Lib Tech: Strongest boards ever?
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I've been hanging to try one - after Greg Clough's GRC DTC have seen no tuffer surfboard. Matt Biolas on board saw one in bali but was pumping was going to ask the guy for a wave or two - lost in line up.
Shit the down force of that 4x4 wheel is mega...with no damage ,unbelievable.
Love to give one of these a go, they are said to have a feel close to PU/Poly too.
Crazy that they can come up with what seems like such a great tech but have such an ugly logo though.
There 6'4 vert model comes up at $US609 - cleanline surf
$ 800Aud that's good value if you compare what some Aussie legend shapers charge for a board out of Bali with an eggshell glass job.
Yeah but you have to get it here, i think this model above goes for just under a grand in OZ.
Edit: yep $995.00
http://shop.triggerbrothers.com.au/surfboard-lib-tech-puddle-jumper-5ft-...
Still id pay that for a board that goes and last.
I looked into getting two boards shipped in from USA a few years back (http://www.coilsurf.com/ similar tech but custom shapes) the boards were only about $600 USD each plus $250 USD to ship two boards.
Never did it but would have been worth it though, and it was when the Aussie dollar was good.
Indo if you surf 6'2 x 18 1/4 x 2 1/4 can point you in a similar indestructible
direction.
Short round is the next 'Lost' model and great allrounder saw that Pottz was riding one recently bit pointer in the nose.
If it is really that tough, then $995 is nothing.
Purplepills wrote:Indo if you surf 6'2 x 18 1/4 x 2 1/4 can point you in a similar indestructible
direction.Short round is the next 'Lost' model and great allrounder saw that Pottz was riding one recently bit pointer in the nose.
Thanks for the offer, but those dims are bit to under volumed for me these days, those dims are what i rode at 18 in the 90,s, i rarely go below 19 in width these days.
I am curious though to what you believe is similar construction?
+1 for curiousity.
Yeah I hear ya indo but I never went under 18 3/4 really I'm on 19 1/2 now
There is a second hand GRC DTC they were as tough as nails - never took off I think due to patent issues and business partners.
Here a pic of one http://www.soulsurf.com.au/recently-sold/shortboards-fishs/grc-weapon-of...
Saw a couple of these at the quikky store in Torquay a couple months ago, think they were going around the $900 mark from memory. Great investment if they last and ride decently
Imagine building a quiver out of boards you expect to all be in top condition in 10+ years time? You could justify getting pretty niche with that, and if one doesn't work out resale will still be high. Thinking of those dream boards that were surfed to absolute death, what if they were still in the cupboard in top nick and you could take them for a paddle and reminisce years later? So good!
Buy for life surfboards.
I was just searching some posts to see any other previous buyers if they had encountered similar result to mine.
I bought one the puddle jumper lib tech 5ft 11inch. It is not as tough as they advertise not even close. I put mine down on the road gently and a road stone chipped the side could not believe how easily. Forget trying to run a car over it. I also surfed a small rock point break waist high and the board gets as beat up as a normal epoxy board when it hits a rock with pretty gentle waves.
I have only had mine for a couple of months way too much marketing overkill. Looks like the Lib tech website takes down all the negative reviews don't get sucked into the hype.
I'm with AJ on this. I recently purchased my 5'7" puddle jumper in May and admit that I put the board through its paces. But yesterday, I noticed that the deck had severe dent and a crack directly under the deck pad with a large crease running out to the rail. It's located right where my toes press down on the deck pad. It reminds me of rail damage seen on normal PU or Epoxy boards. Usually you can request some extra glass on the tail or even try wrapping the rails with carbon fiber, etc. to prevent this sort of damage. My conclusion is that Lib Tech should look to ways to improve the construction, particularly in the tail so that it can withstand the repeated force and the flexing from regular wear and tear (ie. bottom turns). That way their customers will actually end up with a quality product that holds up to the hype. These boards are not cheap and all I can tell you that I'm really bummed out about it.
I have had a short round for just over a year and loved the board. Just pulled it out to surf and noticed I have a buckle through the tail of the board. Super bummed about this and disappointed this happened just after a year.
Zsurf got a pic of the damage ?
The Lib Technology is a shit. I have a longboard and on the second day the board has a knock and I'm a beginner...... awful.. I will never buy a Lib Tech board
Here's my 50 cents worth. Not sure about Libtech being shit tech. Have had a Puddle Jumper for 12 months, fun in the right waves and pretty robust but not indestructible. Also a bit corky for the volume and skatey when the wind is up. They scratch easily as the skin is kinda soft and have deck depressions under the front heel. Best thing is if they ding you don't have to repair immediately unlike other epoxy eps. Old FireWire FST is the strongest construction I have owned, a couple have lasted 10+ years of regular use.
My libtech puddle jumper and libtech sub buggy have pretty horrendous deck compressions and the decks seem to ding really easily (similar to pu for me) however no rail damage yet. Had them for about 18 months. My firewire fst boards are still pretty much perfect and some are a good few years old. Wish firewire would do a board as good for grovelling as the puddle jumper. Hated the sweet potato. Any suggestions welcome?
My 2c, buy snowboards from a snowboard company, surfboards from a surfboard company and skateboards from a skateboard company.
Anyone has had one of these libtech boards recently?
Just wondering if they have sort out some if the issues people were having with them.
also heard a guy from a surfshop saying that because they are heavier they did not feel "springy' like some of the other modern EPS boards.
There is a brand new second hand short round libtech that i'm finding hard to resist the urge to buy
Did you end up buying it @Anto? I'm in the same predicament with Lib tech rocket.
I creased(epoxy) my board this morning...sigh
Maybe a bit off topic...but a good compromise if you want a really strong board that's light but that isn't as rigid as some of the experimental constructions like firewire etc. is a pu board with s glass. I recently got a PU shortboard (lost driver 2.0) with one layer of 5 oz s glass and after about twenty surfs not a single deck compression. I was sceptical it would hold up, but it has. Compare this to another board I got glassed in 1 x 6oz + 1 x 4oz e glass which actually did get deck compressions and was super heavy (pluses and minuses to the extra weight). Some people say s glass is a bit rigid. I haven't noticed this yet. But if that's your concern, a possible solution is exoglass. Its a combo of s glass and e glass weave that is supposedly strong as s glass but with the flex of e glass. I just got a board done in 2 x 4 oz exoglass it so far does feel like best of both worlds - strong but light, basically feels like 2 x 4oz e glass but is way stronger - no compressions so far. Time will tell.
Lib Tech surfboards have copped a few mentions in the forums here over the years. The fellas from the US Pacific NW, who began making snowboards, create fiercely unique surfboards that are strong and (relatively) enviro friendly. Check this vid of a Lost Puddle Jumper wrapped up in Lib Tech technology, particularly the 0:50s mark where a 4x4 runs over a board against the rocker. Thing looks tough as nails. Wouldn't matter what the baggage handlers threw at it.