Video Transcript

I'm Chris, a snowboard gear expert here at Curated with over five years in the industry and over 100 days on the mountain this past season alone. Today, I'm going to be comparing two snowboards: the Arbor Foundation Rocker and the Salomon Pulse.

Arbor Foundation Rocker Snowboard

Let's dive right into it and talk about the Arbor Foundation Rocker. This board is a versatile, all-mountain snowboard generally suitable for beginner to intermediate riders. It has a very forgiving flex pattern and rocker profile, which promotes a playful feel and also provides a catch-free ride. This is a great option for riders who are looking to hone their skills, are still learning, and want a board that's easy to maneuver and going to help them improve. If you're an advanced rider, this board might be a little too soft for you, and you could definitely find a more responsive board out there for you.

Salomon Pulse Snowboard

Comparing it to the Salomon Pulse, this is another great snowboard for entry-level riders. Generally, this board is geared towards beginner and intermediate riders. It has a slightly different focus than the Arbor Foundation Rocker, and that is park and freestyle. It offers a little more of a stable and smooth ride, thanks to the flat profile and softer flex, although it's going to be a little more catchable than the rocker of Arbor Foundation. This is a great board for riders who want a board that's going to feel predictable. However, if you're an advanced rider looking to take this board into the park, you might just find that it's a little too soft as well.

Similarities and Differences

So, these boards are very similar in their flex patterns. What makes these boards similar is a very similar target audience of beginner to intermediate. Both boards are designed to be forgiving and easy to handle, suitable for riders who are still developing their skills. They're both all-mountain snowboards, meaning they can handle a variety of conditions such as fresh snow, groomers, ice, you name it.

Despite these similarities, there are still several differences that make these snowboards unique. Firstly, the Arbor Foundation and its rocker profile. It has a slight upward curve at the tip and the tail. That's what a rocker is. If you think about it like a V shape, the V is the center of the board, touching the ground where the tip and the tail are arched outwards. This naturally means that the board has less of a chance to catch compared to the Salomon Pulse, which is a flat camber snowboard. The entire board is touching the ground the whole time.

Additionally, the Arbor Foundation Rocker has more of a medium, soft flex compared to the Salomon, which has a soft flex. The construction materials and specific technology used by each brand slightly differ, but overall the performance of both these boards is very similar.

So, which board is going to be the best for you? That's going to depend on you and your goals. So, chat with an expert on Curated and we'll help you figure it out.

Comparison Table