Rome Heist Snowboard Review

Overview of the Heist’s Specs

Who is the Heist Best Suited To?

The Rome Heist is most suited to those who want a freestyle/park orientated board. But want one that can still lay out decent carves and is loads of fun to cruise groomed runs on, hitting every side hit in site. 

With it being more of a freestyle specific board, it has a few weaknesses such as powder and lack of speed - but if these two things don't concern you, then the Heist could even be considered a one-board-quiver style board. Or a great part of a quiver, if you have a more speed/powder oriented board in your quiver. 

I wouldn't recommend it to any new beginners, as it is just a bit to much of a freestyle specific board and not super beginner friendly. But could work for an experienced beginner who is looking to make the jump to intermediate with future plans to ride park.

Otherwise, this board is a great option for intermediate-advanced riders wanting a freestyle board in their quiver or whose style works to make it a one-board quiver. 

The Heist in More Detail

Bindings angles: +15/-12

Stance width: 485mm (19″)

Stance Setback: Centered

Width at Inserts: 255mm (10.04") 

Weight: 2540g (5lbs, 10oz)

Weight per cm: 17.76g/cm

Average Weight per cm: 17.29 grams/cm*

*based on a small sample size of around 30 women's boards that I've weighed in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 models. The Heist was pretty close to normal and Jade felt it that way on snow too. 

Tester: Jade

Rider Height: 5"7" (170cm)

Rider Weight: 130lbs (59kg)

Rider Boot Size: Women's US6.5 Thirty Two Exit

Bindings Used: Burton Lexa, Medium 

Powder

Unfortunately there was no powder to test in on the day but looking at the specs and riding the board, the Heist is never going to be great in powder. 

It just doesn't have the tools to succeed. It's a centered stance, true twin board. So, it's going to take some work to keep it afloat in powder.

The board's only really asset is the rocker in the nose and tail, which should get you by in moderate powder conditions but it's not enough to overcome deeper powder days, unless you want to really work that back leg!

Carving

Handled most carves decently. It held an edge nicely and felt at it's best for shorter sharper carves. 

Turning/Slashing

Ease of Turns/Slashing: Tail released with minimal effort, allowing you to initiate turns smoothly and link S turns and slashes with ease

Maneuverability at Slow Speeds: Felt really nimble at slow speeds. Found it easy to maintain control and maneuverability, smoothly and effortlessly.

Skidded Turns: Overall pretty forgiving. I didn't notice any catchiness or unpredictability, even when I let up a bit on the edges.

Speed

Not a bomber but can get some speed behind it when you really push it thanks to some decent base glide. In terms of stability at speed, the softer flex patten allowed it to get a bit chattery/washy, when you really started pushing the speed.

Uneven Terrain

Can handle moderate amounts of crud well but, in rougher more significant amounts, it started to get bucked around. That being said, it was still easy to maneuver/control to correct, when thrown off line. Was pretty to easy to get low and hug bumps/moguls on it as well. 

Let's Break this Text up with a video

Jumps

Overall really enjoyable on jumps and especially side hits, thanks to its pop and forgiveness. 

Pop: Has a good amount without it being too much, which I found worked great for jumps. Required a minimal amount of effort to access that pop too, which is always nice. 

Approach: The quickness from edge-to-edge really helped with last second adjustments. Otherwise, felt effortless to line up as the edge-hold was good and no washy feeling on the ride in. For faster approaches it looses some stability. 

Landing: Really forgiving on landings thanks to the flex and twin aspects, as they allowed you to land off centered or tail heavy and still ride away cleanly. 

Side-hits: Favorite part for sure as it kept its playfulness without feeling like a wet noodle, and, just like jumps/landings, it performed well, even if they were rough and unpredictable. 

Small jumps/Big Jumps: Overall enjoyable on both especially if your a solid park rider but I would still lean a bit more towards smaller jumps. It felt most in its element on them - and it's not as stable on those faster approaches or big landings. 

Switch

The centered stance, twin shape, and camber-rocker profile made the Heist ride really well switch. I found transitions quite comfortable and it was easy to maintain control, even when riding with a bit of speed. I never felt like I was going to catch an edge unexpectedly. 

Spins

Easy to whip spins around on. In part because of being fairly light. And it was really good for landing or setting up switch. Could use a bit more pop for larger size features or tricks but otherwise felt really good. 

Jibbing

Great board for jibbing for a multitude of reasons - like the twin shape, softer flex and the rocker underneath the contact points. Really enjoyable and suitable for jibbers who are looking to progress in the park, IMO. 

Butters

Just like for jibbing, the Heist is really good for buttering because of all the twin aspects and softer flex from nose to tail. Could press/butter both the nose and tail and hold it in place with minimal effort. 

Score Breakdown and Final Verdict

The Rome Heist is a really playful park/freestyle orientated board that is perfect for those who are looking to progress their riding in the park, while also being capable for cruisy side hit laps. 

Its strengths are park, jumps (small ones in particular), butters and riding switch but can also be used as an all-mountain cruiser too, for a more casual/playful rider.