Expert Review: Arbor Spruce Snowboard Bindings
Cruising through the park on my Spruce bindings. All photos courtesy of Matt Johnson
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the bindings, which I purchased with my own money in November of 2021.
My take
The Arbor Spruce Snowboard Bindings are a steal for the price. They offer a medium flex that is perfect for all-mountain riding, and at a price that is hard to beat.
About to drop into a park at Whistler
About the bindings I own
- Model: Arbor Spruce Snowboard Bindings - 2021/2022
- Size: M/L
- Burton channel compatible: Works with 2x4 and 4x4
- Mini disc (reduces footprint of the binding on the board to enable more board feel): No
About me
- Height: 6’0”
- Weight: 175lbs
- Experience: 2 years of skiing
Test conditions
- When I bought these: November 2021
- Days tested: 10 days
- Board: Arbor Formula Camber 2022
- Boot: Ride Anthem Size 10
- Where I’ve used it: Snowbowl, AZ, and Whistler, BC
- Terrain: Groomers, park, powder
How they perform
What I was looking for
These were my first pair of bindings I ever purchased, so I was searching for a binding that was versatile enough to ride the whole mountain and wouldn’t put a hole in my pocket.
Why I chose this gear
I decided on this binding because of the price point and I decided to match my bindings with my Arbor board. Arbor offers a lifetime warranty on base plates, which is another great perk. I considered purchasing Burton step-ons, but ultimately went with these because I didn’t want to have to buy a new pair of boots (Burton Step-Ons only work with specific boots).
These bindings helped me shred through some powder filled trees.
What I love about them
- Binding adjustability in boots: The straps can be adjusted in basically any way I need, which makes it easy to find the perfect fit for a specific pair of boots.
- Stance adjustability: The baseplate comes with a universal 4x4 disc, making micro-adjustments to find my perfect stance angle or stance width extremely easy.
- Comfort: At first, these bindings took me a few days to “break-in” and they would cause my arches some pain. After I found my proper stance and foot angles, these bindings have been comfortable to ride.
- Shock absorption: These bindings are awesome at helping absorb the impact of my jumps. The footbed is also constructed of a textured rubber that helps take the brunt of hits.
- Carving: The medium flex of these bindings offers great stability when carving. As I continue to progress in my carving, these bindings haven’t disappointed me at all.
- Ease of turn initiation: I have found turn initiation extremely easy with these bindings, I am confident in my carving turns. Even though this is a medium-flex binding, it still handles very well with tight turns.
- Buttering: I am still new to buttering, but these bindings have straps that are very secure and responsive to my movements.
- Straps: At first, these bindings were causing me issues. But after I realized I was tightening them way too tight, I haven’t had any issues or pain since. I cranked the straps down enough to hold my feet firmly in place, but not enough to “squish” my boot.
- Buckles: The straps on these bindings are extremely easy to ratchet down. Most of the time, I don’t even have to take off my mittens. I haven’t experienced the buckles shifting at all while I ride.
- Durability: The Spruce bindings are constructed of sturdy plastic and aluminum ratchets. They also come with an Arbor warranty that will replace the baseplate for a lifetime.
- Weight: Thanks to the sturdy, plastic build, these bindings are lightweight and don’t add much weight to my build.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Responsiveness: These are medium-flex bindings, which were perfect for me as an all-mountain rider. However, if one plans on focusing on carving or backcountry, they may want a stiffer binding.
Favorite moment with this gear
My favorite memory with the Arbor Spruce bindings was my first trip to Whistler last year. I was able to ride all the terrains put in front of me thanks to the versatility of these bindings.
Value for the money vs. other options
I haven't found another binding on the market at this price point that offers the quality and versatility of the Arbor Spruce bindings. Another option at a similar price is the Union Flite Pro Snowboard Bindings 2023 at around $170. Although they may be cheaper than the Arbor Spruce, they are slightly softer flexing and may not be as responsive or stable when riding aggressively.
Final verdict
For those looking for a pair of bindings that won’t cost an arm and a leg and will still deliver great performance, they don’t have to look further than the Arbor Spruce bindings. These really do it all, and at an amazing price.
