Board: Libtech Dynamo
Size: 159
Camber Option: C3. So Mervin’s new age camber with a mellow hinge in the middle of the camber section and the flat in the nose and tail before the upkick.
Bindings: Rome Black Label
Stance: 21.5 Wide 15 Negative 12 Goofy
Boots: K2 Thraxis Size 10
My Weight: 200lbs
Resort: Loveland Ski Area
Conditions: Sunny bluebird skies, cooler temps, perfect corduroy, and preseason chunder and chop everywhere else.
Flex: This board has a slightly directional flex that comes in just past a middle of the road. Softer nose, stiffening up from in front of the first insert pack and progressively getting stiffer to the tail. There’s a little bit of torsional flex which doesn’t let you over power the board when you twist it but it is there if you want to get aggressive with it.
Stability: This board is really stable. While not overly damp it does a great job of absorbing ruts, bumps, and bigger push mounds when you charge through them. There is a little chatter from microvibrations but not enough to make you worry about it.
Ollies/Pop: The C3 gives this board a nice camber section to load up and get pop. This board has boost when loading it up and you notice that when sending a roller or sidehit. It can handle some air time if you need it to.
Butterability: It’s not the most butterable board out there, but it gets the job done. Get your weight out over the nose or tail and just work for it a bit more. It does have rebound so expect it to fight you a bit.
Carving: Here’s where this thing sticks out. It transitions super smoothly from edge to edge with a nimbleness that lets you just throw your weight in and out of a carve. It initiates off the front foot but gives you added power when you transition to a more back foot carve. Laying this board over it leaves a trench in its path and you know it can handle whatever you throw at it. Whether you do tight quick carves or long drawn out swooping ones it has you covered. The Magnetraction does its job but never feels too grippy or that you’re fully locked in forever.
Rider in Mind: The all mountain freeride focused guy.
Personal Thoughts: Why haven’t I gotten on this board sooner. On paper this board should have been so-so for me, but riding it, it blew me away. This thing is phenomenal. It’s a board that lets you have power when you need it but you aren’t forced to be on your A game all the time. Possibly new favorite board from Lib in this category.
Comparable Boards: Niche Maelstrom, K2 Manifest, Telos DST
44 Comments
Sounds sick…could be my new daily driver. Btw who makes the SHRED gear you are wearing?
http://www.shredfoundation.org support a great charity and get great merchandise.
looking for a daily driver in a similar style as the lib hot knife (which they don’t make anymore, unless it’s been renamed?) – do you think this could fill that gap?
So your choice is this or the new TRS they basically broke that board in two and made the Dynamo and merged the Hot Knife into the TRS.
amazing thanks for that info. have you had a chance to ride the new trs since they took away the hot knife? i imagine its going to be a bit stiffer and it has the sintered base instead of extruded on the dynamo, but wondering your thoughts on the comparison. your review of the hot knife is spot on with what im looking for – aggressive fun.
Review dropping soon.
How does this compare to the GNU Gremlin? Besides the base materials and the volume shift of the Gremlin, I am not sure how else to decide between the two.
I previously rode a GNU Mullair and looking to replace it with a freeride focused board, while complimenting my quiver that currently includes Capita DOA, Slush Slasher and Capita Navigator. I am an advanced/aggressive PNW rider that can shred all conditions and mostly chases powder and charges groomers, with the need to ride through heavy snow and chunder when things get tracked out..
I am 210 lbs and 5’8” with a size 10 boot. What sizes would you recommend as well for either the Gremlin or Dynamo? Thank you in advance.
I think you want to go with the Dynamo honestly. I’d look at something 160 plus.
I’m looking to make my first ever board purchase. Have spent the last couple of years making a couple trips annually to a semi local resort. Was on skis for years before switching over. Finally deciding to pull the trigger on a full snowboarding setup, and get more serious with the hobby. Looking for a freeride / all mountain daily driver. I’m 6’3″ 210 lbs. Size 13 boot. I don’t really do anything in the park. Ride a lot of groomers. Trying to start changing the terrain up a bit, and adding more trees into my runs. Carving is definitely a priority. The 159W Dynamo is probably the only one they make that would fit me in size. Also, was looking at the Yes Hybrid, but I don’t think they make a wide. Do you have any other recommendations on a good board setup?
You’re on the right track with the Dynamo, you could also do a Jones Flagship, maybe the Ride Wildlife would work for as well.
I was thinking the Flagship was a little bit above my skill level. I definitely have checked it out though. The Mountain Twin or Frontier and Yes Standard are two others I’ve come across that I thought might be a good option for me. Meant to say I’m a size 12 in boot as well. I’ve got a pair of Adidas Tactical Lexicon ADV and probably will pair them with either the Union Strata or Atlas.
Really like the sound of the Dynamo. I’m looking for an all mountain freeride deck to do it all but that isn’t going to kick my ass. Playful enough to enjoy popping off side hits and a few spins. Long time snowboarder but getting older and weaker! Had been looking at the Essential Service but this looks more fun. 156 or 153? I’m 150lbs, Size 9 boot. Thanks!
I’d do the 56 for what you’re describing.
Hi!
Do you reckon i should get a 153 with 145 lbs and a size 8 boot or should i bump up to 156 since i am getting this beside my park board, mostly for pow and carving?
thanks in advance.
You could. It really comes down to how much surface area you want.
Been lurking on your YouTube channel for a while (now subscribed)! Thanks for the amazing content!
I am more of a low-end intermediate rider into trees, moguls, groomers and carving. I am thinking about getting the Dynamo with Burton Step On setup. Will it work better for me compared to the Cold Brew? Or, is it for those above my skill level given its cam focused profile? My previous board was a used 2007 Burton Custom. Other boards I have been looking at are Saloman Dancehaul, Lib Tech Travis Rice Orca, and Ride Warpig, and Rossignol XV Sashimi LG (2020). Do you recommend any other boards?
The Sashimi sticks out for your riding ability and choices as the best option.
Awesome! Thanks! Will order the Sashimi! My weight is 145lbs, and height is 5’9″ (which I assume doesn’t matter as much). I wear size 9 boots. Will 152cm be good for me? Also, I forgot to mention earlier that I do ride switch maybe 25% of the time (especially when going through tough terrain). Will Sashimi do okay for riding a little bit of switch? Any other board you recommend to go along with Sashimi?
Time to learn to ride switch on a directional board. 52 is fine.
Haha! 52 Sashimi LG it is then. Thanks a lot!
Hi! Thank you for the review! Do you think Flow NX2-CX bindings will be a good fit for this board, or should I go with something softer?
Thank you!
Yes.
Hi! Good review!
Should I take with Dynamo 159W board Union Atlas bindings, Burton Cartel, C 8, or something else?
Im 210lbs, 5’10, 11 boots
Thanks!
Sure.
Great review! I’m currently trying to decide why to pick up for my new daily driver. Trying to decide between the Ejack Knife and the Dynamo. I love charging all mountain: fast groomers, trees, side hits, powder when available, and occasionally some park jumps and boxes.
I’m 5’-8” and about 165lbs. Currently on a 157 TRS. What do ya think?
Dynamo.
Hey man
Which would you recommend as a daily driver, this or a jones mountain twin? Which one carves better?
Cheers
This carves better. Buy both.
I want another board to add to the quiver…because I have a problem. So here’s the long wind up to asking for recommendations and/or whether the Dynamo is going to be complimentary or duplicative to what I have.
20+ year Advanced/Expert rider 5’10”, 190, size 13, Union Falcor bindings and K2 Thraxis boots. I may have backcountry dreams, but in reality I’m a ~30 day a year resort rider.
Currently have a …Lib Rocket 157.5 as a daily driver, Lib JL Short/Wide 147 as a silly powder board, and an older Lib JL Phoenix 157w (C3v1) that is the fastest edge to edge board I’ve ever ridden (clearly a Lib/Jamie Lynn fan). The Rocket is a mountain surfing blast but has no grip on ice and definitely has a top speed. The S/W is a novelty board that puts a shit-eating grin on my face like no other in the deep. The Phoenix is special to me, but all but retired after 8 years of unforgiving old school camber service.
If I’m being honest, I think I want something that replaces the Phoenix—camber dominant, super fast edge to edge, carves and holds an edge without blinking on hardpack and ice, and that can confidently handle all the speed I can throw at it, but without the desire to throw me to the ground if I stop paying attention or hit the wrong bump.
Last season I thought this meant a big freeride board, but I just sold the Jones Flagship 162w I bought last year because it just felt a size too big and clunky/sluggish on anything other than point and shoot or laying down big S turns on fresh snow. I talked myself out of the Dynamo 159w and impulse ordered a Yes PYL 160w last week but am second guessing the decision even before it arrives for the same reasons as the Jones (like I said, I have a problem).
So here I am with $$ burning a hole in my pocket and in need of some expert advice. Is the Dynamo 159w the answer to my prayers? Should I just relax and get ready to love the PYL? Or is it time to burst my Lib Tech bubble and hop on something I’ve never considered?
Many thanks for all the great content regardless!
Radd Air Tanker 210, it will change the way you see the world. The PYL is a great board.
Heh-heh, love a recommendation that dares me to ignore it! Rad-Air was nowhere near my radar and now I can’t stop staring at the Japan edition Tanker and wondering where it’s been all my life.
Angry, above you mention about the trs and hotknife so I gotta ask cause I gotta know (and I don’t see it mentioned yet). The hk and trs both sport a sintered base. Will this dynamo be able to keep up? I don’t know much about the “eco sublimated TNT base” .
Are you fast? Then there you go. Are you slow? Well time to learn how to go faster.
Wish I would have seen the comment under YouTube vid b4 asking. Thanks for the input and strive to drive faster. The feeling I get when blasting past a skier and knowing he fell due to my sonic boombastic air flow is like no other. no….I don’t have any friends.
I’ve ridden my beloved Barracuda to the point it feels like a wet spaghetti noodle. Time to replace it with a rad dad, set back camber PNW resort ripper. Looking to boost off natural features, side hits, do 1 of 2 grabs I know and spin if my old busted hips and knees want to. No park except jump lines. Need that all mtn, mid flexing, somewhat surfy ride that the ‘Cuda has but maybe something that holds an edge a tad better on aggressive carves. Pairing with an Orca. Down to the Dynamo, Rome Ravine, Yes PYL or Typo, Ride Algorythm, Nitro Dropout. Have a recommendation or an option I’m sleeping on? THANKS!
Dynamo or Ravine, although it sounds like a Ravine Select would be better, it’ll just give you more snap. PYL is solid or maybe the Yes Hybrid. Otherwise final option would be either the Korua Tranny Finder or Otto.
Angry – Farty Marty sounds like me…. I saw your glowing reviews of the Otto and Tranny Finder and all three boards are on sale near me. Do I go Otto 53, TF 54 or Dynamo 56. I’m 5’9″ 150 lbs size 9 boot. Want something all mountain and directional (I have an Orca and a Greats). Thanks
Dynamo.
Is the Rome Vice enough binding for this or would the Katana be better fit?
They’ll both work it really comes down to how much lateral play you want. If you’re worried about it go with the Rome DOD as it has the full wrap heel cup and gives more power out of the binding.
Hey Angry,
I’m an intermediate-advanced rider trying to get better at carving and pick up some speed on groomers in the East Coast. I was looking for a board that is a little better on the hardpack/ice conditions and more stable on steep runs than my 152 Outerspace Living. I am between a 156 Dynamo and a 156 Gnu Antigravity. I’m leaning more towards the Dynamo, but the Antigravity is about $70 cheaper. Is there that much of a difference between the two? Which do you think I should get? Any advice would be appreciated.
I’m 5’8″ size 9 boot
There is a difference but for what you’re saying I say snag the Anti Gravity and save the cash.
Hi. Looking for a magna traction board for a daily driver for the east coast. Mostly on groomers – not a park guys Trying to decide between the dynamo and the antigravity (thought maybe ejack but seems too stiff for daily driver). Any thoughts between these two? I’m around 5’8, 185 lbs, size 8.5 boot.
Harder carves Dynamo, more laid back Anti Gravity.