Hello and welcome to my Rome Ravine review.
In this review, I will take a look at the Ravine as a mellow freeride snowboard.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Ravine a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other mellow freeride snowboards.
Overall Rating
Board: Rome Ravine 2023
Price: $559
Style: Mellow Freeride
Flex Rating: Medium (6/10)
Flex Feel on Snow: Medium (6/10)
Rating Score: 84.3/100
Compared to other Men’s Mellow Freeride Boards.
Out of the 33 men’s mellow freeride snowboards that I rated:
Overview of the Ravine’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Ravine's specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | Mellow Freeride |
Price: | $559 - BUYING OPTIONS |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Feel: |  |
Smooth/Snappy: |  |
Dampness: |  |
Playful/Aggressive: |  |
Edge-hold: |  |
Camber Profile: | Directional Hybrid Camber - Rome's "Free-the-Ride Camber" |
Shape: | |
Setback Stance: | Setback 0.6" (15mm) |
Base: | Sintered (Rome's "Sinterstrong") |
Weight: | Normal |
Sizing
LENGTH (cm) | Waist Width (mm) | Rec Rider Weight (lb) | Rec Rider Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
152 | 254 | 110-165 | 50-75 |
155 | 256 | 145-210 | 65-95 |
158 | 258 | 160-230+ | 73-104+ |
162 | 260 | 160-230+ | 73-104+ |
166 | 262 | 160-230+ | 73-104+ |
Who is the Ravine Most Suited To?
The Rome Ravine is best suited to anyone who wants to ride more freeride style terrain but still being capable on every other aspect of the mountain. Best suited for deeper snow and jump lines but still able to lay down a solid carve at decent speed.
Definitely a good option as a one-quiver style board unless you like to ride a lot of freestyle, as it isn't your best friend when it comes to riding switch but otherwise it was hard to find many faults with it
While it is a great board for most situations, it isn't for everyone as it isn't beginner friendly. I would recommend it to anyone who's a more experienced intermediate to advanced rider.
The Ravine in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Ravine is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: Rome Ravine 2023, 158cm (258mm waist width)
Date: February 17, 2022
Conditions
Overhead: Whiteout. Visibility really bad. Like 20%. Got a little better after a while.
Temperature: -1°C (30°F) through the day. -4°C (25°F) with wind chill in morning. -1°C (30°F) with wind in afternoon. Wind pretty much non existent though. 5kph (3mph) winds all day. Slight change of wind direction in afternoon, which wasn't as cold a wind.
24 hour snow: 0cm (0")
48 hour snow: 0cm (0")
7 day snow: 4cm (1.5")
On groomer: Nicely groomed. Soft packed. Got slushier as the day went on.
Off groomer: Pretty soft with a couple of harder semi icy patches but for the most part semi-slush, particularly as the day went on.
Setup
Bindings angles: +12/-9
Stance width: 560mm (22″)
Stance Setback: Setback 15mm (0.6")
Width at Inserts: 270mm (10.63") at front insert and 269mm (10.59") at back insert
Rider Height: 6'1"
Rider Weight: 180lbs
Rider Boot Size: US9.5 Adidas Tactical Lexicon ADV
Bindings Used: Fix Yale: M
Control Board for Control Laps: DWD Kwon
Weight: 2980grams (6lbs 9oz)
Weight per cm: 18.86 grams/cm
Average Weight per cm: 18.59 grams/cm*
*based on a sample size of around 200 models that I’ve weighed in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023 models. The Ravine is a little heavier than average on the scales but felt normal on snow.
Powder
Unfortunately no powder to test in but based off specs and feel it should perform really well.
The Ravine has plenty of rocker in the nose which will help keep your nose above powder. Couple that with the tapered directional shape and marginally set back stance and you shouldn't have any issues when in the powder.
Carving & Turning
Carving: Not a carving killer or anything but definitely capable of laying out a decent carve without any noticeable catchiness or anything. I overall did prefer it for shorter sharper carves over longer more drawn out carves though.
Ease of Turning/Slashing: Pretty easy to release the tail and initiate a turn, making it enjoyable to slash as well.
Maneuverability at slow speeds: Felt pretty nimble overall, allowing you to whip it around with a bit of effort.
Skidded Turns: Even with a decent amount of camber, I still found it pretty easy to control/handle on skidded turns. It never felt too catchy.
Speed
I enjoyed this profile when riding at speed. The camber allows you to get going pretty quick, while the larger rockered nose keeps the board from getting chattery, overall giving you a stable feeling at most speeds.
Uneven Terrain
Crud: To my surprise the Ravine didn't smash through it as effortlessly as I was expecting, especially when riding through it at speed. It could get bucked around a bit. The saving grace however, was that it's still maneuverable in these situations, for when you get thrown off your line and need to correct it.
Bumps: It is quite quick edge-to-edge and really enjoyable in the trees/bumps.
Let’s Break up this text with a Video
Jumps
Really enjoyable board to take off jumps
Pop: Overall had a good amount of pop that was pretty accessible - it didn't require too much effort. With that being said, it had the same amount whether you really wound it up or moderately wound it up.
Approach: With it being so quick edge-to-edge, it made approaches easy. I never noticed it feeling catchy and last second adjustments were easy to make.
Landing: Felt forgiving and smooth. You could land a bit off and still ride away pretty easily and not catchy whatsoever either.
Side-hits: Enjoyed these the most on it, as you could really attack them at any speed and feel comfortable knowing if the approach or landing zone are torn up, that you're going to be ok.
Small jumps/Big Jumps: Excelled on both really well. I struggle to say it did one better than the other.
Switch
Not amazing but not terrible either as the profile makes it more difficult with the directional shape, larger nose, and setback stance. I did find initiating to switch pretty manageable but did notice some catchiness at times.
Spins
Good amount of pop is nice. Pretty average amount of effort required to get it to spin, so overall OK. Switch takeoffs/landings aren't the easiest and will require some getting used to.
Butters
Consistent flex from nose to tail that is a nice happy medium, allowing you to press/butter pretty easily.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | Contribution to Final Score | |
|---|---|---|
POWDER | 4.5 | 27/30 |
TURNS/SLASHING | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
CARVING | 3.5 | 7/10 |
TREES/BUMPS | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
CRUD/CHUNDER | 3.5 | 7/10 |
SPEED | 3.5 | 7/10 |
JUMPS | 4.0 | 4/5 |
SWITCH | 2.0 | 2/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 84.3/100 |
Overall, the Rome Ravine is a really fun freeride board that is a bit more mellow/playful than your average freeride board.
It excels in the powder and on jumps or side hits of any size or variety. All while still being able to be ridden at higher speeds and laying out decent carves.
Not a freestylers first choice as it isn't twin, thus doesn't ride switch very well, but it does have some playfulness which can make flatground stuff still fun. Overall it is a really enjoyable board you can be confident on almost anywhere.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you want to learn more about the Ravine, 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 mellow freeride snowboard options, or if you want to compare how the Ravine compares to other mellow freeride snowboards, then check out the next link.
Could I ride this board with a size 12 boot? The waist seems narrow on all their sizing.
Hi Alex, thanks for your message.
Would be pushing it with 12s – and only from the 162 and up. If any shorter length, and probably too narrow, regardless. But with the 162, it would depend on binding angles, brand/model of boot (i.e. how low profile it is) and how deep you like to carve. If the 162 (or 166) is an appropriate length for you, if you could let me know those things, I can give you my best guestimate.
Hi Nate,
I am checking out this Ravine and seems like is an awesome board. I havent started freeride yet but really want to pick up in the coming season.
Height: 5’8 1/2”
Weight: 150 lbs.
Boot Size: 8
What board size would you recommend?
Thanks in advance
Ed
Hi Ed, thanks for your message.
I would put your “typical all-mountain length” at around 154/155, but with size 8 boots I would size down from that. For the Ravine, I think the 152 would be a really good size for you.
Hope this helps with your decision
Disagree. I ride a 155 select (now pro) with a size 8 boot. I wouldn’t size down on the regular ravine. 155 will be plenty fine. 152 will be lacking.
Hi RTC
Thanks for your input. I appreciate it. Could be lacking for some, but depends on the rider. If you’re an experienced rider and depending on your height/weight specs, then maybe, but for most, IMO, with an 8 and Eddie’s specs, the 152 will be plenty and more enjoyable for certain things (e.g. trees). The 155 is good for you, by the sounds of it, but that’s not necessarily going to be the case for everyone. I would stick with 152 if I was Eddie, but everyone has a different perspective and I appreciate you sharing your experience.
What are good bindings for this deck? I have a Salomon district team pro for my freestyle deck. Would they work or would something like the new union force be better? I don’t think I want the heel with Shadow texh(whatever it’s called) for my big mountain board. Thanks!
Hey Brett
Thanks for your message. I think flex-wise, the District Pro would be a good match but if you didn’t want that shadowfit baseplate, then something like the New Force would work. Or the old Force or something like the Atlas.
I would personally pair the Ravine with bindings with a 6/10 to 7/10 flex ideally, which they all, more or less, fit into. The District Pro, I felt at a 7/10 flex. Salomon rates it “stiff”, but I’d say more mid-stiff. Not sure what you’re experience is with it, flex-wise. But if you wanted to look at some other 6/10 to 7/10 flex options you could check out the following:
>>Our top All Mountain Bindings Picks
>>Our Top All-Mountain-Freeride Bindings Picks
But if you’ve got your eye on the new Force I think it would work. I wouldn’t go softer than that, but I think it’s in range and I like the re-design overall.
Hope this helps with your decision
Awesome, exactly what I needed. As I wrote this, I got an offer from my buddy at my local shop for DOD on sale (this year). How does that compare, I didn’t see a review but the DOD I see similar to Atlas category? If not I like the Atlas for all-mountain, but need to keep in mind the flex of the Ravine. Thanks!
Hey Brett
We haven’t tested the DOD, so can’t say for sure, but on paper, they look like a good match to the Ravine, IMO. And we’ve liked other similar bindings from Rome, so it’s probably a good bet. The Atlas a really good choice for the Ravine, IMO.
Last suggestions because my buddy at my local shop has one for but if discount is the katana. Just not sure about the flex bc I’d want a “stiffer” one bc I have a 155 and probably could’ve sized up. If that matters at all!
Hey Brett
The Katana at 6.5/10 (by my feel) should be stiff enough. If the 155 is on the smaller size for you, then it will likely feel less stiff than a longer version, so I’d say the Katana is a good match.
Hi Nate,
What Rome Ravine board size do you recommend for me? Here are my specs:
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 175-180 lbs.
Boot Size: 8.5
Riding Style: Mostly groomers, bombing, lots of carving, no park, no jumps, no freestyle.
I think based on my specs my “standard all-mountain length” is around 157/158. Would the Ravine in a size 158 be ok for me or do you think I should go down to the 155? I see on Rome’s website that the Waist difference between the 155 vs 158 is only 0.1 (2.56 vs 2.57).
I am currently ridding a 2010 Ride Concept TMS in a size 159. That Ride board feels great to me in that size and it feels very nimble and easy for me to carve. However, the 159 only has a 25.1 waist.
Thanks,
Erik
Hi Erik
Thanks for your message.
Yeah the 155 has a 25.6cm waist and the 158 has a 25.76mm waist (I round up to 25.8cm) so it’s closer to a 0.2cm difference. But still, not a big difference. I would be leaning 155 for your specs. The fact that you’re riding a 159 makes it a closer call, for sure, but given the width of the Ravine vs your current board. In terms of waist width you’d be looking at around 27cm at the front insert and 26.9cm at the back insert on the 158 Ravine vs likely around 26.1cm on your current board (I haven’t measured the Concept TMS at the inserts so not sure of that exactly, but based on other Ride boards I’ve measured, it’s likely to be around that). So that’s quite a big difference. The 158 Ravine is likely to feel bigger than your current board (but not by much given the effective edge of the Concept TMS). With the 155 you’re still lookin at around 26.8cm at the front insert and 26.7cm at the back insert, so still quite a bit wider. Whilst it may not feel quite as big as your 159, it will feel closer than the 4cm difference suggests (mitigated somewhat by the effective edge difference). So, I think it depends on whether you want it to feel slightly bigger or slightly smaller than what you’re currently riding. Taking effective edge into account also, looks like the Concept TMS has a lot of effective edge vs overall length, which can make it feel bigger, so if you’re looking to get a similar size feel, then the 158 would be closer to it than the 155.
Hope this helps
Hope this helps
Thank you for the response and for the great explanation and details.
I just measured my Ride Concept TMS and here are the measurements:
Front/Tip Inserts: 25.5
Rear/Tail Inserts: 26.2
Waist: 25.0
Based on those measurements, it sounds like the Ravine 158 would feel much bigger than the Concept TMS, right? I definitely don’t want something that feels bigger than what I am currently riding. Going with your suggestion of the 155 Ravine seems like my best choice and it should give me quicker response for carving and maneuverability, right? Hopefully the effective edge on the 155 Ravine will still give me the same solid and stable feeling at high speed like the Concpet TMS gives me.
I could not find any information regarding this but is the Ravine considered a volume shifted board or standard?
Thanks for the help.
Hi Erik
I’ve never heard it officially been labelled as volume shifted, but it is to an extent, IMO. It’s not super wide like some volume shifted boards, but it’s wider than typical regular width boards.