Tkb Review: 2019 CABRINHA Spectrum

CABRINHA Spectrum
Sizes Available: 133 x 40cm, 136 x 41cm, 140 x 42cm, 144 x 43cm, 148 x 44cm, 152 x 44cm
Sizes Tested: 140 x 42cm, 144 x 43cm

Cabrinha Says:

The Spectrum is designed for riders who need an all terrain model with a wide range of use.

Developments in design and construction have allowed us to deliver an all-terrain, all-round freeride model with the DNA and performance characteristics of a much more expensive model. The Spectrum has excellent upwind tracking which keeps you tight to the zone. Its softer flex pattern makes this one of the nicest rides in choppy waters. But it’s not just about comfort. The softer flex makes this board adaptable to whatever riding the day delivers.

Visit for more info: www.cabrinhakites.com/collections/twin-tips/products/spectrum

Our Testers Say:

“Very comfortable pads, good in chop at slow speed, great for beginner and intermediate riders looking for a predictable board.” // David Kirkup

“Plush, foot hugging Rolls Royce-like bindings only help compliment the Spectrum’s smooth ride through chop, cushioned landings and solid edging.” // Tib Anghel

“The Spectrum charges upwind and edges on its rails; it’s a board I could ride long distances with great carving and a solid feel. Comfy straps/pads, easy to adjust.” // Joe Chehock

Meet Our Testers

Tkb Says:

The Cabrinha Spectrum features a really nice and playful feel with the softest flex pattern of all the Cabrinha boards we tested this year. The Spectrum features a rounded template with slightly pulled in tips that testers highlighted for tracking well upwind through solid chop. The rounded tips seemed to cut through the nastiest chop with ease. Despite the rounded template the Spectrum still feels like it tracks really well in a straight line without much attention from the rider. The Spectrum’s softer flex pattern makes everything forgiving, making it ideal for riders who value ease of use and comfort as well as those just getting into the sport. When it comes to load and pop, you can feel the extra flex in this board and you don’t get as much load and release that big air specialists are looking for. Compared to the Ace, the Spectrum had a little bit more tracking stability coming from the fins and the tail, which makes controlling the edge a little easier. Additionally, the Spectrum’s template and tracking yielded fun rail to rail carving and cruising. Overall, the Spectrum is one of those boards that features all around freeride performance that is friendly, comfortable and ideal for general freeride and progressive learning.

This year Cabrinha has done a complete redesign on the H20 pad and strap combo and the result is a major upgrade in terms of functional tuning and comfort. The new footbed features a really nice rubbery feel with a wide footprint that offers different textures for the heel and under the arch. Your toes rest on a nice rounded toe bump which combined with the pad gives you a solid lock on the board, yet not so grippy that you don’t feel like you can’t eject in a bad wipeout. The pads come with three different density inserts that allow you to choose plushness of the pad on install. We went with a softer plushness because we like that cushy feeling. The overall setup is fairly low profile and sits flush to the board, and the footbed does have some solid cupped contours that keep your foot centered in the right spot, although the center portion doesn’t feature a ton of arch built into this pad. The straps that go with this system feature a complete redesign for this year with a nice soft foam and terry cloth underside with a quad adjustment system that uses Velcro to dial in the exact fit. The H20 strap has a unique adjustment option that is not apparent from just looking at the strap, and this confused a few of our testers. There is a 360 compression strap adjustment that needs to be made upon install of the pad to the deck ”” this gives the H20 an incredibly wide spectrum of adjustment, meeting the needs of every size foot ”” just beware that you need to set the compression strap (its a Velcro overlap under the pad) with the pads off the board. If the quad adjusters control the top of the pad, the compression strap controls the under surface of the strap, and when set properly this setup earned the highest praise from the testers. Each quad adjuster has forward and aft attachment settings allowing complete adjustment of the straps position over the footbed. With this type of adjustment you can control the shape of these straps to get the fit you are looking for. Testers found the straps fairly wide and all-encompassing, spreading the load across the entire length of your foot. Easy to install and tweak, the new H20 design offers a ton of adjustment and unparalleled comfort ”” it’s safe to say that the H20 is one small step forward for Cabrinha and one giant leap for twin tip pad and strap design.