Curated Snowboard Expert Arielle Busch tested the 2023 Arbor Cadence Camber this spring at Powder Mountain in Utah. Check out how it performed in the carving, freestyle, and freeride categories, but consider the fact that each and every snowboarder is different. If you have any questions about the Cadence Camber or need recommendations on which board would be best for you, reach out to a Snowboard Expert here on Curated.

One final point before we dive in: It's worth noting that Curated Experts are not sponsored by any brands. All of these reviews are completely unbiased.

Brand Claims

What does Arbor claim about this snowboard?

Arbor claims that the Cadence Camber is designed specifically for women to fit a wide breadth of riding styles. The flex of the Cadence caters to pressing and buttering in the park with stable takeoffs and landings in the pipe and off jumps and is a pleasure to ride at high speeds on resort groomers.

Overall Impressions

What is your overall impression of this board?

My overall impressions of the Cadence Camber are that I am going to replace the rockered version that I have of it and buy the Camber version of it. From going to the rockered version to the Camber version, you're going to feel a lot more stability and control in all of your turns. You're going to be able to carve this thing. You're going to be able to maintain control up at speeds. And the pop in this thing is super fun because it also has this playful flex that just makes it bendy and pressable.

My riding partner today said that out of all the boards I rode this week, this one just made me come alive. It could also be because it's Friday. He said I was a blast to watch. I was popping off every side hit. I was getting into my carves. I was keeping up with him.

This definitely isn't the most powerful snowboard that I've been on. There's not a crazy amount of tech in this thing. It's pretty simple. It's pretty classic, but I think that's what makes it so fun. It kind of strips away all of the other things and just focuses on a nice cambered profile, soft flexing board. That's really meant to just make the mountain your playground.

What is the difference between the Cadence Camber and the Cadence Rocker?

The Cadence Camber feels a little bit more controlled than the Cadence Rocker. I think this Camber would be a great board for someone who is ready for their first deck but who knows that they want to be able to pick up a little bit of speed. They're not afraid of speed and they want to feel in control. This board definitely will have a speed limit, but with the camber profile, it's going to feel much more locked in than the rocker profile. Whereas the rocker profile is going to feel a lot floatier and easier to maneuver and maybe a little bit more playful. Whereas, this Camber is going to feel a little bit more poppy. It definitely was able to get into some carves and hold it with some control, which was really fun, but it is a pretty soft flexing board. So this could also be my park board. It's just that this is going to do a lot better on jumps, whereas my rocker one is pretty fun to just butter and press and take on some features and really easy to turn.

Carving

How is it with edge hold?

I think the biggest difference between the rockered version and the camber version of the Cadence is that power and stability and control through your turns. You're not really going to slip out on this Camber. You're probably not going to catch an edge once you get used to the new profile, if it's new to you.

Rockered profile boards are going to be easier to turn. So if you were coming from a rocker dominant profile, getting on a full camber might take you a little bit to get used to making those turns. You may feel like a little bit of a catch. You may feel like you might be about to catch your edge just for those first few runs on your new board. But once you get it, you are going to feel so locked in that you're never going to look back and want to be on a rockered board probably.

How is it at speed?

One downfall of this board is that it is not the fastest. When I did get into my carves, it definitely held an edge and it made great carves. But on some of the more mellow terrain, it definitely does feel mellow as well. But for some riders out there, that might be good. You go fast on your steeper terrain, and you go slow on the mellower terrain. However, there are some other boards out there that will kind of keep a consistent speed throughout the entire mountain, no matter what terrain is under your feet.

How is the dampness of the board? Did you experience any chatter?

There wasn't really that much chatter at speed on this one, which is surprising because it is a much softer board. The flex on this thing is not a noodle; it's like a one step above a noodle. But for what I was doing on it, it felt damp. It felt like I absorbed all of my landings, and I didn't have to work that hard to get it up in the air, which is really, really, really nice.

Freestyle

How is the board for freestyle riding?

So because this board is a true twin and is a freestyle specific board, you can do all of the fun freestyle things and even more. I probably did my best butter today on this board. I had my best press today on this board. This flex is like I said, it's like one step above a noodle, but it is so approachable by someone of a tiny size. And I do think that in a larger size board, someone who is a little bit taller, maybe weighs a little bit more than me wouldn't necessarily find this to be too noodley either. But if they did still find it a little noodley, I can help you find a board that's maybe a little bit more fitting for your specs. Throwing it in, just for you.

I did not take it through the park today, so I wasn't able to take it on features. But I have no doubt that I would be able to nose press, tail press, do some butters on some features on some boxes, some rails. It's a blast.

Freeride

How would the board be in powder?

The only place I don't think it would thrive is in powder. If you are someone that comes out west and experiences powder like once in a blue moon, I think you would be fine on this. But if you were someone that rides powder daily, this would be a board that you'd add to your quiver as a freestyle board, not so much your powder board.

How is it on uneven terrain?

On uneven terrain, I did feel a little bit of instability, but that could have just been that specific uneven terrain. It also could have been rider error. But it did really well in the tighter trees as well, which for a camber dominant profile, sometimes for a rider, that might be a little bit harder. It might be something you have to get used to, especially if you're coming off of a rocker. Because a rocker is going to help you with that turn initiation, whereas a camber board is going to lock you in and give you that precision and control.

What is the best terrain for it?

I totally think this board could be ridden on the East Coast, on some of that icy terrain. It will bite a little bit, especially as a camber dominant profile. And I also think it would be great out West.

Recommendations

Who would you recommend this board to?

I would recommend this board to someone who wants to be able to do everything on the mountain, but is a little bit more freestyle focus. I think it's in the true twin category. It's okay. This is a true twin board that is meant to be ridden in the park but also outside of the park. I feel that if you have been on a Rockered board in the past, especially one of Arbor's, especially the Cadence Rocker, you would want to upgrade to the Cadence Camber if you're looking for that one step in the direction of feeling a bit more power behind your snowboard.

So if you are ready for that next step beyond your rocker board, I would highly, highly recommend this Cadence Camber. I think this board can truly be ridden by multiple levels of snowboarding. I'm an advanced rider and I had a flipping blast on this thing today. I do have some experience with the rockered version, but this thing just took it to a whole nother level. I mainly ride camber-dominant boards. So for me, the rocker profile of this one, it's just really easy to ride; it's a great beginner board. But this camber one is that next step up pushing you into that intermediate to potentially advanced level. That's not to say that a beginner can't ride this board. I just wouldn't necessarily put a beginner on this right away, if you're about to take a lesson. But if you've taken a lesson, you've been on rental gear before, this is a great next step for you. Especially if you know that you're going to keep progressing in your riding and you want to get better and better.

If you're cool just cruising along and staying mellow and keeping to yourself, that rockered version is going to be fine. But if you want that progression, you want to keep up with your faster friends, you want to feel in control at higher speeds, send it on this Cadence Camber, for sure.

Anything else you want to mention?

Something that I think is really important to know about this board is that I don't want an advanced rider to look at this board and think that it's kind of under their performance. I do tend to like a little bit softer of a board, even in a more powerful board. Something that might have a little bit more tech, a little bit more driving force to it. But this thing rips. And my riding partner told me today that I looked great on this board. I looked like I was having the best time ever. I did have it in some slushier conditions, and it was fine.

There're tons of different boards out there and they're meant for all different types of riders in all shapes and sizes. If you want help finding the best snowboard for your needs, reach out to Arielle or any other Snowboard Expert here on Curated. They’ll help you find the right board for you.