Thoughts on Arbor?

[Jubokko]

I'm especially looking for what people think about the Arbor Mindstate and/or Waterman. Please help me out! Thanks! I can't find a single review for it, but it seems to be sold out from everywhere so that can't be a bad sign!

[LaneMeyer]

Jee Whiz, I think Arbor is just Nifty Neat-O.

[Jubokko]

You were a huge help...lol.

[Jubokko]

Flex? Ride? Pros and Cons?

Bump.

[Jubokko]

Bumpity Bump

[B Dollar Bill Symbol]

Well...

I haven't ridden a mindstate, but I have ridden the blunt and I owned a fleetwood. I have a bit of experience with arbor.

My thoughts,

Arbor is a great starting brand. Their completes are relatively inexpensive, the quality of there boards is good for the price, and there wheels are fine, gullwing alpines are not the best as far as quality. My experience was really good with the fleetwood. It taught me to skate and it focused what I really wanted to get out of skating. After about 7 months though, I'd moved on to different riding styles. I made a list of what I wanted in a board and bought a nemesis and it opened my skating up to new worlds. I've traded various equipment since then and love trying new boards. My brother went through the same thing. He bought a pintail, got used to it, then got an insect mosquito (which broke on him), and then he got an FSM. Now he feels no need for other boards, he has found the perfect board for him. On the flip side, I have two friends (who have kids and jobs and not enough time or money) who both have arbor blunts, revenge trucks, and 75a gumballs. These guys haven't looked back since they've got these boards. They like them, they use them, and they have no desire for new boards.

So it is up to you. If you really want to get into longboarding and invest the money and time into longboading, and you think you'll get more boards later, it might be a better idea to skip the pin style and invest in a different board. But, if right now you want a cruising board is good quality it isn't bad to invest in an arbor, you won't regret it.

So think of what you want to do. Watch some videos on youtube (I recommend the loadednewsletter, it show the full range of longboarding... although, personally (and I mean my personal preference) I wouldn't go with a loaded (I don't like bouncy boards)), then read the comparison thread and use the serach function (no I don't mean "use the search function noob!") to see different opinions. Also, look in the buy/sell forum for wheels/boards/trucks (hell I even have a good amount of stuff for sale).

Finally, think of where you're buying. If you are buying from a local shop then more power to you. I believe in supporting locally owned businesses fully. But if you can't. Think of longboardskater.com for making your own custom complete, and milehighskates.com for a premium made complete. Those are my personal favorite shops. Also, don't waste money on bearings. Get the milehighskates.com bearings. They are inexpensive and they ride great.

Anyway man, good luck deciding. PM me if you want more information. I don't mind helping.

[Big Dev]

Well...

I haven't ridden a mindstate, but I have ridden the blunt and I owned a fleetwood. I have a bit of experience with arbor.

My thoughts,

Arbor is a great starting brand. Their completes are relatively inexpensive, the quality of there boards is good for the price, and there wheels are fine, gullwing alpines are not the best as far as quality. My experience was really good with the fleetwood. It taught me to skate and it focused what I really wanted to get out of skating. After about 7 months though, I'd moved on to different riding styles. I made a list of what I wanted in a board and bought a nemesis and it opened my skating up to new worlds. I've traded various equipment since then and love trying new boards. My brother went through the same thing. He bought a pintail, got used to it, then got an insect mosquito (which broke on him), and then he got an FSM. Now he feels no need for other boards, he has found the perfect board for him. On the flip side, I have two friends (who have kids and jobs and not enough time or money) who both have arbor blunts, revenge trucks, and 75a gumballs. These guys haven't looked back since they've got these boards. They like them, they use them, and they have no desire for new boards.

So it is up to you. If you really want to get into longboarding and invest the money and time into longboading, and you think you'll get more boards later, it might be a better idea to skip the pin style and invest in a different board. But, if right now you want a cruising board is good quality it isn't bad to invest in an arbor, you won't regret it.

So think of what you want to do. Watch some videos on youtube (I recommend the loadednewsletter, it show the full range of longboarding... although, personally (and I mean my personal preference) I wouldn't go with a loaded (I don't like bouncy boards)), then read the comparison thread and use the serach function (no I don't mean "use the search function noob!") to see different opinions. Also, look in the buy/sell forum for wheels/boards/trucks (hell I even have a good amount of stuff for sale).

Finally, think of where you're buying. If you are buying from a local shop then more power to you. I believe in supporting locally owned businesses fully. But if you can't. Think of longboardskater.com for making your own custom complete, and milehighskates.com for a premium made complete. Those are my personal favorite shops. Also, don't waste money on bearings. Get the milehighskates.com bearings. They are inexpensive and they ride great.

Anyway man, good luck deciding. PM me if you want more information. I don't mind helping.

indeed
10thatmusthavetakenawhiletotypes

[Jubokko]

Yeah, my choices were the two Arbor boards listed and an Original Apex 37, but I am very indecisive... luckily, none of them are in stock so I have time to decide. I like pintails, but for some reason I'm attracted to the Apex...

[B Dollar Bill Symbol]

Honestly. I wouldn't bother with original trucks. Once again this is personal preference, but I like conventional trucks (ala mile high marks hybrids) or reverse kingpin trucks. Most of these new style trucks are one trick ponies.

[seabass101dg]

Yeah, my choices were the two Arbor boards listed and an Original Apex 37, but I am very indecisive... luckily, none of them are in stock so I have time to decide. I like pintails, but for some reason I'm attracted to the Apex...

You'll get over the pintail look once you get more into it. Pintails just aren't that functional and waste a lot of perfectly usable footroom and such. The apex shape is a great shape IMO. When going with original, just make sure you really like their trucks.
Both good companies to get started on no doubt.

[B Dollar Bill Symbol]

Mile High Skates

Mile High Skates

Look at either of these. Good price. Symmetrical board, good quality, great seller.

Or if you just want the board and to make your own picks on the rest of the gear:

LongboardSkater.com: Madrid Dream - 39"

Also a great seller.

Think about it and consider.

[Jubokko]

Yeah, I have noticed that about pintails. On the board I'm riding now, I have the trucks pretty loose so I think I'd enjoy Original trucks. I also have to do a lot of swerving in and out of people due to being on a college campus. I be sure to take a look at the boards that are linked there though they look pretty sweet.

[SpikeJones]

A good buddy of mine has an Arbor fish made out of Koa. The wood is hands down some of the best looking that I've seen on a longboard, its beautiful. The deck does not have alot of flex with me on it (5'6 135lbs), on flat ground atleast,but once you get on some hills it feels better. The grip is made from recycled crushed glass, but doesn't work very well. The board is also pretty flat so my feet dont stay on as well as I would like. My friend who owns it is a pretty big guy, 6'2 225lbs says the flex is perfect. Like some of the other guys have said I think the gullwing trucks arent that great but overall I think it is a good package.
Besides there is no rule limiting a man to only one board.....

[Cann0n]

Honestly. I wouldn't bother with original trucks. Once again this is personal preference, but I like conventional trucks (ala mile high marks hybrids) or reverse kingpin trucks. Most of these new style trucks are one trick ponies.

Agreed. Original trucks are not as easy to clean and maintain like reverse KP trucks.

[B Dollar Bill Symbol]

Agreed. Original trucks are not as easy to clean and maintain like reverse KP trucks.

Not only that, you also lose the freedom of inexpensive customization that is so easy to get with a reverse KP, or conventional truck.

[ezg33]

I have the Arbor Kelly Slater Pin. I am bigger - 6'1 210 and it still doesn't have that much flex. Also I would have to agree that the grip isnt great. However its still a fun board to ride - the trucks it comes with blow so I would switch them out.

[Jubokko]

Just for everyone's information the both the Arbor Boards are from Arbors "Flex Series" (I think it's like 4 ply's of Maple, top ply of Koa, and sandwiched by fiberglass) so I'm assuming they have more flex than some of their otherboards. I will most likely be putting Bear Grizzly's on them as well as Retro Zigs or Flashbacks.

Mindstate - 38 in.
Waterman - 44.25 in.


As for the Original Trucks, I've seen the video they put out and they really don't seem that difficult to clean, and I don't mind having to clean them.

Apex 37 - 37 in.

----------------------
Only using the board for cruising and some hills. I need to get around a campus, people and cars.

Thanks!

[Bomb303]

Earthwing superglider. Without the bears. Slap indys on there. Much better.

[Jubokko]

It's nice board, but I'm looking for something with a good bit of flex. Not like a ton, but more than a speedboard.

[Bomb303]

Seeing has how its not a speedboard... It had a nice snappy flex to it.