Hello and welcome to my Lib Tech EJack Knife review.
In this review, I will take a look at the E-Jack Knife as a freeride snowboard.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the E-Jack Knife a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other freeride snowboards.
Overall Rating
Board: Lib Tech E-Jack Knife
Price: $599 (USD recommended retail)
Style: Freeride
Flex Rating: Mid-Firm (7/10)
Flex Feel on Snow: Medium-Stiff (7/10)
Rating Score: 86.4/100
Compared to other Men’s Freeride Boards
Out of the 39 men’s freeride snowboards that I rated:
Overview of the E-Jack Knife’s Specs
Check out the tables for the E-Jack Knife’s specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | Freeride |
Price: | $599 |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Feel: |  |
Turn Initiation: | Medium-Fast |
Edge-hold: |  |
Camber Profile: | Hybrid Rocker (but mostly camber - Lib Tech's C3 Camber) |
Shape: | |
Setback Stance: | 25mm (1") |
Base: | TNT (Eco Sublimated TNT Base) |
Weight: | Felt Normal |
Sizing
LENGTH (cm) | Waist Width (mm) | Rec Rider Weight (lb) | Rec Rider Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
154 | 251 | 120+ | 54+ |
157 | 253 | 130+ | 59+ |
159 | 254 | 140+ | 64+ |
159W | 264 | 150+ | 68+ |
162 | 255 | 150+ | 68+ |
162W | 265 | 150+ | 68+ |
Who is the E-Jack Knife Most Suited To?
The EJack Knife is best suited to those that want to ride big, fast and deep – but also want to be able to express a bit of freestyle flavor when doing so. So, if you’re someone who likes to do a bit of freestyle in the backcountry…. If you’ve ever seen videos of Eric Jackson and your style is somewhat similar, then that’s the ideal candidate for this board.
But even just as a typical freeride board (without the freestyle element) it’s a great choice too, but an even better choice if you throw in a bit of freestyle.
Not for a beginner, at all. Advanced to expert riders only on this bad boy. Maybe a solid, high-end intermediate rider too.
And whilst it has that freestyle taste to it, still not something that’s versatile in the park, IMO. You could go and hit the big kickers in there for sure – but not ideal for anything else in there, IMO.The E-Jack Knife in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the E-Jack Knife is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: Lib Tech E-Jack Knife 2019, 157 (253mm waist width)
Date: April 14, 2018
Conditions: With 27cm of fresh snow in the 24 hours prior it was the perfect day for testing freeride boards (which is what I mostly rode on the Saturday). Visibility (at least the part of the mountain where I was riding) was great. There was a bit of wind (which was surprisingly cold for April) but only noticed it on the chair lift. It was around -8 degrees with wind chill.
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance width: 610mm (24”)
Stance Setback: 25mm (1“)
Width at Inserts: 259mm (10.2”) at nose and 260mm at tail.
Flex
It’s rated as a 7/10 in terms of flex, and in the case of the E Jack Knife, I have to concur with that. That’s how it felt to me.
Powder
It felt pretty good in powder. And no real surprises there. It’s got a long, wide nose compared to the shorter, narrower tail, to help the tail sink and the nose float. And it’s also got a 25mm (1”) setback in its favor.
It’s never going to be as floaty as a board with a good bit of rocker in the camber profile, IMO, but for a board with very minimal rocker, it floated very well.
Carving & Turning
Really nice board to carve on. One of it’s biggest strengths and the thing I had the most fun doing on this board. Not quite as nice on a carve as the GNU Mullair, which I also rode on the same day, but it’s not really fair comparing carving against that thing!
Relatively agile and was pretty good in the trees, but just a touch behind the Mullair and Never Summer Chairman that I also rode that day.
Doable for skidded turns if you get off your game, but only forgiving of it to a certain extent. Definitely prefers to be up on an edge.
Speed
I felt I could really bomb with this board and it could handle a lot of speed without feeling shaky. Not quite to the extent of the Mullair and Chairman, but definitely something you can bomb with.
Let’s Break up this text with a Video
Uneven Terrain
It felt pretty good riding through crud and over uneven terrain.
Jumps
Felt more natural on jumps compared to what I feel from a lot of freeride boards. It’s got good pop and I didn’t feel like I had to really put in a huge effort to get it to pop – it had a more easily accessible pop than a lot of freeride boards.
And certainly stable on landings and no issues with stability at speed on approaches.
Switch
It’s not crazy to ride switch on, but it’s also not a natural switch rider, IMO.
Changes from the 2018 Model
Looks like the 2019 model is very similar to the 2018 model. But they do have new sizes for the 2019 model, which has a 162 and 162W that the 2018 model didn’t have.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | Contribution to Final Score | |
|---|---|---|
CARVING | 4.5 | 27/30 |
POWDER | 4.0 | 16/20 |
SPEED | 4.0 | 16/20 |
UNEVEN TERRAIN | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
JUMPS | 3.5 | 7/10 |
SWITCH | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 86.4/100 |
Overall, the EJack Knife is a super fun board for charging, powder and carving – and is a more natural jumper than most freeride boards. So, if you like to get a little freestyle on big mountain terrain, this is a great board – or even if you don’t, it’s still a great choice as a freeride option, IMO.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you want to learn more about the E-Jack Knife, are ready to buy or want to research prices and availability, check out the links below.
- US
- CANADA
If you want to see how the E-Jack Knife compares to other men’s freeride snowboards or want to check out some other options in that category, check out the next link.
Hi trying to decide between ejack 2019, or capitA bsod 5’8 185lbs size 9 boot. Have only ridden Flying V and banana rocker and flat (90’s) want something good in pow and trees as I am going to Revy next year also like buttering and a few park laps (switch)
Hi Ollie
Thanks for your message.
Both the E Jack Knife and BSOD are what I would consider freeride boards bordering on all-mountain boards, so in that sense they have their similarities. They are both better for jumps and switch than the average freeride board, but still not super amazing in those areas. Both as good in powder, IMO, with the BSOD a little better at speed and the E Jack Knife a little better on a carve. I just preferred the BSOD in trees but it’s pretty close.
Both are average in terms of buttering – neither easy to butter on but both have some butterability.
The E Jack Knife is better in hard/icy conditions, IMO.
The BSOD has a higher quality base on it, IMO.
Very little in it, IMO.
Size-wise, I would be weighing up between the 156 and 159 for the BSOD and the 157 and 159 for the E Jack Knife. And leaning towards the 156 for BSOD and 157 for E Jack Knife. But this is generally what the advantages of going shorter or longer would be.
156/157 better for trees, more nimble at slower speeds, better in the park, more buttery
159 more stability at speed, better float in powder, better for long arcing carves.
Since you mention trees, buttering and getting into the park – I think going shorter would be better suited, and these boards are already good for speed, carving and powder – so you would get a better all-round board for what you’re describing going with the shorter options, IMO.
Hope this helps with your decision
Nate, I’m having the toughest time choosing a snowboard and am hoping you can help me. I’m an experienced aggressive all-mountain (and a little bit of freestyle). I’m 5’9 and 176lbs with 9.5 boot. My home mountains are Mt. Bachelor and Mt. Hood with occasional back-country. I’m looking for a 1 board quiver killer for resort days, powder, carving groomers and side-hits and jumps. I like speed and hard carving as well as pow-butters. And have only ridden camber boards in my lifetime. I’m thinking directional or directional twin for powder floating. Here are the contenders:
Lib Tech: TRS 157
Lib Tech: Ejack Knife 157
Jones: Explorer 159
Yes: Standard 157
GNU: Mullair
United Shapes: Explorer 156
K2: Manifest
Any input would help. Thanks for the amazing site and content.
Hi Justin
Thanks for your message.
Apart from the last 2 on the list (which I’m not familiar with, so don’t have an opinion on either way), I think you’ve narrowed down a good list.
The TRS, IMO, isn’t that good in powder or at speed, compared to the others there, so may not be as suitable. That’s my experience with it anyway. A great board, but maybe not quite for what you’re describing.
The Standard is probably the least aggressive of those, IMO, though it’s not overly playful either. Kind of middle of the road in terms of aggressiveness. I still think it would be a fun board for what you’re describing, but if you’re looking for a more aggressive ride, then the Ejack Knife or Mullair might be better. The Explorer is a little more aggressive than the Standard, IMO, but not as aggressive as the other E-Jack and Mullair.
My instinct for you would be either the E-Jack Knife or Mullair. They’ve both got some subtle rocker between the feet, but it’s really not that noticeable, they are both definitely camber dominant, in my experience.
I would be leaning towards the E-Jack Knife, just because I like the 157 size for you. For the Mullair, the 159 would certainly work, but I like the sounds of the 157 Ejack Knife for you. The 159 for the Explorer would be the best size if that’s what you went with (it’s something that’s best ridden a little longer) – and for the Standard it would be 156 (something best ridden a little shorter, IMO).
Hope this gives you more to go off for your decision
Nate,
Thanks so much for your thoughtful response. I think I will go with the Ejack Knife based on your recommendation. I’m so glad I found your site. Thanks for everything that you do for us snowboarders!
You’re very welcome Justin. If you think of it at the time, I’d love to hear how you get on with the Ejkack Knife, once you’ve had a chance to get it out on snow. Hope you have an awesome season!