Arbor Clovis Review- How it rides and who it is for Review by The Good Ride

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Ethics Statement: We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews and this is our unfiltered opinion. We do make money from the “Where To Buy” links, but this is our best attempt at an honest and objective review from an average riders’ perspective.

How This Review Happened:

Borrowed this for an extended demo and sent it back.
Size: 157
Days: 4
Conditions: Some wet pow that was pretty fun (camera malfunction though) and a lot of groomer time in hard to spring conditions.
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-190lbs)
Boots: Burton Kendo
Insoles: F.I.T. Gamechangers
Bindings: Union Atlas
Jacket: Burton AK Gore-Tex Pro 3L Tusk Jacket, Volcom TDF Infuse 3L Gore-Tex Jacket, Burton Banshee Gore-Tex Jacket
Pant: Burton AK Gore-Tex Pro 3L Hover Pant, Burton AK Gore-Tex 2L Swash Pant, Burton Gore-Tex Ballast Pant
Helmet: Smith Maze
Goggle: Smith IO Mag, Smith 4D Mag
Gloves: Burton AK Guide Glove, Burton AK Clutch Mitt, Burton AK Clutch Glove, Burton AK Tech Leather Glove,

Similar Boards (but not the same): Yes Pick Your Line,  Burton Flight Attendant, Jones Flagship, Burton Cartographer, Burton Instigator

Set-Up: 21.5” Wide. Sance Angles +18/-3, +18/-9. Close to Reference on groomers and and Set all the way back in powder.

How It Was Tested

I compared this to the Jones Project X, Arbor Coda, Arbor Single & Never Summer Proto Fr on the same day I rode the Arbor Clovis. All had Union Atlas on and Burton Kendo’s.

Approximate Weight

The Arbor Clovis feels on the heavy side of medium. (We don’t put in the exact weight because with wood cores there is no consistency in a boards weight)

Sizing

The Arbor Clovis 157 fit really well for my boot size and weight. I felt like I had the right size. I could make a 159 work well too but I felt right at home with the 157.

Here are some ideal US boot sizes for these boards. You can of course go bigger or smaller but these work best for not turning the board slower than it should be and not having the dreaded Toe & Heel Drag.
149n- 6-6.5
152n- 6-7
157: 8.5-9.5
159: 9-10
161- 9.5-10.5

Shape/Camber/On Snow Feel/Ability Level

The tapered directional shape of the Arbor Clovis doesn’t feel that tapered or directional. You don’t feel that 8mm of taper like you do with some boards that even have less. Its camber profile is full camber from tip to tail but with a small lifted area near the end of the effective edge at the tip/tail. This takes all the catch out of this full camber profile and anyone can ride this. This does feel a little edgeless and washy though in harder snow and it takes a little getting used to when one footing just turning. Overall, it has a tapered mountain freestyle feel when centered and set back.

Flex Personality

The Arbor Clovis has a pretty mediumish flex leaning a little on the medium stiff side. You can feel the extra wood in the topsheet make the board feel more damp but you feel like you have a lot of wood happening in the construction. It isn’t good or bad but all about personal preference. It takes a little extra work to make it pop but it sure pops hard when you do. I found that a flat base ollie is better than loading it on the edge. If you load it up from the edge it can feel a little washy in harder conditions. You really get a lot of full camber pop though. I could see how some riders could get really used to this type of flex personality as it does well in all conditions.

Speed

The base glide is above average but not at the easy gliding top of the class. It’s far from a slouch though when well waxed. The Arbor Clovis isn’t bad on when it comes to speed. I don’t push it but you could feel it did better than you would think for it’s flex.

Uneven Terrain

I think the way the Arbor Clovis handles Uneven terrain is pretty good all around. It’s not the dampest when it comes to hard micro bumpy snow or messy snow but it’s’ very good. You can power over or turn through messy snow without too much kick back.

Edge Hold

Love the grip tech (bumps near the bindings) and it makes the Arbor Clovis grip really well in harder snow. I found that if I put a lot of pressure between the feet and commit a little more than I normally do I can get past the lifted sides (Uprise Fender tech) and get that edge to commit. It took some getting used to but it was like riding hybrid rocker for the first time back in the day. Some will adjust and like it and some wont.

Turning Experience/Carving

Pretty quick and good for getting where I wanted to be when I wanted to be. Once on edge in good conditions the Arbor Clovis turns well and felt pretty balanced. You could make long shallow down the line S-Turns well but also circle carve well. It doesn’t shy away from whatever turn you want to make.

Powder

I rarely loose video footage due to user error but I did this time. I got this in about 1’ of wet sun affected spring pow. I got in untracked and some tracked up powder. I set it all the way back and found it to be little more work on the back foot than I though it would in 1’ of wet snow. You can get -4.25” back from center of board at a 21.25” stance width. That is pretty far back but somehow it still feels more centered on board than it is. It isn’t quite there with some of it’s peers but if you like riding full camber in powder this will be more than adequate.

Conclusion

So if you are looking for camber pop without any catch and want a tapered board to ride a little more like a mountain freestyle twin here you go.

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