AR Nav Supplies Expedition Rotating Map Holder 11"x11" MBO-3 Rev 2
The AR Nav supplies map board has been on the market for quite a while now. Its design is simple and effective but it lacks many of the features shown in more recent designs. Still it’s a solid choice and many riders prefer the straightforward design.
Report Card
Top view
Side view of mounting system
Installed weight
The thicker materials used contribute to the overall weight of 333 grams
Board material and size
One of the smaller but beefier map boards, this one is made of a ⅛” thick piece of opaque white acrylic
Top cover type
Probably the simplest design of the bunch, there is no “cover” on this map board - just two lengths of bungee cord that are attached to the sides of the board in order to hold in the maps. Another simple yet effective design, this system attaches to the board with zip ties while guide slots in the acrylic board keep them in line.
Bike attachment components (materials, design)
Simplicity rules with the AR Nav Supplies map board and we find that with the handlebar attachment. Made of a throughbolt, L bracket and a traditional bike handlebar clamp, this design uses a single point of contact with the bike, and the closure looks like an off the shelf bike component that is used for handlebar mounting other items like lights or a bell. While the single point of connection and tool-less installation are great, it doesn’t leave much room for overall stability. We found that the L bracket that acts as a riser may not be tall enough for some riders who may see that it interferes with their handlebar mounted lighting systems. The board does swivel on the attachment a full 360 degrees without loosening with the use of a clever locking nut.
Durability
The board and components are beefy and it’s hard to beat up a sheet of acrylic that thick. The L bracket and throughbolt system are also made of thick metal material which holds up well. The points of potential failure we identified were on the plastic parts under tension: the tube clamp and zip ties, and those can both be replaced with off the shelf components.
Cost
This is the least expensive map board on our list at $69.95
Ships from / availability
Ships from USA, buy online at ARNavsupplies.com
Expert trail test:
Plain and simple I could not get this board to mount securely on my bars. The flip lock mechanism is poorly designed, will not lock, and will pop open on the first bump you encounter. The only way to get this board mounted at all was with a significant amount of electrical tape.
This board has very low clearance over the handlebars, which may make it challenging to fit a handle-bar mounted light or odometer.
Two pieces of elastic cording running down either side are the only things holding your map. This is a recipe for disaster, as it’s exceptionally easy for your map to fall out (every adventure racer’s nightmare). Our trail testing took place on a windy day, and wind blew the map right out of this board in less than 10 seconds. We imagine this could be an issue any time you ride fast down a hill. The only way this board could be usable is if you add binder clips for extra security.
There is no cover and no waterproofing, so you’ll need to keep your map in a bag to protect it.
Overall impression: this board was the least capable for high level navigation of the lot, by far. The only way it’s even a little bit usable is with a lot of tape and binder clips.
Wild card
If anything breaks, it can be repaired with off the shelf parts from a hardware store or bike shop
Overall impressions
If you like simplicity in design, this classic map board is the one for you. At a bargain price, it’s a good entry level model but some veteran athletes still swear by it
Underside view
