Lib Tech Surfboards: What Makes Them Actually Different

Lib Tech has been building snowboards in Washington since the early '90s. When they got into surfboards, they didn't try to do what everyone else was doing. They looked at how boards had been made for decades and decided to start from scratch. The result is two constructions that are genuinely unlike anything else in the lineup.

We carry both at Urban Surf. Here's the breakdown.

The Issue With Traditional Boards

PU foam and polyester resin have been the standard for a long time. They work fine, but they ding easily, they're not particularly light for their strength, and the build process involves a lot of toxic exposure for the people making them. Lib Tech spent years working on all three of those problems at once.

The result is what they call ECO IMPACTO 2 and ECO IMPACTO 2 LITE. Both are built by hand in Washington state at the Mervin factory outside Sequim. Both use materials that are new to the surf industry. And both ride better than you'd expect from a board this durable.

ECO IMPACTO 2 LITE: The Newest Generation

This is the newest generation and it shows. On average a pound lighter than what came before and somehow even harder to ding. New upcycled Eco Lite foam core, wrapped in pressure treated Hexylite thermo fusion panels, G-Glass and Magnesium fiber, all locked in with a plant-based Bio Matrix resin.

On the water that translates to a more responsive feel underfoot, a construction that holds up to real use, and less to think about when you're traveling or spending a day at a wave pool.

Hammerbox Fin Technology

The headline feature on the Lite is the new Hammerbox fin boxes. Lib Tech built these specifically for wave pool use, where boards take a serious beating. The formula is a glass-reinforced urethane that makes them the toughest fin boxes in the game. FCSII compatible, so you're not changing anything else. Just one less thing to stress about.

Boards Available on ECO IMPACTO 2 LITE

• Super Smooth Operator -- performance mid-size, Matt Biolos's go-to all-around
• Pisces FC -- high performance fish designed for small to overhead surf
• Big Rig Driver -- pro-performance shortboard with more paddle power than a contest blade
• RNF Retro Fish -- classic San Diego-inspired fish with a beaked nose and winged swallow tail
• Quiver Killer -- round pin ATV built for travel, works everywhere
• Puddle Jumper -- high performance groveler, one of the best small wave boards ever made
• Party Platter -- the ultimate small wave enhancer

ECO IMPACTO 2: The One That Started It All

ECO IMPACTO 2 is where Lib Tech's surf construction started, and it's still one of the better boards you can buy. Pressure treated Hexylite honeycomb panels, G-Glass and Magnesium fiber, fused in a plant-based Bio Matrix resin. The Thermo fusion build process cuts way down on resin exposure during manufacturing, which is better for the people building them and better for the water they end up in.

These don't feel like a specialty construction. They feel like a good surfboard that happens to hold up way longer than anything conventional in your quiver.

What's Inside

• Hexylite honeycomb panels -- pressure treated for impact resistance through the deck and rails
• G-Glass + Magnesium fiber -- stronger and lighter than conventional fiberglass
• Plant-based Bio Matrix resin system -- less toxic, no performance trade-off
• Thermo fusion process -- no wet layup, minimal resin exposure during the build

Boards Available on ECO IMPACTO 2

• Lost Hydra -- small wave fish hybrid, one of the most fun boards in the lineup
• Lost RNF '96 -- retro fish, versatile groveler, works in almost any condition
• Additional Lost models in store. Ask us what's on the rack.

If you're traveling a lot, surfing wave pools, or just want the lightest most durable option, go Lite. If you want a proven construction on a classic Lost shape and aren't chasing the newest thing, ECO IMPACTO 2 is still a great board.

Either way you're getting something built thirty miles from our shop that will outlast anything conventional in your quiver by a long shot.

Our Take

We've had both in the shop and in the water. The Lite is noticeably lighter the moment you pick it up, and the Hammerbox fin boxes are the kind of thing you stop thinking about after the first session, which is exactly the point. The ECO IMPACTO 2 boards like the Hydra are just flat-out fun in small surf, which covers most of what we get here in the PNW.

If you're looking for a new board that travels well, holds up, and actually surfs well too, come in and we'll put the right one in your hands.

Shop Lib Tech at Urban Surf

Questions? Call us at (206) 545-9463 or stop by the shop.