NEVER SUMMER · Proto T3 Eclipse Snowboard
Proto T3 Eclipse Snowboard
25/26 season
Colour
Color makeup
Multicolour
Design
Illustration
Expert reviews 2
The Never Summer Proto T3 Eclipse is an all-mountain board that's strong on hardpack. Grip and damping are excellent and it responds well, but a near-centred stance gives up powder capability. It suits intermediate and above riders in environments with frequent ice or highly variable snow.
Base shape (camber)
Hybrid camber
A modified Recurve camber with early rise added. Camber is slightly reduced, but it produces a feel close to full camber without catching an edge. Nose float is increased over the previous Cougar.
StiffnessHigher means stiffer
A medium-stiff flex at 7 out of 10. The nose and tail are soft while the area between the feet and the centre are stiff. Good damping absorbs broken-up snow well.
Where it shines
Who it suits
For intermediate to expert riders. It can cruise relaxedly and still has the range not to bore advanced riders who push it.
Good
- ✓Outstanding grip on hardpack and ice
- ✓Good damping absorbs broken-up snow well
- ✓Fast base glide once waxed
- ✓Good turn-entry response, making ollie pop easy to call on
Not so good
- —Insufficient setback makes it unsuitable for powder-centred riders
- —A tendency for the tail to wash out on front-foot-weighted carves has been reported
- —Weaker pop than the discontinued Cougar it follows
- —Switch performance is limited
The Never Summer Proto T3 Eclipse is a board tuned in a freeride direction on the all-mountain character of the bestselling Prototype 3, providing powerful carving and powder float at once through a triple camber recurve profile and a carbon matrix. It's optimised for intermediate to advanced riders enjoying groomers, powder and backcountry broadly, and it retains some freestyle elements, making it a versatile all-mountain freeride deck.
Base shape (camber)
Hybrid camber
A triple camber recurve profile — a camber-dominant construction with three camber pockets: ahead of and behind the bindings and between the feet. Flat sections just before the contact points make edge transitions smooth and catch-free, and it has a directional shape (long nose, short tail, 10mm taper).
StiffnessHigher means stiffer
STS pre-tensioned fibreglass and a Precision Stitch carbon matrix give it strong snap, pop and high torsional stiffness — a medium-stiff flex. It keeps some freestyle elements while leaning freeride overall.
Where it shines
Who it suits
A camber-dominant construction and the high responsiveness and strong edge hold from its carbon matrix suit intermediate to advanced riders, and beginners may find it hard to handle.
Good
- ✓Powerful edge hold and smooth carving performance from the triple camber construction
- ✓Excellent float in powder and backcountry from 10mm of taper and a long nose
- ✓Excellent pop, power and stability from the Precision Stitch carbon matrix and STS fibreglass
- ✓The RDS2 damping system suppresses chatter during high-speed carving
Not so good
- —Freestyle and park performance is somewhat limited compared with the original Prototype 3
- —Its camber-dominant construction can be tricky for beginners to handle
