Review: Lib Tech Lost Puddle Jumper 5’3″
Summary: The Puddle Jumper works incredibly well on a wide variety of shortboard river waves. Continue reading for the full review…
The Lib Tech Lost Puddle Jumper is the shortboard that I bring on every trip. I have surfed it on adjustable waves in Boise, Bend and Denver, on big natural waves in Montana and Wyoming, and even on some small waves found around Colorado. Of all the shortboards I surfed at each wave, the Puddle Jumper was most often my favorite.
The 5’3″ version of the Puddle Jumper is short enough to fit in the pocket of the smallest, steepest faces. The generous single concave and the extra width allows the board to surf slower waves as well. And at 28L of volume, the board has enough volume for catching waves from upstream.
Not only can the Puddle Jumper catch a lot of waves, it rips on them. It throws buckets. It pumps across faces. It spins left, it spins right… it basically handles everything I can throw at it.
The Puddle Jumper is not perfect for all waves however. Holes are typically not good for this board. Fast green waves without a steep face and very slow mushy waves do not work well either. In each of these instances, I have found that a board with more volume worked better.
As far as skill levels go, I feel that the Puddle Jumper can be used by beginners to experts. This was my first shortboard, and the board I used to learn how to shortboard in the river. As long as the wave has an acid drop or skate-on/standing entrance, the Puddle Jumper makes a decent beginner board. If the wave requires popping up, beginners may find this board tricky to learn a river popup on. As an advanced river surfer, this board still continues to be fun and is still my go-to board for most situations.
The construction Lib Tech uses on their surfboards is unparalleled. It is highly durable, and yet weighs nearly the same as a fiberglass board. If you do ding it, the “foam” will not absorb water. You can continue to surf and fix the board later if you choose to do so. The Lib Tech construction is my favorite out of any board I have surfed. If I could, I would have all my boards made from the same materials.
The only thing I would change about the Puddle Jumper is the lack of traction from the manufacturer. I added a tail pad, but a front pad would also be nice. Wax is not ideal for the rivers.
I highly recommend this board. I like this board so much, that I will definitely be purchasing another when my first one finally wears out.
Hi Ben,
Have you try Lib Tech’s manna T?
I read your other reviews on Lib Tech and thought that the Manna T might make a great river board.
I haven’t had good luck with shapes designed for wake surfing. The Manna Tee does look like a good shape, but I’m actually more excited about the Lib Tech Lost Freak Flag Bean Bag. It’s a similar shape to the Manna Tee, but is designed for the ocean rather than for wake surfing. The Bean Bag as a more narrow tail, which should make carving easier. It also comes with a leash plug, which I always prefer on a river board. It also comes in a wider variety of sizes.
There’s a good chance I’ll try the Bean Bag next season, I’ll probably hold off on the Manna Tee.
Hi Ben, I’m looking into getting a Lib Tech Puddle Jumper to use mostly at the Scout wave. This past weekend I surfed Scout for the first time- using both a Stump and a Softech Flash 5′. I really liked the Flash but am looking for more performance in a hard board. I live in Montrose and surf 50-60 days a season- I’d consider myself a good surfer. I have other higher volume boards I can use at Montrose-so this one would join my quiver. I weigh 175 and am looking at both the 5’3 and the 5’5. What are your thoughts on sizing for me based on being an intermediate/advanced surfer and my weight?
Thanks for your input, Doug
Hey Doug, sorry for the late reply. I really enjoy the 5’3 PJ, and I think if you’re only using it at Scout you should be fine on the 5’3. If you’re wanting to surf it other places, where the wave isn’t as good as Salida, then I’d go with the 5’5