Rome Stale Fish: I didn't love this one.

[@jimhine]

First off, I appreciate your candor and the humility you bring to your review. I demo’d this board a 6-8” snow day almost exclusively in trees, with a couple groomer runs. I’m an 190lb intermediate. The stalefish gave me a lot of confidence carving, but it wasn’t as good as the Ravine Select that I demoed same day - the RS was easily the most damp stable high speed board I’ve ever tried. The Stalefish was one of the funnest boards I’ve ridden fast in trees with steep drops. I was laughing at how fun it was to turn in powder and maybe that’s the nose shape and not so much the tail. I’m currently riding a 159 wide Ltech Dynamo which I’m not happy with. I really need a damp stable board for groomers and I would probably continue to ride my NS Maverix for powder. I think the stalefish is more playful in powder (and faster) than the Maverix…and maybe that’s due to the stiffness you called out that the Maverix lacks. I just subscribed so thanks for your reviews!

[@Drift-Products]

Thanks so much for your perspective! What are you thinking for that damp, stable groomer board?

[@bimfred]

I just bought a Dynamo 159W also (after the rave online reviews) and would probably give it a comparable review to this review of the Stalefish. What is it you aren’t enjoying about it? For me it’s lacking torsional flex and longitudinal pop, and perhaps turn-in at the nose -but there are definitely some things it does well.

[@Drift-Products]

For me I’d say too stiff and a little too much camber for this shape. I wanted it to flex easier into turns in the trees especially. It just seemed like a weird combo of design elements. But I’d really like to try one size down in comparison.

[@taqveerdoha3609]

Deciding between the new Rome Stale Fish 151 and Service Dog 148. What would be a better pick for doing tight tree runs and powder experience. Would the recommendation still be the same for steeper runs and tracked out tree runs?

[@Drift-Products]

Service dog if you want it more playful and surfy. Stale fish if you want it more centered, stiff and aggressive.

[@taqveerdoha3609]

@@Drift-Products thank you! I know you said you were going to retest this board. Do you still feel the same way now about this board?

[@masondixon1718]

To each their own. I absolutely love this board, albeit I have last year's edition. Similar to your weight at about 185 but ride the 153. This board's camber gives it excellent pop for a powder oriented board. I'm obsessed with air time and freestyle, so the combination of those two things makes it the best powder board for me that I've ridden to date.

[@Drift-Products]

That’s cool. How tall are you? 153 just would not give me enough nose to stay afloat in the backcountry. I’d be super curious your opinion of this new one, I think it’s quite a bit more biased in the freestyle direction. I think I’d need to try one size down to really judge it too.

[@КонстантинКиселев-з3ю]

Choosing board You should look for your weight. This board size iz too big for your weight

[@Drift-Products]

I'm within the weight range. On the lower side, but still well within. I consider weight recommendations but it's only one of many factors I use to pick a board. @@КонстантинКиселев-з3ю

[@rotacioskapa01]

@@Drift-Products bear in mind that the '23 StaleFish has a sheer different geometry. When I was listening your take it felt like you were talking about a whole other board as I'm riding the '23 version in 153. Mine is probably the most versatile board I've been on.

[@Drift-Products]

@@rotacioskapa01 it pretty much is a whole different board.

[@bakamono7]

Super helpful as always! I also love the specs on the 160. But rigid torsional flex and a huge bow of camber is not sounding nice to my old knees atm...

[@Drift-Products]

Bingo. I don’t mind me some camber but this one just didn’t make sense for me.

[@ODBracer]

I have heard the stale crewzer is a bit more aggressive than most think as well. I guess it truly is a pro model board. What boards have you ridden that are maneuverable in tight trees while being decent on a groomer? I have trouble finding that and have typically compromised by going with softer boards that can twist and live with the fact that they aren't as good at high speeds and have less pop. Dig the reviews! Keep em coming.

[@Drift-Products]

Good question. That is often a trade off. I would say the nidecker mellow, the Bataleon party wave +, the archetype (not quite as good on the carve but still solid), the hovercraft 2.0, and the Yes Warca? Those all come to mind.

[@mountainlife2411]

Rossi sashimi, party wave +.

[@shouldislayorshouldiflow8827]

another vote for the sashimi; yes hybrid; warpig (or superpig if you want some camber pop)

[@markosilhard2326]

Is ravnine Select review coming?…This board has been amazing for me eats everything and floats like a dream…curious to hear your thoughts

[@Drift-Products]

just dropped!

[@JerryIO]

Thanks, I would love to see more honest review on youtube like you do, not always positive for the boards😅

[@Drift-Products]

Thank you. I might be wrong sometimes, but I don't have any incentive to be anything but honest.

[@scotto827]

Love your reviews. I rode the 2022 version of this for 2 runs and it is exactly what you said. Probably great for Stale, but kind of too much for the average rider on am average day.

[@Drift-Products]

Thanks man! Appreciate the support.

[@davidgrantges3235]

I have the 2022 Stalefish, which is a lot different than the new model. The 2022 version is my favorite board ever. Too bad Rome made the new model so stiff

[@Drift-Products]

Ya I think they were trying to separate it from the Service Dog. Good or bad depending on your preference!

[@MileHighFrags]

Shouldn’t have updated the shape, 22-23 model is crazy fun to slash trees and steeps on deep days, carves really well too.

[@Drift-Products]

Ya, I hear you on the old model!

[@AK-bw8xk]

What about Stale Cruizer? Maybe try reviewing snowboards that arent a football field in legth😅

[@Drift-Products]

My man! 160 is nothing when you’re 6’3” and ~200 lbs. plenty of other reviewers doing small sizes. Haven’t tried the Stale Cruiser yet. Add it to the massive list of boards I’d like to try.

[@Buff_Hamster]

The 160 size board is rated for 176-220lbs while you weigh 180-190lb. That would explain why you had a hard time on this board as your weight is way off the manufacturer recommended weight. 154 is what you should be running and 157 is the most you should of been trying. Always aim for the upper weight range manufacturers list and keep up the good reviews!

[@Drift-Products]

Stay tuned, got an updated review coming on the 157. Better size for me but still think it's a funky board. I'll spare you the novel but I'm quite comfortable with my interpretation of size charts and the boards I choose. Such is a the life of a tall, skinny guy with big feet. The board dimensions I want for Utah backcountry almost always come in stiffer than ideal for my weight so recommended weight is generally the last of many factors I consider when picking a size. I've upsized probably 30 of the 60+ boards I've ridden this year without issue, but it caught up to me with this one. Thanks for watching!