Binding Model: Rome Black Label
Binding Size: Md/Lg
Stance and Angles: 21.5 Wide 15 Negative 12 Goofy
Boot Used: K2 Thraxis
Boot Size: 10
Board Used: Rome Warden
Rider Weight: 200lbs
Location: Copper Mountain
Conditions: Sunny bluebird skies, warmer temps, zero wind, and everything from fresh corduroy to chunder and ice.
Binding Adjustability: You have an adjustable heel cup for optimal sizing. You can move the toe ramp forward and backward. There’s three pin placements for the toe strap. Flip cams on the toe and heel to lengthen them. You have the pivot mount which allows you to set the heel straps height. Then you have highback rotation as well as forward lean. So basically you have every piece of adjustability you could ever want.
Straps: New for 2021 you get the Proflex Ankle Strap which is made of that harder plastic and designed to contour more accurately to the boots shape. The toe strap is made of the same material and follows the same design principle which allows it to fit any boot shape with ease.
Ratchets: Nothing changed here so they do their job and do it well. You’ll feel them climb with ease and the one finger quick release works well.
Highbacks: This has their Powergraft highback which is an industry first and it does its job well. You can drive back into it and feel it give you the power you need to push through on a heelside carve but not be so overbearing that it inhibits fluid movements.
Binding Flex: The overall flex of the binding is what I would call freestyle precision. You can feel the power of the binding and how it drives down into the baseplate, but with the Asym Wrap heel cup you get more lateral flex which lets you tweak a grab or butter out over the tip and tail.
Ride: This is a smooth ride that remains lively. You can feel the variations in the terrain but it doesn’t make your ankles and knees take in all the vibrations that fatigue you.
Rider in Mind: High end all mountain freestyle rider.
Personal Thoughts: I own 2 pairs of the first generation of these and this with the new strap works. I could see where someone might not like the rigid flex of the new heel strap and would want the older one, but that’s more a personal preference issue. Overall this is a super solid binding full of adjustments and gives you power, control, and the ability to tweak as needed.
