There seems to be a push from companies now to make boards in smaller sizes that ride bigger than they are to help mimic skateboarding on snow. The Rome Boneless is one of those decks and we took it for a spin in the ole stunt park to see how it handles.
Board: Rome Boneless
Size: 150
Camber Option: No Hang Ups Rocker. A flat diamond shape that elevates the contact points.
Bindings: Rome 390 Boss
Stance: 22.5 Wide 18 Negative 15 Goofy
Boots: K2 Thraxis Size 10
My Weight: 175lbs
Resort: Breckenridge
Conditions: Sunny blue skies with fresh soft corduroy.
Flex: Somewhere between wet noodle and a piece of tissue paper. It’s soft all the way through.
Stability: Throw that out the window this thing just bounces around like a toddler in a ball pit.
Ollies: Surprisingly this board actually has pop. The carbon rod makes up for the lack of stiffness in the tips for pop initiation.
Pop On Jumps: Well other than tranny finding I wouldn’t exactly take this thing to the jump line. Sure you can do it and there’s some load but you have to land bolts or you will wash out.
Butterability: If there is such a thing as too soft to butter this could be that very board. If you flex your back knee into your front leg you’re doing a tail block. It’s one of those boards that you have to under exaggerate your movements to get the most out of it. Lighter weight guys might like it but for anyone 150lbs and up it’s just too much.
Jibbing: This is what the board is meant for but not in the standard ride through the park and hit a line of rails or boxes. You need to side approach a feature come off early into the tranny pop a roller then bonk the side of something. It’s a skateboard and needs to be ridden that way.
Carving: You can perform a mellow carve but if you want to push it to 11 and leave a deep trench don’t try. It’s too soft and will fold under any weighting. This board is seriously meant for urban or a light weight guy that’s not going to push the envelope.
Rider in Mind: Jib kid that’s skateboard influenced and lighter weight.
Personal Thoughts: This board is soft and light. Anyone that’s considering buying it should take note of that and be prepared for the inevitable which will be breaking it. It’s fun but there’s a sacrifice for that fun in stiffness, sidecut, and stability.
Update: The new 2014 Boneless decks that will be available in shops in the Fall have been upgraded with Glass Impact Plates which have increased the durability exponentially. -From Rome SDS
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Disclaimer: This board was loaned to us from the Rome SDS Rockies Rep.
10 Comments
Is this same tech as the shank just softer? Was considering a shank last year until knee surgery punked me.
Kind of but not really. This is built more like a skateboard with a vertically laminated sidewall. Shank is a more durable option for sure.
Same camber….completely different construction than the Shank. While the Boneless is fun, it is very niche. I tried to use it is my daily park board (2013 winter)….and I snapped three decks in one month.
The new 2014 Boneless decks that will be available in shops in the Fall have been upgraded with Glass Impact Plates which have increased the durability exponentially.
We obviously back our products which is why they’re all covered by our 2 year warranty, not to mention bindings now have a lifetime warranty.
Thank you Rome for the product update.
AND…I feel obligated to say, the Rome as a company- their customer service and product warranties are all time.
How does it compare to artifact rocker in terms of flex? Is it much softer?
Ever taken a piece of paper and rolled it up? Yeah that’s what the Bonelesses flex is like.
I ride a 2013 Hammerhead indoors, and on paper this and the boneless look real similar…how do they compare?
Hammerhead is actually just an Artifact Rocker with a different shape.