Want one board for everything? This might be your huckleberry. Photo: JC
There’s little doubt that Lib Tech and Mervin Manufacturing have contributed greatly to the evolution of snowboarding. From domestic manufacturing to materials to design, Lib is as respected as any brand in the industry (surf and snow). So I was psyched to test the Lib Tech Escalator Splitboard during our test series this winter. And damn, if expectations weren’t completely met.
The Escalator was released last year and features Lib’s hardy top-sheet that is more than backcountry worthy – it can stand up to the worst beatings in the driest of years (trust me on that one). The Escalator features an ideal flex (in my opinion), still super fun in powder thanks to its width, but also able to charge through crappy snow and hard-pack conditions.
Bottom Line: The Lib Tech Escalator makes for an ideal daily driver for any conditions thanks to its medium to stiffer flex pattern and width. It’s a super-solid option for those looking for a one-splitboard quiver in the backcountry.
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Testing the Lib Tech Escalator Splitboard
I tested the Escalator in a 156, the larger of the two sizes, which may be surprising (it’s also available in a 153). This is designed to be Lib Tech’s lightweight, nimble, and easy uphill board. You can get a great sense of its versatility in the video above.
I pretty much got the Escalator out in almost every condition. Desperate, rain-soaked snow, heavy wet pow, hard-pack corn, and yes, even blower powder during this dismal winter. And it worked in everything. It has a wide, smooth nose entry with just the right rocker, which gently transitions into a wide mid-section, with again, one of the wider tails we tested this year.
For skins, the shape allowed for the use of standard G3 splitboard skins, which worked great. For bindings, I’m using the Burton Step On Splitboard Binding with standard pucks – an option I highly recommend for their ease of use in the backcountry (see energy savers).
One of the underrated facets of this board starts with Lib’s techno jargon: the eco-sublimated poly topsheet. Don’t be fooled, though; this stuff is legit. It’s super durable. Splitboards can get absolutely beat to shit. They delaminate from skin attachments that rub them raw, banging against brush or rocks (God forbid), and can look like a dog quickly. The topsheet on the Escalator is integrated in a lot of Mervin products, and it’s an eco-friendly option that keeps your board looking relatively clean even if you’re thrashing through the bush before the skin track actually starts climbing. Good stuff.
The Lib Tech Escalator Splitboard ($1050)
Sizing: 153, 156
Riding Style: Backcountry freeride
Profile: Rocker/Camber/Rocker
Shape: Directional
Flex: 5-6/10 (10 being the stiffest)
Pros: A one-board quiver. This board can work in any situation, from corn to pow. Thanks to its width, it still feels really poppy in powder despite being one of the stiffer splitboards we tested.
Cons: The Escalator does not have the soft feel of a powder-specific board. If you’re looking for more of a pow-specific stick, look elsewhere.
Best For Riders Who: Want a single board to do everything really well. Yeah, it’s not a powder-specific board, but it sure feels good in deep stuff. And laying an edge on the thing is not too bad either.
What I Loved About the Escalator Splitboard
I am stoked on the versatility. If I could only use one split for the rest of my days, the Lib Tech Escalator would be at the top of my list. It’s got a beautiful powder shape with a healthy amount of rocker in the nose and tail, which are both wide enough to rip on the deep days. But its flex is a little stiffer, so you can lay into it when the snow gets hard, like when you exit a tour, and the area gets tracked up and gnarly from other backcountry users. The Escalator holds up to almost anything.
Lib Tech also gets points for two specific reasons: The brand commits to eco-friendliness in the manufacturing process, and the boards are made here in the USA, in Washington state. The cores are made with renewable wood (5 % aspen, 95% paulownia). Recycled plastic and bio beans make up the bulk of Lib’s materials. Additionally, most of the brand’s processes involve water instead of dangerous chemicals. Bonus!
But beyond that, this is a beautiful piece of equipment that is both extremely functional and aesthetically pleasing. It’s light on the uphill, rips in almost any condition, and will stand up to a beating. It’s worth the money.
The Escalator and that beautiful topsheet. Photo: JC
What I Looked Closer at on the Escalator Splitboard
There’s a lot to like about the Escalator. But if we’re nitpicking, this is not really a powder-specific board, like a true fish or hybrid that weighs nothing and can only be used in deep stuff. If you want that type of splitboard, best look elsewhere. This is your daily driver, able to do everything well. It’s not really a niche board.
Other Boards to Consider
If you’re looking for similar rides around the industry, you could consider some of the Family Tree models from Burton or if you want to stick with Lib Tech, Travis Rice’s Orca series just got an upgrade with the Orca II Techno Split. You can also go the other direction with a more powder-oriented split like the 3D Fish that I recently reviewed. Another worth looking at is the Jones Frontier 2.0 Splitboard, a similarly versatile splitboard we reviewed earlier this season.
Final Thoughts
From surf to snow, Mervin and Lib Tech make great products. Of all the splitboards we tested this season, the Escalator was the most versatile, all-terrain ride. Stomp pillows, ride pow, stay in control when the snow turns to muck: that’s the Lib Tech Escalator Split in a nutshell.
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