Board: Rome Agent
Size: 157
Camber Option: Fusion Camber. Predominately camber with a micro rocker in the tip and tail.
Bindings: Rome Black Labels
Stance: 21.5 Wide 15 negative 12 goofy.
Boots: K2 Thraxis Size 10
My Weight: 200lbs
Resort: Copper Mountain
Conditions: A mix of blue skies and clouds, warmer preseason temps, snow that was icy, firm, chundery, and crusty, with mild wind.
Flex: This board is that true middle of the road flex. You have tips that are a bit snappier and stiffer through to the mid section which has an even consistent flex. There’s a fair amount of torsional flex but it’s not overwhelming.
Stability: This board is super stable. Even in rutted out terrain it doesn’t get bucked around. While it is damp it’s still lively which means it doesn’t ride like a dead turd.
Ollies: There is a ton of pop in this board from the camber profile coupled with the placement of the carbon rods in the tips. When you engage that micro rocker zone it snaps back and the board boots.
Pop On Jumps: There were 2 early season jumps at Copper. 1 was designed to blow your knees out if you didn’t hit it right the other was maybe 5 feet. Obviously I hit the small one, but what I did do was tranny find the side of it and I kept over shooting. This board has some insane snap off a lip and you don’t have to try to load it up to get pop.
Butterability: There is a small sweet spot on the ends of the tips right where the carbon rods ends. If you engage it there you’ll notice that it presses with a bit of effort and holds just a little before the rebound kicks in and it snaps out. A little speed is your friend.
Jibbing: This board takes a bit of effort to muscle around on rails. You’ll notice that it has snap out of any press you do and wants to fight you. When you get sideways on a feature the camber section flexes around the rail and feels like you’re hugging it. A tiny bit of speed is the key to jibbing on this.
Carving: This board carves. You’ll feel that edge set in and grip. While it can handle throwing down a quick hard deep carve and laying it out it’s not a board for leaving trenches all day every day. Tight quick turns and medium drawn out carves are its real strong suit.
Rider in Mind: The one board quiver of one guy that wants a board that has snap.
Personal Thoughts: I’m glad the Agent is back. I’m glad that they revamped it and didn’t stick to what it was in its last iterations before it went on hiatus. This board is perfectly balanced and feels like it fits between a Buckshot and a National. Which are two great boards. It’s snappier than the Buckshot and not as demanding as the National. Overall this could be a solid one board choice for the right person.
Check out the past reviews of the 2010, 2014, 2016, 2017.
Support your local snowboard shop buy locally. Find a shop here.
46 Comments
How does this compare to the Jones Mountain Twin?
Softer, more flexible, no set back, basically a Buckshot that’s beefed up.
Which did you enjoy more for jumps?
Agent.
Interesting. The jones is stiffer, which should make it more stable for jumps. Does the agent have more snap off the lip despite it being softer?
Yes.
Hey i’m torn between the rome agent and the yes typo, is there any areas where one or the other excels?
Agent has more snap, Typo will have slightly better pow float.
Just bought one of these in 154 (170lbs). Looking forward to trying it out!
Hi,
between this and the Capita DOA which is more playful and better for buttering, and and which one would you recommend as an all around park board.
Agent.
Just picked up one of these, binding recommendations? Preferably want to stick with Rome but open to other brands.
DOD or Katana.
11.5 boot, 6′, 175lbs. Should I go for the 155w or the 158w? Riding everything except pow.
Get the 55w.
Hi Angry, been reading your reviews non stop, been looking for an all-mountain freestyle board with some freeride capabilities, not focused on laying down hard carves but is able to do so every now and than. had my eyes on the agent and the endeavor pioneer, can you please give me some insight on the pros and cons for going either? thank you very much, i will really appreciate your help 🙂
Pioneer is a little more wide, but has ICS so you’re dealing with that over a 4 hole pattern. Agent has more pop in my opinion and holds an edge a bit better, but isn’t as stable in chop due to being narrower. Can’t go wrong with either.
Trying to decide between this and the Outerspace Living. East Coast, mostly groomers and glades, rarely play in the park but enjoy side hits. Thanks!
Either.
I’m not asking you anything. Just saying thanks!!
Hi
Comparing to Capita Mercury which is better for buttering and more playful? Also which one is better carver?
Agent.
Thank you. And what bidings do you recommend?
Rome Vice.
Capita DOA or Rome Agent for intermediate all-mountain, small jumps, and switch? Usually riding Michigan ice, small resorts. Rarely powder. Please advise!
Agent.
Don’t know if this a reasonable cross shop, but how is the Agent vs the Capita Outsiders? When it’s time to replace my current board I’m thinking about trying to get an all mountain-y/resort-killer board that spends a good amount of time in the park but much more focus on jumps than jibs. I’m guessing the agent would be a bit more playful than the outsiders and the outsiders would be a bit sendier on big jumps but don’t really have an opportunity to try or feel either board.
You nailed it with that break down.
Hey Angry, really enjoy your thorough and straight up reviews. I’m 51, 6’ 210, been riding since the original Gnu Antigravity (my very first board). These days I’m mainly riding small Ontario hills until COVID relents and travel is once again possible. I currently have a Sashimi 160 for carving fun (and powder when opportunity presents), and a Broadcast 163w for all the rest, but I want to replace the Broadcast with the Agent for something a bit more playful, something I can ride reasonably fast but also do the occasional park foray with my sons on. I have size 11 boots, but they’re K2 so not a reduced footprint. My question: will the 160 @25.6 waist be ok for my specs and boots? Cheers for the advice!
As long as you don’t have some tiny ass stance it should work fine.
23-23.5″ stance, so all good. Thanks again!
Hey Angry,
I took this board into closer consideration and I have thought about buying this board but I still think that it isn’t quite the right board for me. I’m 6 foot 1/ 6 foot tall, size 11/11.5 for boots, I weigh around 160 pounds and I dont ride that much but i go on like 5 to 7 day trips to Switzerland or Austria in winter and sometimes I go indoor snowboarding but that is it. I like to ride piste and normal runs but I also enjoy going off track a bit to ride deeper snow. I also go into the park but I only hit small jumps and boxes but no rails. Should I buy this board or do you have other recommendations? Thanks
Your money and your call but I’d also look at something like the Jones Frontier, Ride Manic, Yes Basic.
Alright, Thanks
Should I consider looking at boards like the new bataleon fun.kink or the ride shadowban? Or do you think its to much board for me or do you think it doesnt quite suit me?
Too much board for you.
One last quick question. Do you think the ride agenda might be a good choice or should I stick with the manic, yes basic and jones frontier.
Your call.
Hey Angry,
Looking at the Agent, Ride Kink, Twinpig, and GNU Money for a board that is between noodle and middle of the road park flex (something that’s a little softer than my Zero). Currently on the Ride Zero, and Benchwarmer both are 51. I’m 140lbs, 7.5 boots, 5’7.
None of those.
Would all the boards I listed be closer to being a noodle or too similar compared to my Zero? I’m really just looking for something softer than my Zero that I can mess around on. I’m also considering the Salomon Sleepwalker, Arbor Draft, Westmark as well and open to other options.
The Zero isn’t that stiff of a board, it sounds like you either need to eat some muscle cheese or learn how to press a snowboard.
My 21/22 has terrible edge hold on hardpack snow and feels some how almost too torsionally soft. Anything of that sound familiar or did I get a bad/defect board?
Ridden both the Buckshot and Stale Crewzer who could be seen as a bit similar, and none of them felt bad like my Agent.
Almost sounds like it got twisted coming out of the press.
Probably impossible to get a new board on warrenty based on that right?
You’d be surprised.