Key Takeaway: The 2007 Lib Tech NAS skis aren't relics — they're one of the last Made-in-Washington twin-tip platforms with serrated Magne-Traction edges, and clearance pricing now puts them at 50–76% off. If you ride hardpack, rails, or wet PNW snow, they still earn a spot in the quiver. If you live for soft, deep powder, look elsewhere.
Why a 2007 Ski Is Even a Conversation in 2026
Most "vintage" gear writeups exist for nostalgia. This one exists because of a specific construction story: Lib Tech's NAS (North American Skis) line was hand-built at the Mervin Manufacturing factory in Sequim, Washington, alongside Lib Tech and GNU snowboards. The defining feature — Magne-Traction — is a wave-shaped serrated edge instead of a flat one. On hardpack and ice, those bumps bite like a serrated knife. On groomers, they hold a line at speeds that make modern park skis feel washy.
Mervin still uses Magne-Traction on snowboards today (see the GNU Hyperkyarve C2X listed in our current deals). The skis got discontinued — but a clearance pipeline keeps surfacing 2007 NAS pairs at prices that beg the question: is this a deal or a cautionary tale?
Honest answer: it depends on what you ride.
The 2007 NAS Lineup at a Glance
Park NAS — true twin profile, durable sintered base. Built for park, rails, urban, and switch riding. Currently 63–76% off depending on graphic and condition.
Mt Baker NAS — slightly directional, a touch wider in the waist. Better suited to all-mountain duty, PNW chunder, and mixed terrain. Currently 50–52% off.
Both share the same Magne-Traction edge geometry and the same Mervin construction. The difference is shape and stiffness — Park NAS is symmetrical and built to absorb rail abuse; Mt Baker NAS leans directional and floats a hair better.
What We Like (and Where Magne-Traction Earns Its Reputation)
Edge hold on hardpack is genuinely different. This isn't marketing. The serrated edge gives you multiple grip points instead of one continuous line, so on icy East Coast mornings or scraped-out resort groomers in late April, the skis carve while modern park twins skate.
Built like a tank. Sintered bases, durable topsheets, and a Made-in-USA build quality that you simply don't get at this price point in 2026. The "still riding mine" reports from long-time owners are the most consistent signal in the data.
Real twin geometry on the Park NAS. Center-mounted, symmetrical, switch-friendly. If you spend a meaningful percentage of your day riding switch or hitting features, this is still a legitimate platform.
Mt Baker NAS handles wet, heavy snow. PNW riders specifically call out the Mt Baker NAS for handling Cascade concrete better than its narrow waist suggests. Combined with the Magne-Traction grip, it's a credible mixed-conditions ski.
What to Be Honest About
Magne-Traction is polarizing in deep snow. The serrated edge can feel "grabby" in soft snow when you're trying to release a turn. If your home mountain is dry, deep, and feathery, the edge geometry fights you instead of helping.
The shapes are 2007 shapes. Modern twin tips run wider waists and more progressive rocker. Coming off a current park ski, the NAS will feel narrower with more traditional camber underfoot. Not bad — just different.
Bindings are on you. These are skis only. Plan a binding budget on top of the deal price. Older mounting holes may exist if a pair has been previously mounted — check the listing carefully.
No warranty. Clearance from 2007. You're buying a finished, unsupported product. That's part of why the price is what it is.
Who These Skis Are Actually For
Buy the Park NAS if:
- You ride a lot of rails, boxes, and urban features
- You spend serious time switch
- You ride hardpack, ice, or East Coast conditions
- You appreciate the Made-in-Washington story and a true sintered base
- You already own a powder ski (this isn't your one-quiver pick)
Buy the Mt Baker NAS if:
- You ride PNW, Sierra, or any wet/heavy snowpack
- You want one ski that handles groomers, chop, and mixed conditions
- You like aggressive edge hold without needing race-cap stiffness
- You're cool with a slightly older shape
Skip both if:
- You only ride Utah or Colorado deep-powder days
- You want progressive rocker and modern rocker/camber/rocker profiles
- You need a warranty or current-year support
- You're buying your first all-mountain ski (start with current-gen)
A Note on the Snowboard Side: GNU Hyperkyarve C2X
If you came in for the Magne-Traction story but you're a snowboarder, the most relevant current deal is the GNU Hyperkyarve C2X (Women's 2019, Blem) — also Mervin-built, also Magne-Traction, currently 52% off. The C2X profile (mild rocker between the bindings, camber underfoot) earns consistent praise as a forgiving all-mountain board that still locks an edge on firm snow. For women looking at Magne-Traction without the vintage-ski commitment, this is the cleaner entry point.
The Deals Right Now
Vintage NAS pairs and Magne-Traction snowboards rotate through our partner inventory unpredictably — a pair may sit for months and then disappear in a weekend. Today's anchor listings:
- Lib Tech Park NAS Skis 2007 — multiple graphics (Mag, Stripes, Striped Man), 63–76% off depending on graphic and condition
- Lib Tech Mt Baker NAS Skis 2007 — Mag and Parillo+Monkey graphics, 50% off new / 52% off used
- GNU Hyperkyarve C2X Snowboard (Women's, Blem) 2019 — 52% off
Browse current Lib Tech deals →
If you've been hunting NAS skis or a Magne-Traction snowboard at 50%+ off, this is one of the better windows we've seen in a while.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Magne-Traction skis better than regular skis?
Not universally. They're better on hardpack, ice, and wet/firm conditions because the serrated edge creates multiple grip points. On soft, deep powder they can feel grabby. Magne-Traction is a tool — outstanding for some conditions, neutral-to-negative for others.
Will 2007 skis still be safe to ride?
Skis don't have a hard expiration date if they've been stored properly (cool, dry, off the floor). Inspect for delamination at the tip and tail, edge rust, and base damage. A pre-ride tune at a local shop will tell you everything you need to know in 15 minutes.
Why were the Lib Tech NAS skis discontinued?
Lib Tech and parent company Mervin Manufacturing focused production on snowboards, where the brand has dominant market share. The NAS ski line was a smaller program and didn't carry forward. Magne-Traction lives on across nearly every Mervin-built snowboard today.
Park NAS vs. Mt Baker NAS — which one if I can only pick one?
For most riders, Mt Baker NAS is the more versatile pick because it handles a wider range of conditions. Park NAS is the right answer only if you're spending a real percentage of your day in the terrain park or riding switch.
What bindings should I mount?
Any current freeride or freestyle binding with appropriate brake width for the waist of the ski. Talk to a local shop — they'll match the binding's mounting pattern to your boot sole length and confirm the ski's drilling history if it's been previously mounted.