Binding Model: Rome Vice
Binding Size: M/L
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: Wolf Creek Ski Area
Conditions: Sunny bluebird skies, frozen chunder, warm chunder, and mushy chunder, zero wind, and basic preseason conditions.
Binding Adjustability: You have your standard adjustments like the toe ramp and heel cup. But you can also adjust the highback rotation, move the heel strap up or down based on your instep, strap length, and toe strap placement.
Straps: The toe strap is designed so that it grips excellently on just about any boot shape. It cups the toe box of the boot and stays locked in. The heel strap is padded where it counts but is designed so that it doesn’t stretch or break in drastically. It gives optimal support to the instep and allows you to drive into it but still feel secure.
Ratchets: I never had any issues with these slipping. They locked in well and stayed put. When strapping in the ladder climbed perfectly and didn’t have any issues. Basically it’s a ratchet that works.
Highbacks: They do their job and there’s a little bit of play when you push back into them on a heelside carve. You notice that it’s not the stiffest thing out there when ripping carves but it doesn’t suck either.
Binding Flex: The overall flex comes in at just past a middle of the road. It’s got power where you need it but is playful where you want it. It feels almost like an older Katana in some respects which is a binding that does not suck.
Ride: These are a work horse binding that gets the job done and doesn’t falter in any segment of riding. You have the Asym Wrap heelcup so you can tweak on the outside of the foot, but still get power from the big toe back to the heel. The ride is consistent on them.
Rider in Mind: The do everything with a freestyle focused type of rider.
Personal Thoughts: Like I previously mentioned this feels like an older Katana and that binding is solid. Compared to the old Vice this is a step in the right direction and this binding gets the job done. It’s got the features you want without an abundance of useless crap thrown on there and it has the power to charge if you need to, but also allows you to finesse a butter or tweak the board when popping off a roller.
