good padding in the heel and toe of the  baseplate to help absorb terrain. Rome’s have always been up high on the comfort level and they continue to match that with the Targas.

Functionality: The Rome Targa’s are fully customizable and functional.  The YES I can’t system gives you 3 interchangeable cant pads for anatomically correct wide stance and the PF adjust ankle strap means you have 3 flex options in one strap: soft, medium, supportive.  That’s pretty damn brilliant.  Other features include the V-rod baseplate’s narrow footprint that gives natural board flex and power to the handling, the antishock highback gives you unmatched power, the conformist.3 toe strap for a better more secure fit, the underwrap heel hoop delivering lightness and extra power where needed.  Final perks are the subbase V pad for anti-vibration technology, the customization foundation for highback rotation, adjustable toe and heel ramps, variety of forward lean and the quicktech foundation so everything is quickly done.  Basically when it comes to technology, the Targa has the bells and whistles so that everything is customizable on your ride.  Also the ratchets were good, I like when I write that down in notes that the ratchets were solid.

Flex: The Targa is on the stiffer side for a men’s binding and holds a lot of power in the responsive side of the binding.  Since the introduction of the PF adjust ankle strap you can now adjust the ankle flex to be a bit more forgiving and softer for the ride.  Still from the baseplate to the highback, the Targa is a dominate destroy the entire mountain binding.

Response: Overall really great response on the Targa’s, quick to engage and do what you want on the mountain.  They aren’t a binding that will go easy on you but definitely the adjustable flexing ankle strap could help make the ride easier.

Toe Strap: I thought the toe strap was interesting at first and definitely made me think about how well it’d do.  I’d have to say the conformist.3 toe strap is now a favorite after rocking it.  I’m more bummed this design isn’t on the women’s madison because jeezus it should be.  It molds very well to the toe and can grip where you’d like it.  It reminded me of the Ride webbing toe strap but in a totally different way, however both are top of the toe strap lists now.

Overall Impression: The Targa’s are the top of the line men’s binding for good reason.  They have all the bells and whistles but they are also worth every penny and every feature given to them.  For the rider wanting a customized aggressive ride, this is the binding for you.  If you want something you can tweak exactly to your personal preferences.

Shay’s Honesty Box: The Targa’s are a bit much for my style but I appreciate what they are to the Rome men’s binding line.  They are the destroyer binding, the charge the mountain, ride it all and never look back binding.  While it’s not my style, it’s a binding I’ve recommended to many riders who fit the style perfectly and it’s a damn good binding from Rome.  But seriously, I want that toe strap on the Madisons.

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

On Snow Photos

[singlepic id=11735 w=300 h=534 float=]

[singlepic id=11733 w=500 h=281 float=]

[singlepic id=11734 w=300 h=534 float=]

Rome Targa Description

[singlepic id=11732 w=1000 h=1376 mode=watermark float=]

Review Disclosure: I rode this binding at the SIA on-snow.  Please be aware bindings may change, this review was done in February 2011.