Expert Review: Lib Tech Box Knife Snowboard
All photos courtesy of Jason Lustine
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the snowboard which I purchased with my own money in March of 2022.
My take
The Lib Tech Box Knife is for the park rat who wants to explore all the inbounds territory! From laps through the park, to presses and messing around on the run and sidecuts, it's a blast and is designed to be stable but still provide plenty of pop and flex.
About the gear
- Model: 2021-2022 Lib Tech Box Knife
- Size: 151cm
About me
- Height: 5’7”
- Weight: 155lbs
- Experience: 13 years snowboarding
Test conditions
- When I bought these: March 2022
- Conditions for test: Multiple conditions including powder days, slushy days, icier conditions, and just stereotypical sunny days
- Days tested: 13 days
- Mount position: 12˚ / -12˚
- Boots: 2021-2022 Adidas Lexicons
- Boot Size: Size 9
- Bindings: 2017 Union Forces
- Where I’ve used it: Breckenridge, Vail, Keystone, Crested Butte
- Terrain: Park, groomers, trees, chutes
How it performs
What I was looking for
I was looking for a park-oriented board to replace my Lib Tech Box Scratcher 151cm. I wanted more stability and pop, but wanted to stick with Lib Tech to get the Mange-Traction (serrated/wavy edges.)
Why I chose this gear
I went with the Box Knife because it literally hit all the things I was after. It’s a Camber-dominant hybrid, still maintains Magne-Traction, comes in my size, and is a true twin/park oriented board. I was interested in switching from the rocker platform of the Box Scratcher to a camber profile, and while this was my favorite option there were others. I also looked at the Huck Knife/Huck Knife Pro, and the Lago Shotgun. The smaller brands (Lobster, Smokin and Lago) couldn’t provide the same proven technology or quality backing at a level that I felt confident in, so the Lib Tech was a no brainer.
What I love about it
- Speed - The board is a lot more stable at higher speeds than its rocker variant.
- Edge hold - The camber really helps lock the edges in. The Lib Tech Box Knife is very strong when carving and through slower turns, and I felt very confident doing them on any terrain.
- Turns - The Lib Tech Box Knife is capable of slower and faster turns, and the fast turns felt very resistance-free especially compared to the rocker version
- Groomers - Groomers are way too much fun. The Lib Tech Box Knife is great to carry higher speed with, and being a true twin, it’s also great for practicing butters, spins or just riding switch.
- Trees - The Lib Tech Box Knife is for sure a solid tree deck, capable of quick turns in tight spaces.
- Park - The Lib Tech Box Knife really thrived here. Great stability and control in the air, tons of pop, and it felt like it wanted to be on features and in the air. Spinning felt extremely natural due to its wider nose and tail. Urban (air on) features were a breeze due to how much natural pop it can generate. Ride on features were very fun too because it wants to slide versus being resistant.
- Durability - This is for sure (so far) more durable than its rocker variant (blew the edge out on that one lol), with the edges and base both handling the rougher more exposed terrain much better as well. No clear signs of wear minus the usual gunk that comes off rails and boxes.
- Switch riding - Riding switch on the Lib Tech Box knife is very easy and natural. The true twin is designed to be ridden switch and really makes it easy.
- Stability - The Lib Tech Box Knife has very solid pop, much more stability and less chatter versus their rockered Box Scratcher.
- Top sheet and Base - The bottom and top sheet design are insane in person. The bright orange for this year is what caught my eye, but the tech backs the design, such as the Magna-Traction and wider nose and tail.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Powder - The Lib Tech Box Knife does not have the natural float of rocker boards, and will for sure prefer to nose dive into powder.
- Backcountry - I would strongly advise against it! This board is not designed for backcountry riding including skinning and deeper powder. There is no feature on this board where I would say it translates over to backcountry riding.
Favorite moment with this gear
Maybe not a favorite single moment, but every time I take this board out, I feel so much more dialed-in in the park compared to previous boards. I feel confident on the jump line, bigger boxes, and rails, and locking in spins. It just feels all around stable and solid and really can create the confidence to develop my riding. I've sold 2 of these to customers who have become friends now and they’ve said the exact same thing.
Value for the money vs. other options
I compared it to the Salomon Huck Knife Pro ($549.99) and I for sure prefer the Box Knife over the Huck Knife Pro for both the price ($499.99 vs. $549.99) and the fact the Lib Tech is more versatile with the Magna-Traction and wider nose and tail. I personally found that the camber-dominant hybrid profile felt a lot more capable with speed, air control, tricks and butters/pressing.
For powder/backcountry, I got my hands on a Lib Tech Orca and a Jones Mind Expander. I live in CO so I usually know in advance when there's gonna be a powder day. Whenever there isn't, or if there’s just a light dusting, no question this board is my go-to. The Jones especially is very much a powder-exclusive snowboard, but the Orca is designed for it all, minus park riding due to its directional shape.
Final verdict
Overall, the Lib Tech Box Knife really helps amplify park riding and messing around the mountain. It's a blast to push its potential and it handles it really well. It’s great for developing those park skills, but still a great all-mountain option that handles most terrain really well. The wider nose and tail really makes it a lot of fun and even easier to dial in buttering, getting comfortable landing bigger air, and with its camber-dominant profile, its sturdiness in the air really translates over into progressive riding.
Lib Tech Box Knife Snowboard · 2022
- We price match
- Returnable