Arbor Cypress Bindings Review

Hello and welcome to my Arbor Cypress Bindings review.

In this review I will take a look at the Cypress as freestyle snowboard bindings.

As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Cypress a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how they compare with other freestyle bindings.

Overall Rating

Bindings: Arbor Cypress

Price: $299 (USD recommended retail)

Style: Freestyle/All-Mtn Freestyle

Flex Rating: Medium-Stiff

Flex Feel: Medium-Stiff (7/10)

Rating Score: 80.9/100

Compared to other Men’s Freestyle Bindings

Overview of the Cypress’s Specs

Check out the tables for the Cypress’s specs and available sizes.

Specs

Who is the Cypress Most Suited To?

The Cypress are best for those that like to bomb the mountain fast and want some good support and good response but at the same time still want good board feel and to feel the natural flex of their board.

Too stiff for beginners/low end intermediates but good for high end intermediates and up.

The Cypress in More Detail

Bindings angles: +15/-15

Stance Width: 550mm (21.7”)

Board tested with: Rossignol One 2018, 159cm

Boots tested with: Vans Aura Pro, size US10

Baseplate Length: 24cm with toe ramp all the way in and 25cm when extended

Weight: 1000 grams (2lb, 3 oz) – including screws and discs. The heavier of those that I weighed. 860 grams was the average of 10 bindings that I weighed. But that’s a very small sample size

Embarrassing story: For my first run on these I had them set up to +15/+15 instead of +15/-15. I know some racers ride with a big positive angle on the back foot, but I’d never done it before, and it did not feel good! I very gingerly made my way down the hill and re-set them to +15/-15. I felt, even after taking it quite easy, that my back knee was feeling it – not an angle my body liked. Big fail!

Flex

They’re not super stiff, but certainly stiffer than medium. I would say 7/10 in terms of flex.

Responsiveness

They’re quite responsive bindings are respond how I would expect them to for their level of stiffness. They’ve done a good job on response with these bindings. Great for medium-stiff or medium flexing boards.

Preferred high speeds. Responded very well when riding fast but felt slower/heavier when riding at slower speeds. But these are made more for bombing than for playing around on.

Board Feel/Butterability

The Cypress come with a mini disc and this allows minimal contact with the board. Like other bindings with mini-discs, the Cypress provide great natural board feel and make it easy to butter.

Adjustability

You can adjust:

• The heel cup position (which I really like so it’s easier to center your toe and heel),
• The ankle strap position
• The toe strap position
• The highback lean
• Highback rotation

So pretty much everything. And the highback lean is tool-less and the strap length can be adjusted tool-less (which is pretty much a given these days, except on cheaper bindings).

That, plus they are channel compatible.

So, can’t really ask for much more in that department. The tool-less adjustments for the ankle and toe straps could be a little easier to use, but that’s just getting picky!

Shock Absorption

Shock absorption is pretty good and they felt pretty damp in general. Not as much as the Malavitas (which are my control bindings) but the Malavitas have very good shock absorption. The Cypress are damper than a lot of other bindings out there.

Entry/Exit

The biggest complaint with these bindings is the ratchets. They just aren’t good, there’s no way around it. They’re quite sticky, they’re difficult to ratchet down and they’re difficult to release.

They do have an ankle strap that opens out and allows you to get your foot in easier, but this, like Burton has on their bindings, is a small thing in my opinion and doesn’t make up for those ratchets.

But to be fair the ratchets are only really a small thing too – well the ease of use of them. It’s annoying but once you’re strapped in they stay there (well they did for me anyway) and when you’re riding it’s not something you notice. I didn’t have the straps release on me or anything – they certainly seem like they stay in place once you get them there – it’s just not that smooth to actually get them there or get them off again.

Comfort

Overall these bindings were very comfortable. Not the most comfortable I’ve ridden but up there with the top 20% or so that I’ve ridden.

At first I had a little pressure point on the toe of one of the bindings. But it went away after the first run – so I probably didn’t get it on there right the first time, as it didn’t cause any issues for the rest of the time I was on them.

Overall, very comfortable.

Pop/Ollie Power

They have a good spring to them and allow for a good amount of pop. You’ve got to put in a bit of effort to get that pop out of them, but when you do, they give back. 4/5.

Ankle Support

The ankle support is pretty good on these bindings. As good as I would ever need them. Not quite as good as with Flux bindings, IMO, but as good as Burton.

Price

For the price you’re paying for these (a good bit cheaper than the average price from the bindings I tested in this category), they are great value for money, IMO.

Score Breakdown and Final Verdict

Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.

Overall, these are quality bindings for a really decent price, given they’re flex and response. They also have great board feel, decent shock absorption, great ankle support and give a good amount of pop.

They are comfortable and the straps are nice  – but the ratchets aren’t the best. But that’s only really an entry/exit thing and if you can get past that, you’ll find a great binding for a decent price.