Positives

  • Good Pop and Dampness
  • Fast Base
  • Set Back Inserts

Negatives

  • Loose And Auto Spinny
  • Needs Lots of Back Foot Weight On Groomers

Summary

The Never Summer Shaper Twin is for riders that want to be centered on a tapered directional board but have the option to set it back if it gets really deep. This isn’t for everyone but those that want a mountain freestyle ride mated with a tapered directional freeride board might love it. The 2021 model has the setback inserts which give it a lot better directional float than past models. Update 2023: The Never Summer Shaper Twin hasn't changed since we reviewed this in 2021 so this is still applicable for 2023. 

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Riding Style All Mountain
Riding Level Intermediate - Expert
Fits Boot size (US) 8-10, 10-12
Manufactured in USA by Never Summer
Shape Tapered Directional
Camber Profile Hybrid Rocker
Stance Centered
Approx. Weight Feels Normal
Split No
Powder Good
Base Glide Great
Carving Good
Speed Good
Uneven Terrain Great
Switch Good
Jumps Good
Jibbing Good
Pipe Good
On Snow Feel

Semi-Stable

Turn Initiation

Medium/Fast

Skidded Turns

Semi-Easy

Flex

Medium

Buttering

Semi-Easy

Edge Hold

Hard Snow

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Never Summer Shaper Twin 2021 Written Review Review by The Good Ride

Ethics Statement: We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews and this is our unfiltered opinion. We do make money from the “Where To Buy” links, but this is our best attempt at an honest and objective review from an average riders’ perspective.

How it rides and who it is for

Never Summer Shaper Twin

How This Review Happened: Thanks to the Covid-19 shut down we didn’t get the time we wanted. We borrowed this for an extended demo and will send it back after we get more time on it in better conditions.
Size: 156
Days: 1
Conditions: Late spring wet messy snow after Bachelor re-opened for a few days after the Covid-19 shut down.
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-190lbs)
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV
Insoles: Sandsole Custom InsolesF.I.T. Gameghangers Low Profile , F.I.T. Gamechangers
Bindings: Union Atlas

Set-Up: 22” Wide. 18 front -9 back. Close to Reference and Set all the way back.

Similar Boards (but not the same): Capita Kazu Pro

Sizing

Here are some ideal US boot sizes for these boards. You can of course go bigger or smaller but these again are just the ideal sizes.
151: 9-10

153: 9.5-10.5

156: 10-11

159: 10-11

161- 10-11

Shape/Camber/On Snow Feel/Ability Level

The Never Summer Shaper Twin doesn’t have much that reminds us of a twin when riding. It is a tapered directional shape but the Twin in the name comes into play with the centered stance. For 2021 it added setback inserts and it is a real fun way to ride this board. It is mainly made to ride centered but its fun to ride on the setback inserts to get more weight over the extra camber on the back insert. The hybrid rocker has a very familiar semi-stable feel underfoot that auto spins/feels loose in harder snow but feels pretty stable in softer snow. Anyone can ride it.

Flex/Pop/Buttering

There is a pretty medium flex between the feet that bends pretty easy but the tip/tail feel more med/stiff. It wasn’t the easiest NS board to butter but its very doable without much overall effort. There is a lot of energy/spring on the tip and especially so in the tail of the Never Summer Shaper Twin. So it might be loose/auto spiny in some conditions but it really pops hard off the tail.

Speed

The Never Summer Shaper Twin is a pretty damp ride. However with the tip/tail off the snow it can vibrate in the tip/tail a lot. The good thing is all that dampening tech in the ride doesn’t pass that up into your joints. The base is fast too.

Uneven Terrain

Great for all day resort riding. NS does uneven/messy/micro bumpy snow incredibly well.

Edge Hold

Pretty solid grip that works really well in all but pretty icy snow. The Never Summer Shaper Twin has the same disruption that most boards in their line have. You just need more weight on the back foot to have it hold like other NS boards.

Turn Initiation

So for me, the Never Summer Shaper Twin didn’t turn fast but I’m a size 9 riding a board that is probably best for size 10-11 riders so for me it was medium but for the right boot it would probably be med/fast.

Turning Experience/Carving

With the older models it took a lot of back foot weight to leverage that extra camber on the tail and keep it from washing on a carve. However, with the 2021 Never Summer Shaper Twin you can use the set back inserts if you were in a carvy mood, get more weight over the camber and get a much easier less washy carve. My back leg didn’t have to work as hard which was great.

Powder

So riding the older model in powder was pretty good for being almost centered on board compared to most twins I’ve ridden. There wasn’t directional float like other tapered boards but that isn’t what they are going for. But now with the set back inserts the Never Summer Shaper Twin has pretty strong directional float so if you want to get more of a freeride feel you can.

Conclusion

So overall, the Never Summer Shaper Twin’s addition of the set back inserts really rounds out the ride and gives it an extra dimension. I personally couldn’t get into the feeling of a centered tapered directional ride. I like my twins to be twins and my tapered directional boards to be set back. So I would probably ride this set back and then get on the Proto Synthesis when I’m in a twin mood. That being said, I can see someone who wants extra float than most twins in powder really loving this ride. It would compliment boards like the Proto Synthesis or Proto Slinger and be a good two board quiver for the freestyle ripper. Some might just also like this as their one board quiver.

 
Never Summer Shaper Twin Past Reviews

The Never Summer Shaper Twin is an interesting ride because it’s not really a twin. It’s a centered stance tapered directional ride for those that love twins but want something more slashy off the tail. This was a late release in 2018 so the 2019 and 2020 is the same board but just in more sizes.

Ethics Statement: We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews.  We do make money from the “Where To Buy” links, but this is our best attempt at an honest and objective review from an average riders’ perspective.

Size: 156
Days:  5 (2 with the production model and 3 with the tester)
Conditions: Everything from hard spring groomers to perfect spring groomers, to leftover thick Sierra Powder to deep light fluffy Eastern Cascades Powder
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-195lbs), Jimbo (Size 11, 5’11” 160lbs), Zobel (Size 11.5, 6’ 180lbs
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV, Adidas Acerra, Burton SLXBurton Rover, Burton AMB,
Insoles: Footprint Insole Technology Gamechangers, Footprint Insole Technology Gamechangers Lite
Bindings: Union Atlas, Burton Genesis,
Set Up
: 22.75 to 22.5″” Centered 15 front -15 back

Approximate Weight: Feels normal and NS really has done a lot over the last few years to lighten up their rides without affecting reliability too much.

Flex/Buttering: Feels very medium when you flex it and when you butter it on snow it feels easier than it’s flex

Sizing:  The 156 felt about right and it did a good job with my size 9’s and it can handle up to a size 10 super well.  Between 10-11 seems like it should be ok but I think it likes to be ridden a little wider than you normally would.

On Snow Feel: The Never Summer Shaper Twin has a very unique feel underfoot that puts you in a centered like a twin but needs more weight on the back foot to keep the tapered tail from washing out. It takes a little adjustment time to get used to it and it’s not like any other board in their line. It’s got that same semi-stable feel too that auto spins on you in harder snow one footing/flat basing but then stabilizes in harder snow and tracks much better. It’s a very forgiving ride and very easy to skid turns with.

Edge Hold: Nice reliable grip that you expect from NS.

Turn Initiation: I thought a 26.2 cm waist would be slow but the Never Summer Shaper Twin would transition edge to edge rather quickly.

Turning Experience: It takes some getting used to and I felt it sent me mixed messages turning on groomers.  You feel like you are on a twin, try to turn between the feet or even favor the front foot and then it washes on you with the taper. When you get used to it and keep it more to your back foot it’s got good spring out of a turn.

Carving: As long as you get more weight on the back foot as the carve starts it’s pretty fun but nothing to call mom about.

Speed: Right there with the Proto Type Two and West. It can point it, has a fast base but likes to be on edge instead of flat to the snow.

Uneven Terrain: NS just has all kinds of uneven snow dialed with their dampening system and flex. The Shaper twin is no exception.

Powder: So I got the Shaper Twin in some pretty good powder and it was one of the better days we had in a less than average snowfall season.  I think it floats better than the Proto Type Two or Warlock when it comes to directional centered stance riding. The little 152 Peacemaker, with its powder pack inserts, completely out floated it when it came to directional float. I felt like there was a lot more work on my back foot than other boards out there and I was expecting more float from this shape. It felt pretty close float wise, to the 156 West I’ve ridden a lot but I prefer the set back feel of the West for my style.  I’d love to see the Powder Pack inserts added to this but not sure if that’s what the board was made for.  I like setting it back in powder and think it would be fun with it’s tapered shape but I think its more for those who ride centered and are willing to put in a little more work to keep it up.

Switch: Definitely different but better than you would think for a board with 10mm of taper.

Jumps: Strong pop off the tail and the Never Summer Shaper Twin has enough flex to handle most air that average riders like us would dare.  Even if you are above average and like to go pretty big this should be pretty good. There is a wide platform underfoot that helps you approach and land pretty well.

Jibbing: Doable for sure.

Pipe: Not ideal for me and how I ride the pipe but it’s not bad either.  Just kind of middle ground.

So the Shaper Twin isn’t for everyone but if you like a centered stance approach to riding powder but still want a little more directional float with good pop off the tail this could work.

 
Never Summer Shaper Twin Specs

 
Never Summer Shaper Twin Images

We try to get as many images of the Never Summer Shaper Twin, but forgive us if they're not all there.

2020

2019

2017

Never Summer Shaper Twin User Reviews

Never Summer Shaper Twin 2018-2023 Snowboard Review SKU UPC Model

Make Your Own Tracks!

Mar 22, 2019 by Alicia Crandall
Ability Level: Intermediate - Advanced Rider • 
Riding Style: Pow / TREES! / Groomers • 
Days You Ride A Year: 45 or so • 
Height, Weight And Boot Size (for Boards, Boots & Bindings): 5 foot 6", 152 lbs., 9.5 boot 

The SHAPER TWIN left me lit up after demo'ing several boards on our demo day at Montana Snowbowl. This board has personality! I immediately purchased it the next day. In pow through the trees it flows effortlessly, very easy to steer in and out (like a fast hike in the woods.) Also, it makes its own tracks like no other board I have experienced, it just cuts right through like butter. On moguled out runs the SHAPER TWIN takes the impact smoothly, bouncing without feeling loss of control, like riding a wave. The impact is not heavy or killling my body. And POW down a run, don't get me started! It's heaven my friends. SHAPER TWIN loves powder. It's summer groomer time now and I do not need my other hybrid stiff board! SHAPER TWIN carves and turns on the groomers. I also love how I can spin the board 360 degrees either way over and over without catching an edge. This board also wants to jump and allows a rider the opportunity to explore this. It lands effortlessly. I highly recommend this board. Its playful and lights me up. I am age 46 and have been riding 25 years. This board is my new crush. I just love it.


Oct 31, 2018 by Steph
Ability Level: Expert • 
Riding Style: Park / Groomers / Pow • 
Days You Ride A Year: 20-30 

The Shaper Twin is one of the best boards I ever rode. Loved it in every condition! Rode this board for about 5 days testing last season and I was blown away by it's versatility. The one thing that stands out by this board is it's carving ability. On groomers it carves like no other board i rode so far, as you can see it won the award for best carving board in the black board experiment. Here I disagree with some points in the review from thegoodride. I think the board ist underrated - I tested it against the Proto Type Two and for the more aggressive and experienced rider the shaper twin is in my opinion the better choice!! ;)


5.0 5.0 2 2 The SHAPER TWIN left me lit up after demo'ing several boards on our demo day at Montana Snowbowl. This board has personality! I immediately purchased it the next day. In pow throu Never Summer Shaper Twin 2018-2023 Snowboard Review

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