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Rome Katana 2022-2023 Snowboard Bindings Review

Tested and selected for our top 100 snowboard products of the year: the Rome Katana

  • Price: £350 / €400 / $400
  • Sizes: S, M/L, L/XL
  • Flex: 7/10
  • Entry System: Classic

Why We Chose The Rome Katana: Year after year, this binding is singled out for praise by the WL test team. Nuff said.

Named after a Japanese samurai sword, the Rome Katana delivers more crowd-pleasing slashes than Bruce Willis in Pulp Fiction. It’s the most premium freestyle-oriented binder in the Rome line, pairing the latest technology with a fit that’s made for surfy turns and boned out tricks. As a product it was near flawless already, but they’ve made a couple of minor tweaks to keep this perennial test team favourite firmly at the top of the pack.

“The Katana pairs the latest technology with a fit that’s made for surfy turns and boned out tricks”

Who Is The Rome Katana For?

Want the best, but don’t want to go full stiff-tard? You can thank us later.

MORE INFO:
ROMESNOWBOARDS.COM

 

Baseplate

In keeping with most of Rome’s line, the Katana is built around a two-part baseplate. The base itself is built from tough glass-filled nylon, with market-leading Duracush padding forming a shock absorbing layer between the binding and the board (as an added benefit, it protects your topsheet from scratches). It’s ergonomically shaped to match the sole of your boot, and extra cushioning in the footbed takes care of any remaining vibrations.

An aluminium ‘AsymWrap’ chassis connects to the base at three points, stopping short on the outside edge. That grants you a little more freedom to tweak shit out or just bring some personality to your turns; you’re less locked-in and robot-like. The minimal material on one side also shaves a few grams from the whole rig, and since the chassis is made from aluminium there’s still impressive response from edge to edge.

“The base is built from tough glass-filled nylon, with the best Duracush padding money can buy”

Straps and Highbacks

Things switch back to glass-infused nylon for the highback. It delivers all the rapid heelside control an intermediate to advanced rider needs, with a freestyle-friendly lateral flex that’s aided by one sword-like cut through the back. Forward lean is controlled via a simple low-profile lever that matches this binding’s pared-back look. ‘Form follows function’ is the mantra here.

What really sets the Katana apart from its peers are the straps. Both the heel and toe use a clever AuxTech material that expands perfectly around your boot and doesn’t warp even when you crank things down. It’s lightweight and tough, too. At the heel, the strap is fixed to the heel hoop via Rome’s ‘PivotMount Max’ system that lets you customise the precise angle it crosses your boot. There are no fewer than 64 possible positions here, which sounds head-spinning but essentially means rotating it around like a piston until you’ve found your ideal fit and then locking it down. Run the strap higher for more power, or lower to free up more soulful carves and grabs; heck, you can even go fully asymmetric.

By now, you’re probably wondering if any of this is actually new. And to be honest, it’s not. The Katana is nothing if not tried and trusted. That said, Rome have managed to improve on perfection. A little bit. The straps now fall open naturally so you can get the boot in with a little less faff, and they come fitted with the brand’s new BombProof Buckles – these are manufactured from forged aluminium, with wider teeth that grip the ladders better and, consequently, tear them up less. Marginal gains, people. Marginal gains.

“Run the strap higher for more power, or lower to free up more soulful carves and grabs”

Roundup

If the Rome Katana has somehow evaded your radar until now, you’re probably living in North Korea. But know this: it’s one of the best bindings money can buy, combining premium components with a comfortable (and endlessly customisable) fit. Experienced riders that want to push themselves creatively anywhere on the hill will find everything they need right here.

Pros:

  • Innovative asym chassis
  • Top-of-the-line straps

Cons:

  • The best doesn’t come cheap
SHOP ALL SNOWBOARD BINDINGS ON

 

Tester’s Verdict

Stella Pentti – SWrtier, Whitelines

“I still remember the first time I tried on a pair of Rome Katana bindings – it was like everything just fell into place. The bindings just worked, and I felt like I was riding better than ever before.

The customised option the Katana’s offer is great because it gives the rider the ability to adjust the bindings to their preferred style, which is all great. However, this is not the only good thing about the bindings and what I really value with them is the power and precision they give your riding. I always feel like I’ve got so much board control when strapped into these, and the stability and sturdiness of the bindings gives me the power and confidence to charge super fast.

They’re also really comfy, but as a woman, the highback has at times felt slightly too high and thus made my calves hurt, which is the only complaint I’ve had – including the price until I realized, the Katana’s are pretty much bulletproof.”

Trade Secrets

Matt Stillman – Marketing Manager / Team Manager, Rome SDS

“The fan favorite Katana is the binding of choice for riders across the globe who want a freakishly lightweight binding with more customization options than a Subway menu. Built on our industry leading AsymWrap platform, which provides unprecedent board feel while creating a unique surfy feel, the Katana defies convention.

If you haven’t seen AuxTech in action, you really need to check out the Katana’s strap package. Think of AuxTech as a network of small hinges, when pressure is applied as the strap is tightened, the hinges open uniformly and distribute pressure for a pressure point free riding experience with next level locked-in hold.

On a personal note, I was inventorying my gear storage lair this spring, when I realized that I do in fact, have at least 6 pairs of Katana’s from different seasons. So yeah, I guess it’s a bit of a once you’re a Katana rider, you don’t really go back.”

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