What is a Never Summer Proto? Never heard of it...

 

I have the 2012 skatebanana (159w) and love it, but I have heard good things about the proto as well.

 

I've got both, the skate banana isn't really all mountain at all - more of a fun, forgiving jib stick. IMHO great to learn on and some people I know seem happy on them at speed, but they do chatter. Maybe the attack banana or TRS is worth looking into? Or the riders choice if you want a better base. Attack banana is mellow mag though. Personally if I ever replace mine it will be with a Slash - Happy Place.

Proto is a park board that's pretty versatile and happy anywhere. The camber sections make it feel better on edge than the skate banana, and it is a little more effort for jibs, but not difficult. Doesn't suffer cosmetic damage too easily cos of that nice topsheet. Sintered base is great and their side cut grips just fine. It's a top notch bit of kit, and is really popular nowadays.

I'd say proto all the way. There are more all mountain focus boards in the NS lineup though

 

I mean I'm riding the ice coast so mostly all hard pack the mountains I go to have short runs so I want a playful board that can handle the blacks and is responsive and can hold a sid edge on hard pack but can play around in the park and every where else there's board are very similar just need some advantages or disadvantages to pick the best one so anyone who has ridden these boards any comments?

 

What is your skill level? If you wanna save some money I might sell you mine, its a 2012 156 if I remember correctly. :dunno:

I'd pick a different lib tech board to compare to the proto, they ride nothing alike. You might love how the banana rides. It is very forgiving and really good to learn on like previously stated.

 

For edge hold you want Magne Traction end of story. I have a skate banna and a Never Summer EVO and the VARIO grip is more of a gimmick to be honest. Magne traction works much much better and holds edge so well! If I could recommend a board though it would be a SMOKIN snowboard Super Park.

 

Yeah check out the attack banana or TRS.

 

Rode both of these today.
First time on the Attack Banana.
Personal preference, but I LOVED the AB compared to the TRS. Way more fun to ride and I didn't think it was much less stable than the TRS, if at all.
I have a Skate Banana as well. I'm not so crazy about it for all mountain, but it can be done.

 

Alright well if I go with the skate banana at size 159 it's gonna give me a pretty good stiffness for carving and groomers but if I go with the never summer proto I want to make sure ill be alright all over the mountain with it

 

Sale



This might fit the bill? On eBay

Lib Tech Snowboard 159W Skatebanana $336 | eBay

 

So what do you guys think I've been going through reviews for hours I want a playful board that's still gonna hold up well for the entire mountain with the skate banana at size 159 it's get stiffer than lower sizes making it more stable however the never summer proto seems about the same at size 157. I know the banana manga traction holds the best edge but a lot of people are saying the proto is great park board that can do the whole mountain very well. For hardpack conditions what do you guys think? Basically out of the two which one do you think is going to be more stable at my size options.

 

If you are on IceCost go Lib

 

If you just have to have magne, why not a Rossi Jibsaw? I'd ride that before a Proto any day.

And if you just have to have Mervin, the only two boards from them that have had any life to me were the TRS and the HotKnife.

 

Just came off a Skate Banana and TRS this weekend. Surprisingly, the TRS left me wanting for more. I think the wax job had a lot to do with it as the Skate Banana was brand new and the TRS was used a bit, but the TRS just felt heavier, slower, and less alive.

I switched to the Skate Banana mid day and the rocker really felt lively to me. The edge hold was great and the stability was right there with the TRS, although slightly less stable, but good enough.

I used to have a T-Rice HP and I prefer it to the TRS as they are both pretty stiff, yet I had much more confidence on my T-Rice to charge harder.

Now I'm going off topic, but in terms of your question I believe the Skate Banana is a great go to board for smaller East Coast mountains. I cannot comment on the Proto.

As mentioned above, the Rossi Jibsaw is also a pretty sweet board. It presses better than the Skate Banana and pretty much does it all.

 

maybe a late reply but i had a 2010/11 t.rice 157 and i just recently bought the ns hdx 155 and i love this thing! the t.rice always felt like i was catching a edge and going to faceplant... was never comfortable on it or had any confidence with that board even after 3 years of riding it.

i now have the 2014 proto hdx 155 with my old 2010/2011 rome 390boss bindings and i love this set up.

 

In the same boat. Thinking of getting rid of my Trice HP for a Proto, but curious if vario grip is going to compare with MTX that well. I ride West Coast, so not too concerned about a ton of ice. Just want a more flexible and playful board. Trice just wants to charge...

 

If you want a better comparison at least choose a Lib with one of their hybrid profiles. It'll do just about everything better except pure powder float.