Finding the right board can sometimes be difficult since the amount of options out there are a little overwhelming. With new techniques in fabrication and new styles including hybrids, it can be hard selecting what works for you. It really all comes down to your skill level and where you spend your time shredding. I’ve gone through my fair share of boards and have noticed a change in the way I ride based on each board. Although I appreciate the amount of styles available, since using my last board (Rocker style) I wanted to try going back to my roots with a Camber style board. Our friends over at Arbor Collective happily obliged our request and I was able to gain a whole new level of respect for Camber Style boards with their latest innovation: Coda Camber.
Key Features:
- Camber Style (System Rocker version also available)
- Ash Power Ply Top
- Thunderhead Tips
- 2×4 14-Pack Inserts
- Double Barrel Core
- Mixed Glassing
- 360 Rails
- Sintered Base
Design & Construction:
We are fans of simple and clean styles and the Coda Camber is a great example of what clean lines can do to promote a sleek look that really makes it stand out from all that noise out there. There are also several graphics along the board that provide some cool texture and good (slightly funny) advice, i.e. “Persevere: Goggles protect against snow blindness. If lost, fashion an Eskimo type shield from wood. Carve eyeholes and secure with a length of bootlace.” Not sure how that might actually help protect your eye’s, but at least it looks good on the board.
Aside from the looks, the construction design is what really makes this board an All Mountain experience. During construction, they add a “Power Ply”, which works like an extra layer of fiberglass. This is done by turning the natural wood or bamboo fibers into a composite layer inside the board. This process takes time, but the result increases the board life and finish quality.
The Coda Camber has a Thunderhead Tip Profile and Mixed Glassing that is geared towards Big-Mountain versatility with speed in deep powder. Merging the tips are two Bamboo struts that run down the center of the core. The Bamboo adds strength and power to get you through pow, backcountry, groomers, jumps, & more.
Performance:
Along with the clean look, “The System” is a design platform that will give you a cleaner ride without eliminating edge performance. This system design eliminates the amount of leverage necessary to release and re-engage along the edge contact points. This was extremely noticeable the first time I ran this board down the mountain. I was extremely impressed with the amount of control I had and the ease transitioning from my front to back side. The outside contact points never dug in too far so I was able to enjoy my runs without worrying I would catch an edge.
Since this board is much faster than any board I’ve owned, I really appreciated the amount of control I had in my turns. Arbor refers to this board as comparable to a Swiss Army Knife, and for good reason. The Coda handled really well while going down steep and icy terrain, deep powder, and through tight trees.
Durability:
Their Power Ply deign is known as one of the most labor intensive processes in the market today. But with anything built right, it is made to last. Since we’ve only been testing this board for one season it is hard to give a fully accurate opinion on the durability, but with the amount of effort that went in to making this board and the solid build quality it has while hitting the mountain hard, we are confident that this board will last. I am impressed with the whole build process and how they achieved a solid build without the need for excess coatings, composites, and man made glues.
Value:
During my time spent testing the Coda so far, I really feel that it is the perfect all terrain vehicle and definitely helped me step up my game with confidence. There are several retailers out there that offer the Coda for around $500. However, Rei.com is currently offering a 20% discount, so you can pick up a Coda Camber today for $399.93.
Buy Now: $399.93 or to learn more, check out: ArborCollective.com
- Simple and clean design
- Durable Construction
- Performance is amazing
- Really haven't found any yet!
Best board i have had so far. This is my first camber board and I have rocker and flying v’s before and this board I read a lot of reviews before bought this board. I finally decided buying this board being mostly an east coast rider and can honestly say I loved it from the first turn. I was able to take hard aggressive turns and feel like I had complete control.