Hello and welcome to my Lib Tech TRS review.
In this review, I will take a look at the TRS as an All-Mountain-Freestyle snowboard.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the TRS a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other All-Mountain-Freestyle snowboards.
Overall Rating
Board: Lib Technologies TRS HP C2X 2020
Price: $599 (USD recommended retail)
Style: All-Mountain-Freestyle
Flex Rating: Medium to Medium-Stiff (5-7/10 depending on the size)
Flex Feel: Medium (5/10)
Rating Score: 86.5/100
Compared to other Men’s All-Mountain-Freestyle Boards
Out of the 23 men’s all-mountain-freestyle snowboards that I rated:
Overview of the TRS's Specs
Check out the tables for the TRS's specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | All-Mountain-Freestyle |
Price: | $599 |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Feel: |  |
Turn Initiation: | Fast |
Edge-hold: |  |
Camber Profile: | Hybrid Rocker (Lib Tech's C2X) |
Shape: | |
Setback Stance: | Centered |
Base: | Eco Sublimated TNT Base |
Weight: | Light side of Normal |
Sizing
LENGTH (cm) | Waist Width (mm) | Rec Rider Weight (lb) | Rec Rider Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
154 | 253 | 120+ | 54+ |
157 | 253 | 130+ | 59+ |
157W | 260 | 130+ | 59+ |
159 | 253 | 140+ | 64+ |
159W | 260 | 140+ | 64+ |
162 | 256 | 150+ | 68+ |
165W | 263 | 155+ | 70+ |
Who is the TRS Most Suited To?
The TRS is great for anyone looking for great performance and some serious power to weight ratio. It feels light but powerful making spins and jumps a breeze.
But it can also hold down a carve and can handle a certain amount of speed. So if you want to ride the whole mountain but find natural hits along the way – and then finish off with a lap through the park at the end, then this board is ideal.
Also, anyone who rides hard and icy snow conditions regularly will like this board – as long as they like everything else about it.
Not really suitable for a beginner, but intermediate and up is fine.
Probably not really for the backcountry either – it’s not designed for it. That said, you could take it out there – I just wouldn’t get this board if that’s what you did most of the time. More details below.
The TRS in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the TRS is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: Lib Tech TRS 2019, 157 (253mm)
Date: March 3, 2018
Conditions: The snow had a great medium feel to it. Relatively firm but certainly not hard and not overly soft. Off groomer was nice too and there were a few pockets of untracked powder from snow from a couple of days previous. Sunny and perfect visibility. Temperature was -7 with wind.
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Width at Inserts: 258mm (10.2″)
Powder
The TRS felt better than I had expected for a centered twin – but still not a powder machine.
If you ride powder a lot and only want to have one board then there are better options – but if you only occasionally hit powder, the TRS will be fine (or if you have another board for powder days) . And if you have to go through any icy patches to get to that powder you’ll be happy to have that magne-traction under foot.
Carving and Turning
Could hold a carve pretty well. It’s got particularly good edge-hold for when your on hard or icy-ish snow. I didn’t have a lot of that but when I hit harder patches you could really feel the edges dig in which felt good.
Super-fast from edge-to-edge for those short tight turns and skidded turns definitely doable on this board.
Speed
Not an out an out bomber by any means – but something that could hold a decent amount of speed without getting too wobbly.
Let’s Break up this text with a Video
Uneven Terrain
Riding this deck on a busy Saturday meant plenty of messy snow. And I didn’t really even notice it with the TRS. It’s also got that quick maneuverability for any undulating terrain that you find yourself in.
Jumps
There’s plenty of pop in this board. Great for ollies and popping over lips and rollers. And that pop is really easy to extract – don’t need to put much effort in to load it up.
Jumps in the park – small to large – are also fun on this deck. It’s got a medium flex which gives you enough stability on the landings over larger jumps and enough forgiveness.
Switch
Almost perfect. It’s a true twin shape with a centered stance so it’s basically the same going either way.
Jibbing/Buttering
This board’s agility makes the approach to jibs really nice.
Once your on the jib it’s OK but not perfect. Not a jibbing specialist by any means but also not something that’s intimidating to take on jibs.
Not the easiest board to butter but not the hardest either.
Pipe
This board is pretty much made for the pipe. I didn’t take it into a proper one but based on the reviews of others and on the boards specs, and in the mini pipe I took it through, this is a board that would love the pipe.
It’s got a centered stance, it’s a true twin, it’s got a medium flex, it has great edge-hold in hard and icy conditions. Enough said.
Changes from 2019 model
As far as I can tell, the 2020 model is the same as the 2019 model, except for the graphic.
The 2019 model did have a couple of extra sizes though – 148N and 151N, but now that Lib Tech has introduced a women’s specific line, those sizes have been removed. The Lib Tech No.43 is the women’s equivalent of the TRS and comes in a 146, 149 & 152.
Changes from 2018 model
As far as I can tell, the 2019 is very similar to the 2018 model. Though it’s perhaps a bit lighter. Sounds like they have thinned out the tip and tail for reduced spin weight and maybe lightened the core up a little as well.
Changes from 2017 model
The 2018 model now has Lib Tech’s C2X camber profile, which is the same thing as the 2017 models Xc2 BTX but just renamed. I like the renaming of their camber profiles – IMO the terminology is less complicated now. The 2018 model is virtually the same as the 2017 model other than the name change and a different graphic.
Changes from 2016 model
The TRS is now what the old TRS HP (horsepower) was. For the 2016-17 season there is only a TRS HP and a TRS FP (firepower). The 2015-16 model had a TRS, a TRS HP and a TRS FP. For the 2016-17 model there’s just 2.
You might see it named TRS HP XC2 BTX or just TRS XC2 BTX – for 2016-17 it’s the same model.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | Contribution to Final Score | |
|---|---|---|
JUMPS | 4.5 | 18/20 |
SWITCH | 4.5 | 9/10 |
JIBBING | 3.5 | 7/10 |
CARVING/TURNS | 3.5 | 7/10 |
POWDER | 2.5 | 5/10 |
SPEED | 3.0 | 6/10 |
UNEVEN TERRAIN | 4.0 | 8/10 |
SPINS | 4.5 | 9/10 |
BUTTERING | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
PIPE | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 86.5/100 |
The TRS feels light and snappy to ride. Despite having Lib Tech's 2nd most aggressive camber profile, it's more on the playful than aggressive side overall - and it feels about a 5/10 for flex (rather than the "mid-stiff" that it's labelled as).
Not a bomber but still felt nice no a carve - and then it came into it's own with jump/spins. A really fun ride overall.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you’re keen to learn more about the TRS, or if you want to research available sizes and current prices, or if you are ready to buy, check out the links below.
- US
- CANADA
- UK/EUROPE
If you’re keen to check out some other all-mountain-freestyle options or if you want to see how the TRS compares to other similar boards, check out the link below.
Hello and welcome to my Lib Tech TRS review.
Hi Nate,
1) How would you compare this board to the Terrain Wrecker? They seem quite similar
2) I am 5ft 7, weight 130 pounds and normally go for size 150-152. Since Lib Tech doesn’t make these sizes anymore for men, does that mean I have to go for a women’s board?
Thx,
Ivan
Hi Ivan
Thanks for your message.
I haven’t ridden the Terrain Wrecker yet, unfortunately. I’ve been trying to get my hands on one, and hoping to get on one early season, and if not, then the 2021 model later in the winter.
But from what I’ve heard and from specs, the Terrain Wrecker is a little more all-mountain focused (what I would term all-mountain) and the TRS more freestyle focused (what I would term all-mountain freestyle). Not worlds apart, but some subtle differences.
1. The TRS is a true twin, whereas the Terrain Wrecker is directional twin (longer nose than tail).
2. They’re both mid-flex but it looks like the TW might be just a hair stiffer than the TRS, but it’s hard to say by how much, having not ridden the Terrain Wrecker yet
3. They have slightly different cores, so the feel will be slightly different
4. The TW has a C2 profile and the TRS has a C2X profile. Essentially the C2 profile has a little longer of a rocker section between the feet and less camber overall than the C2X profile
But overall this is likely to mean that the TW is better in powder, maybe a little better for carving/speed, whereas the TRS is better for riding switch, likely has just a little more pop and in general more freestyle focused and a little more aggressive (though it’s not overly aggressive overall, but maybe a little more so than the Terrain Wrecker with that extra camber, though it also depends on how much stiffer, if at all, the Terrain Wrecker is).
So, I can’t really give you any first hand experience but that’s what I would expect based on riding other Lib Tech boards and going off specs and what others have said.
In terms of size, I wouldn’t go longer than that 150-152 range, so yeah if you were to go Lib Tech, then I’d recommend going for a women’s size, now that Lib Tech aren’t doing those smaller sizes. The Lib Tech No.43 is basically the women’s version of the TRS. The 152 would be a good size, depending on your boot size. The Cortado is a close equivalent to the Terrain Wrecker and the 151 would be a good size, again depending on boot size.
Hope this helps with your decision
Hi Nate,
Thank you so much for the detailed comparison! Super helpful! I wear size 9.5 boots, so guess will have to go with a woman’s board, haha.
I am actually looking for an all mountain board that is forgiving and relatively easy to ride, can float in powder and has a good grip on icy snow. From what I have heard, the TW seems to fit these criteria. Any suggestion on other boards that could do the same thing? Thx
Hi Ivan
Yeah I’d say the TW sounds like it would suit what you’re describing better than the TRS. And suit what you’re describing well overall.
Some other options that would fit that description well are:
– Slash Brainstorm (probably not quite as good in icy conditions, but OK in icy conditions and has everything else you’re describing covered) – comes in a 151
– YES Typo (not as good in powder as the Brainstorm, but as good in icy conditions as the TW is likely to be, IMO) – comes in a 152
– YES Libre (ditto Typo and also comes in a 152)
– Never Summer Snowtrooper – comes in a 152 (not as good in icy conditions as the Typo, but still decent)
– Rossignol One LF – suits that description well, but the shortest size is 153 – doable at a stretch
Also just a note on the Cortado – it’s similar to the TW but not an exact equivalent. It’s got a slight amount of taper, and has a 1.5″ setback. The TW is centered and isn’t tapered. So, the Cortado is more directional overall. But that will just make it better for powder. Not as good for riding switch, doing spins etc, but if you’re not doing that kind of thing, then it might be even more suitable. The width on the Cortado 151 should be good for 9.5s too. If you were leaning towards the No.43 (TRS equivalent) I’d say that’s too narrow for your boot size, but I think the Cortado is more suitable anyway.
Hope this gives you some good options to weight up
Hi Nate,
can you advise me which snowboard to chose and which size? I have 183 cm 82kg and something around 10 US shoes. I mainly spending my time on resort but realy like to hit some jumps.
i found this board:
Libtech TRS HP
Libtech box knife
Capita Outerspace Living
Gnu Riders Choice
Never Summer West Bound
Hi Michael
Thanks for your message.
Since you’re mostly in the resort – and like to hit jumps, I would cross the West Bound off the list. It’s a great board, but it’s a more freeride oriented board. More for speed, carving and powder and not so much jumps.
The others are all options, but I would favor the Rider’s Choice, TRS and Outerspace Living for what you’re describing.
Size wise, I would say:
Rider’s Choice: 157.5
TRS: 157
Box Knife: 157
OSL: 158
Hope this helps with your decision
Hello Nate,
I am thinking on buying new board and not sure with which one should I go. My weight is 165 pounds and heigth is 6’1. I am not a powder fan as well as park riding, but I do like when my board is playfull + I can do junps and be speedy at the same time (not super fast but still), also interested in true twin boards, to change my stance. To wrap it up, I was thinking on buying TRS, but I have two concerns, does magne traction behaves well on low speed (if I would like to cruise around) and is ok to ride magnetraction not only on hard snow? If you have any advice on any thoer boards, please let me know. Thanks in advance for helping me out.
Hi Valentyn
Thanks for your message.
Magnetraction is usually fine on softer snow, in my experience, but it depends on the magnetraction. Sometimes it can feel a bit “grabby” in softer snow. But I didn’t find that with the TRS personally. The TRS is something that I find you could certainly slow down and play around on, when you wanted to. So, I think the TRS would be suitable for what you’re describing. But if you’re concerned at all about that, then you might also want to check out the GNU Rider’s Choice – it’s similar-ish (though not that similar) but it’s just that little bit more playful.
In terms of size, I would go 157 (or 157W depending no your boot size) for the TRS and if you did go with the Rider’s Choice, then 157.5 (or 158W depending on boot size).
If you want to check out other similar options, also see the following:
>>My Top All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards
Hope this helps with your decision
Thank you. I was a little concerned with the brainstorm and the back seat profile of it but you make it seem like it can still handle switch without being to difficult. And the TRS is still up there on my list but the more and more I see these RCR profiles Ive been concerned on how it would handle in powder just because it has camber on the tip and tail. I know it would kill it in the resort though. So those were my concerns with those boards. The Typo is probably in my top three right now to be honest. What do you think of the standard? I havent seen to many reviews on it. Again thank you for the help and the reviews.
Hey Tyler
I rate the Standard too. It’s a similar type of board to the Mountain Twin and Brainstorm but not exactly the same.
If you haven’t seen my top 10 all mountain snowboards list and/or my top 5 all mountain freestyle lists you can check them out in the links below. All the boards we have been discussing are in there.
~ Top 10 All Mountain Snowboards
~ Top 5 All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards
Nate,
Love the reviews. Ive been trying to decide between this and the proto type two. Going to revelstoke in march and want a all mountain board I can grow in (im and intermediate rider) but is also not going to kick my butt all over the mountain. Ive heard good things about both boards. Love riding all mountain and hitting natural features with occasional park session. I just am wondering if this board is manageable in soft snow or will it be miserable?
Hi Tyler
Thanks for your message. I think either one of these boards will suit what you want to do really well. I didn’t find the TRS “grippy” in softer snow – as some can find with boards that are good in ice. I found it fine in softer snow.
That said, if I had to choose between the two I’d go for the Proto Type 2. However, if you think you’ll be riding in a lot of icy conditions, then the TRS is probably the better option. Not sure where you usually ride but for Revelstoke I’d go with the Proto Type 2, but honestly either board are awesome and I think you’d be stoked with which ever one you went with.
Thanks for the reply. Ive also just started looking at some of the YES boards, do you like the camber profile on those for transitioning from a all rocker board, or is the camber between feet catchy? Looking for the board to be able to handle everything kind of like the TRS and the proto type two but I dont know much about YES boards
Hi Tyler
I never find camber between the feet to be catchy if there’s rocker towards the tip and tail. And the YES boards are no exception to this. The YES Basic in fact, is one of the better beginner boards going around, IMO, because it’s so easy to turn on. The Basic’s rocker sections are more exaggerated than the Greats so you do get more rocker in that profile.
I really like all the YES boards I’ve ridden but I also highly rate the TRS and Proto Type Two. It’s a tough choice because you’ve narrowed it down to the best of this sort of board.
Yeah im seeing how difficult this decision is becoming. I also saw your review on the slash brain storm and the jones mountain twin. So my question to you is this. I live on the east coast but every year do a trip somewhere nice. This year is revelstoke. I want a board that can handle the powder and cliff jumps but can handle the being fun in the resort too. So if I throw out the YES Typo, YES Standard, Jones Mountain Twin, TRS, and the Brainstorm. What kind of advice can you give me. I know they are all kind of similar so I apologize. Basically I just want to make sure these can handle the trips where I do get into some pow and am hitting jumps in the back country.
Hey Tyler
Yeah, they’re all fairly similar but do have some subtle differences. But they would all do the job you’re describing.
In terms of powder performance I think that the Brainstorm and the Mountain Twin will do the best job. They’re both pretty good with jumps too. Just perhaps not as good as the likes of the TRS and Proto Type 2.
I think with the YES Typo you’re probably not getting quite as much more in the powder as you are with the other two when compared with the TRS and Proto Type Two. Maybe slightly better but not hugely.
THe Typo is however, probably up there with the TRS when it comes to icy snow. But the Mountain Twin and Brainstorm are pretty up there too – just not quite as good as the TRS and Typo.
So yeah, when it comes to pow, the Mountain Twin and the Brainstorm – and they’re still fun in the resort too – just not as suited to riding switch as the Proto and TRS. And not quite as good on jumps in general than the All Mountain Freestyle options.
It’s never any easy decision – especially when there are so many good options. Let me know what you go with in the end.