Arbor Drop Cruiser Review
The Arbor Drop Cruiser is currently on sale at almost half price - down from £160 to £90.
You may have already read our page stating that longboards under £100 are essentially not worth your money - so what's the deal with the Arbor Drop Cruiser?
First and foremost - it's not as bad as the examples on that cheap longboards page!
It is not on sale because it's inherently poor quality, but because of an overproduction of this graphic from Arbor.
However, for a beginner longboarder looking for a deal, there are more factors to consider when it comes to getting started smoothly and getting the most enjoyment out of a longboard.
Is the Arbor Drop Cruiser good for beginners?
The first and most important point: it features symmetrical trucks.
Do you plan on skating switch (backwards) a lot?
If not, you don't need symmetrical trucks. What you need is a directional, split angle setup.
A split angle setup skyrockets your learning. It provides much more stability than a symmetrical setup so you can be confident you won't get speed wobbles - unless you're being really silly :)
Why are split angle trucks better for beginners?
It makes the board easier to turn. Turning is the basis of all forms of skateboarding: make turning easier and everything else will follow.
A split angle setup also offers the ability to pump - to move the board left and right to propel yourself fowards without needing to put a foot down to push. It's convenient, flowy and a lot of fun.
Whether you want to simply stay chill with cruising and carving on the flats, or take on the hills and even learn to slide and bomb, a split angle truckset is the modern solution.
In a nutshell - it feels better, is easier to learn, and more fun to skate. Read more about split angle longboards on the Sabre website here.
Right now, the Drop Cruiser is on such a good deal that you could buy the board AND a split angle truckset for it, and still have come out cheaper than many comparable boards.
This is actually not a bad idea and I do recommend it on the phone a few times a week!
But at that point, it's also worth considering the other components...
Does the Arbor Drop Cruiser have good wheels?
The Arbor Drop Cruiser does stand above other longboards in it's price bracket, which are a trap.
They need upgrading, piece by piece, ending up far more expensive overall because they don't roll, they don't turn and they don't last.
However whilst the deck itself should last - 9 plies of maple makes for a very sturdy (if heavy) platform - we have had multiple people buy the board, then come back later to buy new wheels.
Whilst it does roll, the 69mm Arbor wheels don't stand up to the wheels on similar boards from Landyachtz, Lush or Loaded which feature larger 70mm+ diameters and higher quality urethane.
The extra smoothness and roll speed from a decent wheel is tangible - and a large part of the reason so many people love riding longboards!
Does the Arbor Drop Cruiser have good trucks?
The Drop Cruiser should turn, somewhat. Whilst Paris is a respected truck brand, the Drop Cruiser features the older V2 truck and the symmetrical offering on the Drop Cruiser is not optimal for learning to longboard.
There are inevitable expenses hidden behind riding these trucks.
Firstly, unless you weigh something around 75-80kg the bushings will need replacing for £15-25.
Secondly, most beginners today are choosing Split Angle trucks.
That means either replacing your back truck (~£30) and all your bushings (£30-£50) or simply grabbing a whole new truckset (£60-75).
There is logic in buying a cheap board first to see if you enjoy longboarding - but does it hold?
- If you do enjoy it, you'll be back to upgrade the components, essentially throwing away £100+
- But by buying a suboptimal board you've given yourself less chance to enjoy it in the first place, essentially throwing away £100
As good as the board looks in this pic after someone came back to upgrade it, the cheaper option long term is to buy a more suitable longboard in the first place.
Is the Arbor Drop Cruiser a good deal for £90?
If comparing it to cheap longboards, sure. That cheap stuff is unfit for purpose and inevitably ends up in a cupboard, then landfill.
However to make it truly adequate you need:
- An upgrade to split angle trucks
- An upgrade to larger, smoother wheels
With each upgrade costing £50-60+, the Drop Cruiser becomes a £200+ purchase.
For less than that, you could have a board that's lighter and more ergonomic, as well as featuring the split angle trucks, smoother wheels AND upgraded bearings.
In the interest of saving you time and money, as well as unnecessary landfill, we have to recommend checking out the split angle longboards first. For as little as £155 you'll be riding something that won't need any money spent on it for years to come.
