Hello and welcome to my Rome Katana bindings review.
In this review, I will take a look at the Katana as all-mountain-freeride snowboard bindings.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Katana a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how they compare with other all-mountain-freeride bindings.
Overall Rating
Binding: Rome Katana 2023
Price: $399
Style: All-Mountain-Freeride
Flex Rating: Stiff (8/10)
Flex Feel on Snow: Medium-Stiff (7/10)
Rating Score: 92.6/100
Compared to other Men’s All-Mountain-Freeride Bindings
Out of the 17 men’s all-mountain-freeride bindings that I rated:
Overview of the Katana’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Katana’s specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | All-Mountain-Freeride |
Price: | $399 |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Weight: | Felt normal |
Mounts to: | 2 x 4 | 4 x 4 | Channel |
Sizing
SIZE | US BOOT SIZE | EURO BOOT SIZE | UK BOOT SIZE |
|---|---|---|---|
S | 5-7.5 | 36.5-40 | 4-6.5 |
M/L | 7-10.5 | 39-44 | 6-9.5 |
L/XL | 10-13 | 43-47 | 9-12 |
Who is the Katana Most Suited To?
The Katana are best suited to those who want to match a board in the 6/10 to 8/10 flex range and are looking for good response but also want good shock/chatter absorption and board feel.
If you need good ankle support and want the option to have the ankle strap sit higher on the ankle this are also a great choice, with their pivot mount ankle strap position adjustment system.
Too stiff for beginners, but great option for intermediate riders who are either bigger/stronger or need bindings to drive a medium to medium-stiff board and any advance or expert riders who need a mid-stiff binding.
The Katana in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Katana are capable of.
Demo Info
Binding: Rome Katana 2023, M/L
Date: March 18, 2022
Conditions
Foggy but visibility wasn't terrible, but not 100%. I'd say about 70%. Snowing to start with, but quite wet snow.
Temperature was ranging from -1°C (30°F) to 1°C (34°F) through the day. Ranging from -5°C (23°F) to -2°C (28°F) with wind chill.
24 hour snow: 19cm (7.5")
48 hour snow: 21cm (8")
7 day snow: 63cm (25")
On groomer: Soft packed to start and got a little slushy later in the day.
Off groomer: Soft with a fresh layer on top. Nothing super epic or anything but still fun to get off groomer and into the trees.
Set Up
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance width: 555mm (22″)
Board demoed with: Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker
Baseplate Length: 25.1cm (9.9”)*
*measured on the top side of the footbed - a little bit of angle down to underside of baseplate where it's 23cm (9.1")
Highback Height: 21cm (8.3")*
* from board to top of highback is 28cm (11")
Weight: 940g (2lb 1oz)*
* for one binding, including screws and disc. The average weight of around 60 bindings (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023 models) I have weighed, was 913 grams. The lightest was 680 grams and the heaviest was 1,240grams. So the Katana was very slightly heavier than average, but essentially average - and felt normal on snow.
Flex
There’s some twist in the highback. Not a massive amount, not like super soft or anything, but a good amount. A little more twist than Malavita (my control bindings) if I had to say, but pretty close. There’s some give pulling back too – the slit in the highback allows you to tweak the inside of the highback pulling back on it (more so than the outside) – and there’s more twist to the inside as well, which is typical.
Overall flex feel when riding felt squarely on a 7/10 to me. No what I would call stiff, but a little stiffer than medium. So that right in between stiff and medium, aka medium-stiff.
Responsiveness
At slower speeds for ease of maneuverability, it wasn't quite as good as my control bindings Malavita. But very close.
In terms of leaning into a deeper carve, I found I could lean a little deeper for a little longer than with the Malavita's and just performed better at higher speeds, in general.
Board Feel/Butterability
Really really good. Right up there with the best of them for this flex level and for a binding with good shock absorption like this. Mini-disc no doubt helps with that board feel, reducing the dead spot underfoot.
Pop/Ollie Power
Felt about the same as Malavita. Which is a good thing as I find the Malavita to have good pop/ollie power.
Let's Break this Text Up with a Video
Adjustability
These are the most adjustable bindings that I've had the pleasure to tweak. You can pretty much adjust everything and fine tune your fit to perfection.
Heel Cup: Yes. This is great for boot centering.
Stance Width: The disc runs horizontal (and there's no need to have it able to run vertical with the heel cup adjustments doing the boot centering for you) - which gives you good stance width adjustability. It's not the most, because of the mini-disc, but the mini-disc is big enough that there is some micro adjustability.
Highback Lean: Yes and tool-less.
Ankle Strap Position: Yes. The Katana have this pivot thing on the ankle strap that give you around 8 (yes 8!) different positions. So you can have it sitting high on the ankle for more ankle support/a more locked in feeling or you can have it sitting low on your ankle for a more free/surfy feel.
Toe Strap Position: Yes - 2 position options.
Ankle and toe strap length: Yes, like every binding. These adjustments are tool-less.
Gas pedal/toe ramp extension: You can't technically extend it. As in you can't make the footbed longer. But you can adjust the footbed backwards or forwards, which helps with getting your boots centered on the bindings and your footbed in the best position on the board (along with that heel cup adjustment).
Highback Rotation: Yes
Compatible with: 2 x 4 | 4 x 4 | Channel
Note: Even though the Katana's use a mini-disc, they can do 4 x 4 and work on boards that have inserts that sit back from the main insert pack.
You can also adjust the canting of the highback.
Shock Absorption
The footbed feels particularly cushy in the heel and toes and firmer through the mid-foot. There's padding on the underside of the baseplate in addition to the footbed, which no doubt helps with shock absorption too - and probably helps the board to flex a little more naturally with the board too.
On snow the shock absorption felt really good, which was no surprise. Felt as good as the Malvitas (which are nice and shock absorbing) and if I had to say a touch better.
Entry/Exit
I found the straps could get in the way a bit. Didn't fold out of the way as easily as on some bindings. The Ratchets were nice and smooth. Not "smoothest-on-the-market" smooth but as smooth as you'll ever need them. Overall good.
Comfort
Nice and comfortable.
Ankle Strap: Conformed to my foot well overall. I did feel a bit of pressure on top of right foot (which is my foot that has a higher arch than my flat left foot) but found that I could loosen the strap off just a touch and that went away - and didn't lose any response doing so.
Toe Strap: Felt nice and no pressure points.
Canted Footbed: Yes looks like it. Rome doesn't mention in their specs (that I could see) but does look to the eye to be a little canted.
Padded Footbed: Good padding (see shock absorption notes above) and shock absorption.
Highback: Thin padding all over the highback. And, most importantly, I didn't experience any calf bite.
Ankle Support
Ankle support was really decent in the position I had it. And with that 8 point adjustment pivot, I could have set it up higher on the ankle and gained even more support, if I wanted it.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
RESPONSE | 4.0 | 24/30 |
BOARD FEEL | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 5.0 | 15/15 |
ANKLE SUPPORT | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.5 | 9/10 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 92.6/100 |
Overall, the Katana are awesome bindings. Next level adjustability almost overshadows the fact that they are so good in every other area that we rated for.
Nice and responsive at moderate to high speeds and good at slow speeds too - plus great board feel, shock absorption and ankle support.
If you're in the market for a mid-stiff binding, these are definitely worth looking at.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you want to learn more about the Katana, or if you are ready to buy, or if you just want to research prices and availability, check out the links below.
If you want to check out some other all-mountain-freeride binding options, or if you want to compare how the Katana compares to other all-mountain-freeride bindings, then check out the next link.
Hi Nate!
I was wondering how do these Katanas compare to Union (lets say Falcors) sizewise?
My boots are size 12.5. I’ve read a lot online that Katanas run small but I see you’ve measured the footbed on these just a hair shorter than Falcors in size M. This makes me think the L/XL Katanas should also be just a hair shorter than Falcors in L. Is my thinking correct?
I would very much like to own these 🙂
Hi Mat
Thanks for your message.
I found with the Katana M/L that I did have to have the toe strap on its longest setting (with low profile 9.5s). However, the heel cup is adjustable on the Katana’s and I had it all the way forward. It has around 1.5cm to move back, so in theory that’s 1.5 sizes longer I could have fit into it. And with a bigger boot you would want to be moving the heel cup back. So, I reckon I could’ve squeezed in with an 11 Tactical ADV. But they really low profile, so for the M/L, I think some bulkier 10.5s wouldn’t get into it. But most 10s should.
I don’t really know with the L/XL having not measured it. Not guaranteed that the L/XL vs L Falcor would translate the same in terms of the M/L Katana and M Falcor, but I’d say it’s fairly likely to be the case.
With the M/L being up to 10.5s and likely not fitting some bulkier 10.5s, but most likely fitting most, if not all 10s, IMO, I think the L/XL should fit most 12.5s, given it says up to 13. No guarantees as I haven’t had a 12.5 in a L/XL Katana, but I’d be fairly confident. If you have lower profile 12.5s, that would make me more confident.
Hope this helps
Thanks Nate!
It always helps to hear your insight.
My boots are now Rome Libertine in 12.5. Decently reduced I’d say.
I’m waiting for Katanas to arrive in the mail. I’ll be very disappointed if Rome boots won’t fit into Rome bindings. From what I’m reading online I’m not sure it will be ideal. Have to wait and see. If it doesn’t work out I’ll remain a Union fan 🙂
Hey Mat
Fingers crossed – yeah you would think Rome boots would fit with them. Would be interested to hear how you get on, if you think of it at the time.
Hey Nate
So I finally got my Katanas today and they’re already mounted on the board 🙂
First impression is I love everything about these bindings except the footbed which is a little short. It will still work but I’d like it to be a bit longer. Somewhere around 27cm would be ideal for my boots.
I’ve measured the footbeds at around 25.5cm so not much longer than M/L size which is kind of sad. Still when I put my bearfeet in them my toes don’t overhang which should work well for leverage I expect. I pushed the heel all the way back and the footbed all the way forward. Straps are long enough and no problems there whatsoever.
But anything above reduced size 13 would NOT fit in these.
Can’t wait to try these on snow because overall they seem like a great binding!
Hey Mat.
Thanks for the update and for your insights. Super helpful, particularly for those with bigger feet. Would love to hear how you get on with them on snow.
Hi Nate! Thanks for the review.
I’m looking to buy a K2 Alchemist to carve and ride down groomers.
Will the Katana be a good match? Any other suggestions?
Hi Max
Thanks for your message.
I haven’t ridden the Alchemist, so I don’t know for sure how the flex feels, but flex rating suggests it’s quite stiff. I think the Katana would work, but I think ideally, based on the Alchemist’s flex rating, you’d go a little stiffer. The Rome Cleaver could be an option, if you decided against the Katana.
Hope this helps
Do you think a small size can fit well a men using female boots. Snowboard industry is so bad to look for small foot people (24.5cm foot). I heard that female boots are narrow and I’m afraid to be loose in the binding. Thanks!
Hi Felipe
Thanks for your message.
I think you should be fine in the small. Typically as a binding gets bigger it also gets wider. So the S is usually the narrowest of the sizes and it gets wider as you go up sizes. So the S should be narrower as well as shorter. No guarantees as I haven’t had a women’s boot in a size S Katana, but my guess is that you should be OK.
Hope this helps
Do you think I can fit size 11 Burton Kendos in the med/g or would you recommend lg/xl
Hi Pat
Hard to say for sure without having put an 11 in it. I had plenty of leeway with my boots – but they are a super low profile 9.5, so can’t take much from that. Given that the Kendo’s are relatively low profile, if I had to guess I would say you could probably squeeze them in. But that would be a guess and definitely no guarantees. Going with the L/XL would be the safer bet.
Hi David – Would these be a good match for the Ultra Mountain twin(latest model)? All my other bings are Atlas and Strata. I tried the Flacor on a similar board but found the high backs too stiff, especially when compared to the softer base plate
Hi Brian
I think the Katana would be a great match for the UMT. I didn’t find the highbacks overly stiff. Not soft or anything either, but yeah overall flex a good match for UMT, IMO. The Atlas would also work, if you were wanting to switch those over, but if you’re looking for a new set for this board, then the Katana are a good bet, IMO.
Hope this helps with your decision
Hi Nate!
I am looking at the Rome Katanas OR Union Atlas for a Yes standard Uninc board. Which one would you recommend? Are there any other binding you would pick instead?
Thank you!
Hi Yann
Thanks for your message.
Both very good options for the Standard Uninc, IMO. You can’t go wrong with either of them, IMO. I would be leaning Katanas but only just and mostly because of better board feel. But the Atlas a good match too. Just double check that the Katana’s can do 4×4 (I think so, but I didn’t double check when I had them unfortunately) – they use a mini disc but it’s a bigger mini-disc, so I think it’s 4×4 compatible (a lot of mini discs aren’t). The only reason I mention it is that the Standard Uninc has slam back inserts which are 4cm back from the main insert pack and you wouldn’t be able to use them with some mini-discs. i.e. the Falcor would also be a good match for the Standard Uninc, but unfortunately you wouldn’t be able to use the slam backs. No issue if you don’t intend on using them, but important to note, in case you were wanting to use them.
Hope this helps with your decision
Hello! Appreciate the review. Will the Rome Katana binding be compatible and work well on the Jones Stratos 2022?
Thanks Peter
Hi Peter
Yeah, I think they would be a good match. The Stratos is a board I felt at a 7.5/10 flex – so I wouldn’t go any softer than the Katana, but I think they are stiff enough and should work well with the Stratos. And yes, they are compatible.
How would you compare them to Cartel X?
Hi Maks
Thanks for your message.
In a lot of ways, they’re similar to the Cartel X. Both around the same flex, both around the same in terms of response feel, similar board feel and shock absorption.
The Katana, I would say, has a little better board feel vs the Cartel X Re:Flex, but not quite as good vs the EST model. Ankle support feels similar too, but the Katana has more options in terms of where you can line up your ankle strap, so you can choose to place it higher on the ankle if you prefer that feel. The Katana overall more adjustable, but it’s the most adjustable binding I’ve tested. The Cartel X is nice and adjustable as well. The biggest downside for adjustability with the Cartel X is stance width adjustability (the EST version, if your riding a channel board, has great stance width adjustability but the with the Re:Flex version you’re limited to adjusting 2cm at a time – nothing more micro in terms of stance width adjustability at a time – and if you’re looking to keep the same setback stance on a board but just want to adjust your stance width, then you’ve got to do it in 4cm (40mm) bites – e.g. if on a board with a reference stance of 580mm, if you wanted it narrower, but keep the same setback stance, then you’d have to go to a 540mm stance width, whereas with something like the Katana, you would be able to narrow it (or widen it) by a more subtle amount if you wanted).
So yeah, long story short, they are more similar than they are different and match to the same types of boards and riding styles, but just some subtle differences, the main one being adjustability, IMO.
Hope this helps