Hello and welcome to my Lib Tech Dynamo review.
In this review, I will take a look at the Dynamo as a freeride snowboard.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Dynamo a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other freeride snowboards.
Overall Rating
Board: Lib Tech Dynamo 2021
Price: $499
Style: Freeride
Flex Rating: Medium-Stiff
Flex Feel on Snow: Medium (5.5/10)
Rating Score: 82.6/100
Compared to other Men’s Freeride Boards
Out of the 39 men’s freeride snowboards that I rated:
Based on 2020 rankings, which the Dynamo didn't come into as I didn't ride the 2020 model. This will be updated once all of the 2021 rankings have been updated.
Overview of the Dynamo’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Dynamo’s specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | Freeride (softer, surfier freeride) |
Price: | $499 |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Feel: |  |
Turn Initiation: | Medium-Fast |
Edge-hold: |  |
Camber Profile: | Hybrid Rocker but camber dominant - Lib Tech's "C3 Camber" |
Shape: | |
Setback Stance: | Setback 25mm |
Base: | Extruded (TNT) |
Weight: | A little heavier than normal |
Sizing
LENGTH (cm) | Waist Width (mm) | Rec Rider Weight (lb) | Rec Rider Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
150 | 243 | not available | n/a |
153 | 252 | n/a | n/a |
156 | 255 | n/a | n/a |
159 | 257 | n/a | n/a |
162 | 258 | n/a | n/a |
156W | 265 | n/a | n/a |
159W | 267 | n/a | n/a |
Who is the Dynamo Most Suited To?
The Dynamo is a great option for anyone looking for a softer flexing, more easy going freeride option. Also great for those who like all-mountain rides, but just want something a little more directional.
Not for beginners, but great option for intermediate riders looking for a more freeride oriented board, but don't want to go too stiff/advanced.
The Dynamo in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Dynamo is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: Lib Tech Dynamo 2021, 159cm (257mm waist width)
Date: February 18, 2020
Conditions: Sunny and perfect visibility.
Snow was firm underneath with soft on top on groomers. A little dust on crust off groomer but not majorly icy or anything.
Temp was quite warm in the sun. Supposed to be -1°C (30.2°F) with or without wind. Next to no wind. Felt about that in shade but warmer than that in sun.
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance width: 560mm (22″)
Stance Setback: Setback 25mm
Width at Inserts: 265mm (10.4") at front insert and 265mm (10.4") at back insert*
*there is a slight taper and a bit of setback. Taper without setback, or a lot of taper usually gives a wider width at the front insert vs the back insert. Setback without taper usually gives a wider width at the back insert. In this case the little bit of taper offsets the setback and the width ends up the same at both inserts.
Rider Height: 6'0"
Rider Weight: 175lbs
Rider Boot Size: US10 Vans Aura
Bindings Used: Burton Malavita M
Weight: 3080grams (6lb 12oz)
Weight per cm: 19.37 grams/cm
Average Weight per cm: 18.36 grams/cm*
*based on a small sample size of around 80 boards that I've weighed in 2019, 2020 & 2021 models. So, heavier than average, but didn't feel like a heavy board on snow, which is the main thing.
Damp or Chattery?
More on the damp side. Not ultra-damp, but damper than it is chattery.
Smooth or Snappy?
Slightly more snappy than smooth, but just a little to the snappy side of the middle of the scale.
Powder
Didn't have any really to test it in. But the specs and feel of the board suggest it would be a good board in powder. Not like an epic floater in super deep powder, but really good nonetheless.
It hasn't got a heap of taper, but there's some taper there - and whilst it's mostly camber, there is that subtle rocker in the middle of the board. And it's quite well setback - 25mm on effective edge and a good bit more in terms of the overall length of the board (longer nose than tail).
Carving & Turning
Carving: Good carver. Not epic in terms of big carves, but you can certainly lay a carve on it.
Turning: Really fun board for turning. Quite snappy but also quite an easy turner. Almost felt like it had more of a CX2 feel than a C3 feel.
Maneuverability at slow speeds: Nice and agile at slow speeds.
Skidded Turns: For a C3 camber board it was actually pretty easy to skid turns on. That quite easy going flex helps there, I guess.
Speed
Good at speed. Never going to be an out and out bomber with its flex, but stable enough at speed.
Uneven Terrain
Good in crud and good in terms of weaving through bumps. A really comfortable board for navigating when it's not smooth or straight.
Let’s Break up this text with a Video
Jumps
Had a lot of fun on this board with jumps. Which isn't always the case with Freeride boards.
Pop: It's not massive, but it's there. And what's there is really easy to access. It's an easy, fun pop.
Approach: A good balance between being stable and being nimble.
Landing: Decent. Not an out and out stomper but solid enough.
Side-hits: Fun for side hits.
Small jumps/Big jumps: Works for anything from small to large, with medium being the sweet spot.
Switch
Rides switch OK. Better than a lot of other freeride boards. It's got that in between freeride and all-mountain feel.
Spins
Good easy pop and getting the spin around was pretty easy. OK for landing/takeoff switch.
Butters
Decently buttery. Not super easy to butter, but certainly not hard to butter either.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | Contribution to Final Score | |
|---|---|---|
CARVING | 3.5 | 14/20 |
TURNING | 4.5 | 9/10 |
POWDER | 4.0 | 16/20 |
SPEED | 3.5 | 14/20 |
UNEVEN TERRAIN | 4.0 | 12/15 |
JUMPS | 4.0 | 8/10 |
SWITCH | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 82.6/100 |
Overall, the Dynamo is a nice softer/more forgiving freeride option (or you could look at it like a more directional all-mountain ride), great for intermediate riders looking to get onto a more freeride oriented board or for more advanced riders who just prefer a softer deck, even when predominantly freeriding.
Great price for what you get too. Goes up a little in price for the 2021 model, but still really well priced.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you want to learn more about the Dynamo, or if you are ready to buy, or if you just want to research prices and availability, check out the links below.
If you want to check out some other freeride snowboard options, or if you want to compare how the Dynamo compares to other freeride snowboards, then check out the next link.
Hi Nate, I would like to buy this board for this season. Can i combine it with Union Strata ? Do you suggest any other Union binding ?
Hi Ugur
Thanks for your message.
Yes, I think this board would work well with the Union Strata. You could also ride it with the Force, Atlas or even Falcor (if you wanted a harder driving binding). But I think the Strata would be a very good match.