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Bindings

Rome Cleaver 2020-2021 Snowboard Bindings Review

Why we chose the Rome Cleaver Snowboard Bindings: Because they’re as near to damn perfect a set of bindings we’ve ever seen

Narrowing down which of Stale Sandbech’s pro model snowboards to buy this season will be made all the easier when you know you don’t have to then worry about what binders to pair it with. His all-new Cleaver bindings are the perfect accoutrement to any of his three decks, highlighting their versatility for park, powder and all-mountain riding alike. These things are – much like the man himself – completely insane in terms of just what they’re capable of doing when attached to a snowboard.

Comfort, power and response rarely deliver across the board as well as they do here. Both the highback and baseplate are constructed from a 30/70 carbon and nylon composite. This not only keeps the weight down substantially, but it also fires the Cleavers up with lightning edge to edge response and absorbs a high decent amount of the chatter and vibrations encountered at speed and on hardpack. Fewer vibrations equal less foot fatigue, meaning you can ride harder, for longer.

“These things are – much like the man himself – completely insane in terms of just what they’re capable of doing when attached to a snowboard”

That’s really just the bed sheet to the big, fat, fluffy duvet that’s tucked inside it, though. The D30 SubBase Pads do most of the heavy lifting in taking out the sting of bigger impacts and landings. In its natural state, D30 is soft and supple, so it feels like your regular EVA cushioning. Under impact, however, the compound instantly hardens to dissipate and diffuse energy throughout its surface area.

It’s the power of the Cleavers that really differentiates them from the likes of the Katana bindings, though. As well as the carbon additives, the chassis is built with Rome’s FullWrap Platform. Redesigned and recalibrated for this year, the FullWrap provides the maximum amount of power and energy transfer in a bombproof fully encompassing construction. To only two other models this its found on are the 390 Boss and D.O.D, giving you some idea of the hard-charging, all-mountain freestyle riding they’re designed for.

After the success of last season’s Auxetic toe straps, Rome have rolled the tech out to the heelside straps, too. They arguably deliver arguably the most locked-in, secure fit of any bindings on the market this season. The ProFlex ankle straps, like ProGrip toe straps, work by expanding and conforming to the shape of the boots when under pressure, meaning better surface area pressure distribution and connected comfort. Straight up, these have to be some of the best snowboard straps on the market.

And it wouldn’t be a set of Rome bindings without the endless options for fit and performance customisation. All of the toolless adjustments come par for the course, but it’s features like PivotMount Max technology that give the rider real, tangible control of the flex and performance ratings on the Cleavers. The small, adjustable pieces on each side of the ankle strap fixing point, allow riders to tweak and fine-tune the exact strap height they want with, wait for it… sixty-four possible configurations.

“traight up, these have to be some of the best snowboard straps on the market”

It’s not even in doubt that there are more positions to customise the bindings than you’ll have days riding this season. Whether you’re looking for a looser, more surfy feel, or wanting the ankle straps located higher up the boot for an immediate response, the Cleaver bindings have you well and truly covered.

Granted, they don’t come cheap, but once you’ve broken down how much performance and comfort is on offer here, the Cleaver’s are worth every damned penny. For any intermediate and up rider, these are as close to a perfect binding you’ll see this season, and they’ll be the ideal tool for just about every job on the mountain.

“The Rome Cleaver bindings are another new offering from Rome and heavily influenced by Rome team rider Stale Sandbech. A binding you can charge hard with responsive power transfer and a super smooth ride. I love the feel and ride offered up in these bindings. The perfect blend of feeling locked in with control and all day long comfort. The Cleaver is a high spec binding for riders who look to charge the whole mountain.”

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