The world's most in-depth and scientific reviews of outdoor gear

Lib Tech Travis Rice Pro Pointy Review

It might take a while to get used to – it's not for the timid.
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Price:  $600 List | $419.96 at Backcountry
Compare prices at 2 resellers
Pros:  Well-made, rails turns at high speeds, good grip on hard pack, USA made
Cons:  On the heavier side, not as playful as others, challenging to ride on firm snow, tricky to size
Manufacturer:   Lib Tech
By Isaac Laredo ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Feb 20, 2019
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79
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#7 of 10
  • Edging - 25% 9
  • Float in Powder - 20% 7
  • Stability at Speed - 20% 9
  • Playfulness - 20% 6
  • Pop and Jumping - 15% 8

Our Verdict

Lib Tech has been known to produce high-quality boards. The Lib Tech Travis Rice Pro Pointy stays consistent with that theme. Built for Travis Rice, this board is not for the timid. Its stiff flex, long sidecut, and camber tip and tail promote maximum stability in steep terrain. This charge oriented character is reinforced with Magne Traction thrives in a wide array of conditions. Serious right. Don't worry it's not as scary as one might think, thanks to the rocker in between your feet. It works to make the board more playful in the middle to help short radius turns and buttering. In comparison to the rest of the review fleet, this board struggled in the playfulness metric. As to be expected of long, stiff boards. Overall this is a sturdy board made for riders looking to go fast and big. It will be able to handle whatever you throw at it.


Compare to Similar Products

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Awards  Editors' Choice Award Top Pick Award Best Buy Award  
Price $419.96 at Backcountry
Compare at 2 sellers		$600 List$484.49 at Backcountry$445.99 at Amazon$500 List
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Pros Well-made, rails turns at high speeds, good grip on hard pack, USA madeFloaty, precise edging, good construction, playfulLightweight, well-made, fun, responsive, user-friendly, made in the USAGreat value, versatile, stable, beautiful graphicGreat value, versatile, nimble, fun
Cons On the heavier side, not as playful as others, challenging to ride on firm snow, tricky to sizeTricky to size, unappealing graphicBelow average floatCan slip on hardbackBelow average float in powder
Bottom Line It might take a while to get used to – it's not for the timid."That was totally wicked." -The IncrediblesSnowboarding can be hard; help lower the learning curve with this model.Porsche performance at Honda prices.The Fury has everything you need and nothing you don't for the sunny everyday board.
Rating Categories Travis Rice Pro Pointy Yes. Optimistic Never Summer Proto Type Two Jones Explorer Nitro Quiver Fury
Edging (25%)
10
0
9
10
0
10
10
0
9
10
0
9
10
0
9
Float In Powder (20%)
10
0
7
10
0
9
10
0
7
10
0
8
10
0
7
Stability At Speed (20%)
10
0
9
10
0
7
10
0
8
10
0
9
10
0
7
Playfulness (20%)
10
0
6
10
0
9
10
0
10
10
0
7
10
0
10
Pop And Jumping (15%)
10
0
8
10
0
7
10
0
7
10
0
8
10
0
8
Specs Travis Rice Pro... Yes. Optimistic Never Summer Proto... Jones Explorer Nitro Quiver Fury
Shape Twin Directional Asymetrical-Twin Directional Asymetrical twin
Camber/Rocker Hybrid-Rocker/Camber Hybrid-Rocker/Camber Hybrid-Rocker/Camber Hybrid-Rocker/Camber Hybrid- Rocker/Camber
Flex Stiff-Medium Stiff Soft-Medium Medium-Stiff Medium/Stiff
Weight 6.8 (lb) / 108.8 (oz) 6.2 (lb) / 99.2 (oz) 6.2 (lb) / 99.2 (oz) 6.4 (lb) / 102.4 (oz) 6 (lb) / 96 (oz)
Tested Length 161.5 151 157 159 159
Available Lengths 150,153,155,157,157W,161.5,161.5W,164.5,164.5W 151, 154, 157 152,154,157,160,153X,155X,158X,161X,164X 152,156,158W,159,161W,162,164W 157, 163
Construction Type Sandwich Sandwich Sandwich Sandwich Sandwich
Core Material Wood Carbon-wrapped wood Wood Wood Wood
Waist Width (cm) 26.5 26.6 26.3 26.2 25
Radius (m) 8.4 6.5 7.6 toe/7.3 heel 7.5 9/5.6-7/4.1
Taper(mm) 0 6 0 0 0

Our Analysis and Test Results

Lib Tech a subsidiary of Mervin Manufacturing. They have been producing bomber snowboards in the USA for 26 years. The company strives to employ sustainable practices in every step of construction. Examples of this include their biodiesel heated factory and Soy-based sidewalls. The environment is at the forefront of their business model with no compromise to durability. This particular model has to put up with the thrashing that Travis Rice places on it. The Travis Rice Pointy Pro remains largely unchanged from last year's model.

Performance Comparison



Edging


The Travis Rice Pro is a top performer in edge hold and security. Because of its stiff flex and wide waist width, this board can handle a lot of turn before it buckles out on you. It won't easily be overwhelmed by your legs or turn generated force. A board similar to this would be the Bryan Iguchi Pro. Although there is a speed threshold before you get you railing turns. Due to the stiffness and Magne-Traction, the board is a little more work to roll and edge and can feel catchy at slow speeds. In the end, this board isn't made to be ridden slow, and when you play toward its strengths, this thing is radical.


Float in Powder


Similar to its edging constraint it requires a higher level of speed to begin to plane and float. Our testing attributes this to the camber tip and tail and stiffer flex pattern. In high snow densities, we were fighting the camber and flex of this model for two primary reasons: The camber wanted to dive, and the speed threshold was hard to obtain. Once it's up to speed, the wide waist width and length provide comfortable flotation in especially in good quality snow.

Stability at Speed


The Travis Rice Pro is a relatively nimble tank at speed. The cambered tip and tail engage to provide a camber like experience that offsets the stability threat from the rocker. The Bryan Iguchi Pro provides similar experience due to its full camber profile. Both models scored a 9 out of 10.

Hard to decide whether to look at Lake Tahoe or focus on the high speed long turns that the Travis Rice Pointy Pro was made for.
Hard to decide whether to look at Lake Tahoe or focus on the high speed long turns that the Travis Rice Pointy Pro was made for.

Playfulness


The Travis Rice Pro did not excel in this category, scoring a 6 out of 10, one of the lowest scores awarded in this metric. It's difficult to obtain such high scores in the other metrics without sacrificing in others. The board is wider and stiffer than the others in our lineup. Not only that, but it's pretty darn heavy and has a monster sidecut. All things that were great for the other metrics that were measured, but not here. The Burton Deep Thinker also scored poorly primarily due to their stiff flex patterns. The Never Summer Proto Type Two, Nitro Fury excelled with their medium flex. These models earned perfect 10 out of 10 scores.

Pop and Jumping


As with the other rockered, or hybrid-camber/rocker boards, it has a little less merit in its vertical achievements. It is a stiffer board, which helps it keep some of its pop. Both hybrid profiles the Never Summer Proto and Travis Rice Pro are in the same scoring categories with a 7 and 8 out of 10 respectively.

Best Applications


Jumping, high-speed carving, and all around ripping.

Value


This is a well-made board and if it fits your riding style and goals its worth the 599 price tag. But might not be if you're a sub 150-pound rider.

Conclusion


The Travis Rice Pro Pointy is a solid ride if you have powerful legs, and you like to go fast and push it to the max. This board could be tough to handle if you're on the smaller side. Our lead tester is 5'9" and weighs 162 pounds and found that he had to ride the board powerfully. We estimate that if you' re under 5'8" and sub 150 pounds, it might not be the board for you.


Other Versions and Accessories


This comes with a pointy and blunt tip shape. We tested the pointy version. It also comes in standard widths and/or with blunt-shaped tips. Happy Turns.


— Isaac Laredo