Review: Never Summer Snowtrooper Snowboard · 2023
By Ski Expert
Jarod Russell
Never Summer Snowtrooper Snowboard · 2023
$359.99
$599.99
40% off
5 photos
The Curated Take
4.9/5
The Never Summer Snowtrooper Snowboard is ideal for advanced riders seeking versatility. It excels off-piste, particularly on deep powder days, offering excellent flotation. This board turns effortlessly, even in deep snow, and maintains high-speed stability. Its carving capabilities shine on groomed terrain. While the topsheet durability could be slightly better, it handles wear and tear well. Overall, the Snowtrooper proves to be a playful and durable all-mountain board, making it a great investment for those who enjoy a variety of terrains and conditions.
Ideal for
- All-mountain board that can float
- Great for deep powder days on steeper terrain
- Can be ridden off-piste with carving opportunities
Not ideal for
- Durability of the topsheet could be slightly better; it's starting to chip
Turn Ease
When riding this board, I only have to think about turning, and the Snowtrooper is already heading where I want to go. When I begin to turn my foot, I...Read more
Playfulness
This board practically begs to be ridden through the trees, down chutes, and in the deep powder. When it's a storm day, and the clouds dump powder, I grab this...Read more
Durability
I am careful with my gear and try my best to keep it in good condition, and this board has held up fantastic to everything I have sent it through....Read more
High Speed Stability
I like to ride fast if the conditions are right, and this past season, my friends and I competed for the fastest rider. I came out victorious, and I believe...Read more
Carving
When the clouds give free refills, and I want to carve all over the fresh snow, this is the tool to grab. It floats and carves through the snow like...Read more
Versatility
I have two boards, one for early and late-season riding and the Snowtrooper for everything else. It was important to find a board that could handle everything I could throw...Read more
Flotation
With all the snow dumped in the Sierra Nevada Mountains for the 22/23 season, I was afraid I had chosen the wrong board. I knew it was an all-mountain board...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Jarod Russell
About the snowboard gear
- Model: Never Summer Snowtrooper Snowboard · 2023
Test conditions
- When I bought this: Fall 2022
- Where I’ve used it: Sierra Nevada Mountains, Lake Tahoe, and Mammoth.
- What conditions I've used it in: Mostly deep powder days with a few bluebird days on groomed terrain at the end of the season.
- How many times I've used it: 25
Expert Reviews of the Never Summer Snowtrooper Snowboard
Jarod Russell The Never Summer Snowtrooper is a great board for advanced boarders. This board crushes it off-piste in the trees on powder days. Even on the spring groomer days, the Snowtrooper is playful and fun to ride. The flotation on this board is impressive. The front of the board wants to lift even in deep snow, which helps me power through the deeper powder and not get stuck in the flats. We had the most snow in Lake Tahoe this season in 53 years. With so many powder days, I boarded some rarely-hit terrain. One day this season, I hit a fresh lap in a double black chute while it was almost white-out snowing, and when I came back for a second lap, I could not even tell I had just been there. Being in the trees with all the snow falling around me was a great feeling. I had no worries about getting stuck or being unable to handle the deep powder we were getting (1-3ft).
Product Specs
| Age Group | Adult |
| Gender | Men's |
| Model year | 2023 |
| Snowboard type | All Mountain |
| Skill level | Intermediate, Advanced |
| Rocker profile | Camber/Rocker/Camber |
Review Ratings
Turn Ease
5/5
Jarod Russell gave 5 of 5 stars. When riding this board, I only have to think about turning, and the Snowtrooper is already heading where I want to go. When I begin to turn my foot, I feel the Snowtrooper ease into a turn very smoothly. The edges are a good shape that will catch and hold to pull me through the turn but will slide after the initial grab. I have yet to have an issue turning on this board.
Playfulness
5/5
Jarod Russell gave 5 of 5 stars. This board practically begs to be ridden through the trees, down chutes, and in the deep powder. When it's a storm day, and the clouds dump powder, I grab this board before any other. It is playful even in powder, but when I take it through the freestyle terrain areas in the resorts around Tahoe, I end the run with a smile. It is just a blast to ride. The Snowtrooper is a stiff board that helps in chunky terrain but pops when I need it over those kickers and jumps.
Durability
4/5
Jarod Russell gave 4 of 5 stars. I am careful with my gear and try my best to keep it in good condition, and this board has held up fantastic to everything I have sent it through. However, accidents happen, and one time, I dropped the board, putting it in a rack, and noticed a chip in the topsheet that went down a few layers. Although not large, I sealed the area. I would like to think a board as nice as this could handle a bit of wear and tear.
High Speed Stability
5/5
Jarod Russell gave 5 of 5 stars. I like to ride fast if the conditions are right, and this past season, my friends and I competed for the fastest rider. I came out victorious, and I believe a big part of that was the Snowtrooper. I felt very comfortable at high speeds and at no point thought I could not handle a run. Overall, the wide base slows the board a bit but also helps keep me stable over uneven terrain.
Carving
5/5
Jarod Russell gave 5 of 5 stars. When the clouds give free refills, and I want to carve all over the fresh snow, this is the tool to grab. It floats and carves through the snow like a surfboard on a wave. At no point have I felt that anything was too deep or I could not traverse across the slope. Even on groomers, the edge engages at just the right points to allow the freedom of movement where someone can see their fresh tracks behind them cutting through that corduroy. The edge grabs then slides, allowing the board to carve with ease.
Versatility
5/5
Jarod Russell gave 5 of 5 stars. I have two boards, one for early and late-season riding and the Snowtrooper for everything else. It was important to find a board that could handle everything I could throw at it. I like to have an adventure on the hill, and many last-second decisions are made on the route to the bottom. This board can handle it all and has not disappointed me yet.
Flotation
5/5
Jarod Russell gave 5 of 5 stars. With all the snow dumped in the Sierra Nevada Mountains for the 22/23 season, I was afraid I had chosen the wrong board. I knew it was an all-mountain board and would float a bit, but I thought I'd need a more dedicated powder board to handle what we were getting. Boy, I was wrong. No matter how much snow falls from the sky, this board does not disappoint. I had flotation for days this past season. I carved fresh tracks all day, and it was a trooper through the snow.
FAQs
What do you love about this product?
Jarod Russell The Never Summer Snowtrooper board is great for many reasons, but I love that it is a stiff board with enough width to get through the deepest powder. When I want to slash off-piste, it cuts through everything in front of it. It, indeed, is an all-mountain board.
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Jarod Russell My favorite moment with this board was in the spring during a storm, when I found a section at Palisades where the lift was just opened on a powder day, and the snow was so deep that it felt like surfing but on snow. The board handled so well. I made it farther through the powder than my friends and got fresh tracks all morning.
Why did you choose this product?
Jarod Russell What drew me to the Snowtrooper was the stiffness and ability to handle challenging terrain while also being able to ride powder and deep snow. The off-piste areas are the most fun in the Sierras, so having a board that can handle the terrain is important. I have no complaints when I occasionally take it on groomers, but the board wants to be ridden in the fun, deep, face-blasting powder.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Jarod Russell The Jones Flagship is a good comparison. Both have similar price points, but based on the performance of the Snowtrooper, I would expect a higher price for the edge hold, stability at high speed, and flotation. I have no buyer's regret.
