This is my review of the Arbor Element snowboard.
I have been snowboarding for most of my life and currently work as a certified instructor in the Canadian system. I’ve ridden on the Arbor Element to get a good sense of its performance in different conditions and judge the other factors I mention here.
The Element is a quality all-mountain model that is a lot of fun to ride. It’s not very aggressive, making it underperform for highly experienced riders, but exceptional versatility and solid construction still make it a good choice.
I’ll give you an in-depth review of the board based on my experiences with it in this post. I’ll show you everything I like about how it performs in the snow and provide some insight into its construction and value along the way.
Let’s jump in.
Contents
Arbor Element Overview
The Arbor Element is a fun board to ride and has a playful yet capable nature that is sure to keep a smile on the face of every rider who straps into it. Arbor is a well-known skateboard manufacturer, and they incorporated the best elements of street style here.
The board is an effective all-mountain option that has the versatility and capability to take you just about anywhere on the mountain. I don’t think it’s a great choice for expert-level situations, but it should have you covered other than that.
The Element is suitable for riders who like to roam and have a more laid-back approach to exploring the mountain. If you tend to just go with the flow instead of charge hard all day long, this board could be a perfect match.
It has a flex that is just slightly above medium. This gives you plenty of power and control when you want to take on more challenging runs but lends nicely to the playful nature that I think is where the board stands out.
The System Camber profile gives the board effective performance from the park into deep powder. It’s a responsive shape that is balanced for stable riding that can adapt to situations and conditions as they come at you.
Even though the Element lacks high-end performance, it makes up for it with increased capabilities in more mellow situations. It’s a quality option all-around. I just don’t recommend it for aggressive riders.
The construction of this board is solid through and through, and it’s built to last. You can expect many seasons of regular use with this model. Fully wrapped sidewalls and steel edges add durability and strength while also ensuring you get reliable performance.
The Element is a good value and is priced right in the middle ground of all-mountain options. With its capable characteristics and innovative construction, I think the board is a good choice for intermediate riders who want to have fun all season long.
This isn’t the board I would choose as my daily one-quiver option because I’m an aggressive rider who leans towards freeriding. But it can work as an all-season board if your style or skills are a little more subdued.
Detailed Review
The Arbor Element stands out from the competition with quality construction and playfulness in various on-snow situations. It lacks aggressiveness but still has enough power to let you handle technical terrain in smaller doses.
Performance
This is an effective all-mountain snowboard that will give you the ability to venture nearly anywhere you want to go at the resort. It has a freestyle board’s laid-back and playful nature with added versatility to crank up the juice when you want to tackle bigger lines.
I wouldn’t take it into the backcountry, even though it has plenty of float in powder. I don’t think it’s powerful enough to cut through variable snow conditions found outside the resort. I like a stiffer board for this situation.
The Element will keep you satisfied at the resort, especially if fun is your primary goal on the mountain. The board has a natural smoothness that is difficult to describe until you ride it. It feels floaty but responsive, a little loose but in control.
It can flow into freestyle lines with ease, and the directional twin shape will let you ride switch without missing a beat. It has enough flex to allow you to butter and jib easily while still helping you dig into the walls of the halfpipe.
The Element also holds up reasonably well at higher speeds if you want to go cruise groomers or seek out a high mountain bowl. It has a very balanced feel that delivers serious edge control and grip when the snow is harder.
The playful nature is also on full display when you get lucky and find fresh snow. This board will float and surf in the deep stuff, and if you’ve ever ridden an Arbor longboard, you will feel the similarities.
Construction
The Element has an excellent construction that delivers plenty of strength and durability. The board is built to last and will easily take all the use and abuse the average rider can throw at it. A three-year warranty is a good indicator of quality construction.
The System Camber profile is worth exploring a little more in-depth because it sits at the heart of the playful spirit of this board. This gives you a parabolic camber shape that helps the board bounce and pop while also keeping everything in contact with the snow for control.
A Grip-Tech shape is another fantastic design element that allows for versatility all over the place. This innovative tech increases the contact points in the tip and tail to give you extra control without making the board too rigid.
A Highland II core is made from Paulownia wood and is very lightweight. This material keeps the flex from being too stiff, and even though it’s more flexible, it’s still highly durable. The core lays the groundwork for the playful nature of the Element.
The board also comes with a sintered base that is fast-gliding and very durable. This makes the bottom easy to maintain and gives you the peace of mind that you won’t need a new wax job or tune-up after a hard day’s riding.
The laminates that hold everything together are made using a mixed glassing construction method involving biax and triax layers. This helps to balance out the board and extend its versatility.
Additional Features
The Element comes with a few extra features that help it perform on the mountain and add to its value and playful nature.
Fully wrapped sidewalls are a solid feature that gives you added durability and strength. This basically eliminates the change for delaminating, and the board is built to last and handle varying temperatures without coming apart.
Recycled steel edges work well with the Grip-Tech shape to provide serious edge hold without needing a stiff board. These edges come factory detuned, so you’ll be ready to ride as soon as the board comes off the shelf.
The Element also has several eco-friendly design features that show Arbor’s commitment to the environment. They use a plant-based bio-resin to construct the board that uses far less oil and recycled ABS plastic in the sidewall construction.
Value
This is a quality snowboard that comes with excellent construction and exceptional versatility on the mountain. It’s relatively affordable, and although it’s not quite a budget option, it should be doable for most riders.
If you are a beginner or intermediate rider looking for an all-mountain board with a fun and playful nature, the Element is a great value. Its well-round performance can let you explore and develop your skills easily and effectively.
If you are a highly skilled rider who wants power and precision, I don’t think this is the model to choose. It can tackle some freeride lines but isn’t stiff or powerful enough to deliver when the riding gets technical.
The Element is a popular board, and I think this is well deserved. It’s built to keep a smile on your face no matter where you want to go on the mountain. Who doesn’t like to have fun when they ride?
The Alternatives
Here are some good alternatives to the Arbor Element. All of these boards are high-quality, with solid construction and performance characteristics.
The Custom Flying V is another very versatile and fun board to ride. I think this model has more to offer experienced riders than the Element, but it can still work for intermediate riders looking for all-mountain capabilities.
A Flying V rocker shape gives you much power and response while still letting you lay down big freestyle lines. It also comes with plenty of innovation and tech from Burton and a construction built to last.
==> Read our detailed Burton Custom Flying V review to learn more.
This is a close rival to the Element in terms of versatile performance at an affordable price. It’s not quite as fun and playful, but it will still give you the ability to roam all over the mountain. It is a good board for riders looking to improve their abilities.
The One LF has a very solid construction that uses Aramid layers to give you nearly bulletproof capabilities. It also has a RadCut shape design that provides a playful and responsive nature.
==> Read our detailed Rossignol One LF review for more.
The West Bound is another amazing all-mountain snowboard that will perform well no matter where you like to ride. It’s an effective ripper that can work well for intermediate and advanced riders.
The board has a Fusion rocker camber profile that gives you the best of both worlds and delivers power, response, and fun. It also has a Recluse Web Carbon Layup for super solid durability that increases value.
==> Read our detailed Never Summer West Bound review to learn more.
My Verdict
The Arbor Element is a fun and effective all-mountain board that is great for intermediate or beginner riders. It lacks a little bit of high-end punch, but excellent construction and an affordable price balance that out.
About Lorraine