Now I know that I’ve talked a lot about how amazing the 360’s are so I’d like to take a second to talk about another binding that I got to check out this year. That binding would be the Rome Targa. This binding has so many adjustments its impossible for it to be uncomfortable. Rides great any place, any condition, any rider, any time.
Rome says it the best: This binding balances flexibility and power. The Rome 390 is an absolute must for freestylers who dominate! This binding couples the response needed for hard-core shredding with the flexibilty needed for the the most wicked of tweaks.
I have been riding the Rome 390 for years, and this binding has taking me from being a novice newb to a local shred junkie. If you don’t have these bindings, get them!
Here are the other 2 colors that this years Rome 390’s come in.
Ya pretty sweet lookin eh? I want to get like one of each color and just interchange the parts!
This years Rome 390 even now even more dope than last year. Lighter more responsive and way sicker looking. Got some pics for ya’ll. 
It feels like it. Rome Snowboards has really been stepping it up. Not only did they construct the best binding but they are making it better all the time. I have no verifiable evidence, such as specific weights, but the 2008 Rome 390’s feel like they have lost a couple of ounces, which is ALWAYS a great thing!
Plus, I was just stoked to go and fondle the bindings. I always love it when my local shop gets all their new gear in. It is an exciting time, and it lets me know the winter season is approaching, even though it is wretchedly hot. Oh well, back to the PS3 until I have something better to do.
I guess that is kind of like saying “What makes Jessica Alba so hot?”, but let me point it out for you guys anyway. Many of these features are true of any Rome binding too, not just the 390’s.
First, I have to state the obvious: Rome pushes and backs the 4 x 4 binding pattern. IMO this is the only way to go. Check this out: 4×4 offers 289 stance width options in 3/16″ increments. What about the 3 hole pattern (no names mentioned) competitor? 16 stance width options with 1″ increments. So if you want to fine tune your stance…well you know.
On the note of stance width options, the disks that bind the bindings to the board are super agro. I have had many issues in the past with other snowboard bindings slipping, but the beefy teeth on the disks give me added comfort that my stance will stay put.But let’s look at other items that really keep the binding secure and stable. For years companies have toyed with aluminum in their bindings. Some, like Ride, have even gone as far to build the whole binding out of aluminum. Although the new MVMT series are a bit better, a solid aluminum binding is just too damn rigid.
However, on the other end of the spectrum you have a full plastic or composite binding. While these are flexible and great for dampening, sometimes they don’t offer support in specific regions. Also, complete composite bindings often have no heelcup adjustability.The Rome 390’s, as well as every other Rome binding, offers what I believe to be the perfect combination of aluminum and composite. Rome calls it the Underwrap Heel Hoop. From the pictures you can see that the aluminum piece goes from the heel to the toe. This offers very precise heel to toe energy transfer. But what you can’t see sometimes is that the aluminum piece actually wraps under the toe portion of the binding a bit. And of course, the Rome 390 has an adjustable heelcup for perfect balancing. And this also allows the highback to be rotated into the proper positions with reliability.
However, Rome keeps other parts of the binding built with composites. This allows them to finally tune correct flex patterns when you ride. Sometimes you want precise carves and sometimes you have to ride out that knuckler in the park. This is where the Rome 390’s shine. They consider all the flexes when they design bindings.Also, don’t worry about chatter or vibration either. The Rome 390’s, as well as others, come with SubBase Padding. This is basically a thin rubber layer that sits between the binding and the board. I can attest to the smoothness this adds.
Although I could write for days about the Rome 390 design, I think the straps are worth mentioning. Really, how good is a binding if it isn’t comfortable? Well the Rome 390 offers very comfortable straps. Kind of like Dr. Scholl’s, the ankle straps offer a form fitting gel. This means that your ankle straps conform to your boot. Even the toe straps conform too. And what else do they call them? Conformist Toe Straps! It is really hard to explain this design without seeing it, but it is a molding web-like material. If you ride it like a toe-cap, it will mold to the boot (very well). And you can also ride it old-school too.
And the list goes on and on.
But let me tell you what makes the 390’s, out of all the other Rome bindings, so dear to me. I have always been into tricks and I am a bit of a park rat. I hit tables and jibs all day. I ride the pipe, and I hit booters whenever my friends build them. I do carve a bit too. But I enjoy flexibility. I demand flexibility, but this cannot compromise energy transfer.
The Rome 390’s offer the perfect balance between flexibility and power for freestyle enthusiasts. It is great for jibbing and solid for jumping. And to top it off, they are light. And best, they will look sick on my brand new Rome Agent.Well, there ends my little love session for the 390’s. More to come later.
These are only two of the available four looks for the Rome 390 binding in 2008 (I will do my best to get the others up shortly). The first image is called Black/Neon Green, which is my fav by the way.
Here is the White/Rust version. I actually really like the color, but it won’t match my board for this year:
The date is the day before the 4th of July and to be quite frank, I am pissed I am sweating just punching keys on my keyboard. I mean really? How do people enjoy the summer?
Okay, so the good news is, I am going to use my downtime for something more productive than videogames and 12 oz. curls. Why not? I am a Rome fan and the Rome 390 bindings have slammed the freestyle binding industry. And Rome is still just getting started taking over the world from Burton.
So, sit back and enjoy some random rants and raves about the best thing to happen to snowboarding since the Dingo(that last part was a joke.)
