Location: Winter Park, CO
Snow Conditions: Hardpacked snow conditions that softened up during the day with bluebird skies.
Setup: I rode the Never Summer Evo with Union Force bindings and Vans Veil Boots size 8.
Size: 155cm.
First Impression: The evo is still that board I enjoy riding and getting back on for a good all around ride.
Weight: average
Flex: In 09-10 the evo was softened up a bit and in 10-11 it keeps the same flex as 09-10 which I’ve grown used to in the last year. The softer flex makes it the more park boards it’s meant to be, softer flex between the bindings and torsionally softer so a more easy forgiving ride on the mountain. The stiffer flex underfoot helps handle the charging moments or freeriding. The evo features RC Technology so it’s a mix of rocker and camber, rocker between the feet and camber just outside of the bindings helps give the evo a more stable feeling but also the playfulness of a rocker board. For 10-11 the RC tech has some changes with a flat area outside of the camber to the tail but it doesn’t change the ride, keeps with the contact points lifted and same forgiving ride.
Turning: Easy to initiate turns with on the evo, it’s softer torsionally so you can get quicker edge to edge. Once in a turn, it’s really easy to get into an edge and hold a carve throughout a turn. The evo sidecut lets you get really quick short radius turns but also hold a longer radius turn without feeling like it won’t handle it.
Stable: It’s one of those park boards that can still charge, some dampening to help asborb rougher/bumpy terrain which I encountered during the demos. Outside of park it can hold it’s own and I’ve taken it on some powder days where if needed, it’s rideable and will handle the conditions. Overall it does pretty good for a park board, stable on turns and icy conditions the vario grip helps hold an edge better.
Pop: The evo has some decent pop to it, easy to pop ollies with and get response out of. In the park it doesn’t catch on boxes or rails with the contact points lifted up and the rocker gives it good playfulness for tricks.
Switch: The evo rides like the true twin that it is, easy to maneuver into switch and no difference in how it handles whether regular or switch riding.
Overall Impression: The evo continues to be that park board from Never Summer that’s built tough but also with the RC gives the evo a variety of riding options in and out of the park. It can handle cruising but with the softer flex you can make the mountain your park.
Shay’s Honesty Box: The evo is that board that I know, it’s dialed in my opinion and I love going back to riding it whether it’s a park day or just a freeride day. During the demos I just felt like taking a break, getting some laps in on a board I already knew and the evo was that board I grabbed up to take out.
Ready to buy? Head over to evo for the Never Summer Evo or shop their full line of Never Summer snowboards
On Snow Photo
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Never Summer Evo description
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Review Disclosure: I rode this board at a demo day.
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idshred
April 13, 2010 at 8:41 amshay, This catalog shows that Never Summer is changing their r.c. tech a little bit for next year. Zoom in on the second page, it shows a flat spot between the cambered area and the tip. Do you know if that is still going to happen? Was the Evo not going to be changed??
http://www.zuzupopo.com/xe/?mid=catalog&search_target=tag&search_keyword=1011&page=2&document_srl=23648
Shay
April 13, 2010 at 8:51 amidshred, the tech is a bit different for RC but it doesn’t impact how it rides, the contact points are still lifted up so you don’t catch as easily. I didn’t notice any major changes from the flat spot in the handling which is why it doesn’t ride like there’s a change. Fixed the review to be a bit more clear.
JR
April 13, 2010 at 10:04 amGotta say in my opinion the flat spots in the tip/tail transition do effect the way the board rides. It feels more hooky to me and i feel like i ride it more like a traditional camber board than the Evo/Revolver of last year. Also, if you get on the flat spots while jibbing the board has a tendency to turn on ya. But i will say the flat spots are a GREAT launch pad for popping. Much more efficent energy transfer for boosting.
Shay
April 13, 2010 at 10:08 amInteresting you thought it was way more hooky in how it rode JR. I’ve been on the evo without getting that hooky feeling from the flat area but different riders feel different things. I didn’t feel like the evo was a different ride from last year’s so it’ll be interesting to see what others think once they get on it.
Francis
April 13, 2010 at 12:24 pmIn my opinion, there is no change from last year R.C., it is just probably another marketing design picture to by on the same paste to other competitors like Flat Kick (Capita) and so on… just to describe the tech funny this year and different…;) Every other company have their own style to market the tech… Burton makes me laugh sometimes how they can be grabber of words but still funny at the end. (Chillydog and so on… this is an example of copy paste done over Lib Tech using Banana Tech.)
jr
April 13, 2010 at 4:14 pmshay- you are right, different riders feel different things, but i put about 90 days on this years revolver before i started riding the 2011 revovler for the past 30 or so days and can defintley feel a difference in how they ride. not saying bad, just not the same.
francis- there is definitely a difference in RC tech this year no doubt. if you run your hand alonf the base you can very obviously tell where the flat spot transition is.
Shay
April 13, 2010 at 4:22 pmJR, I’ve been on the lotus for the same amount of time and no difference for me on that board from last year either. Could just be the revolver or just that board if you are riding a prototype/test version.
Francis
April 13, 2010 at 5:23 pmJR you may be right, do not know cause never rode it… and It is possible that a company change a bit every year… but also I know that company are really good to Marketing the product to feel us that we need to change 😉 and They will use any words to let us dream 😉 but Yeah even if NS as changed or used funny word and graphic 😉 I am putting in my list the Raptor 159cm for my next Freeride machine with the BSOD and maybe the Heritage 155cm for my all mountain freestlyle 😉 will not be easy to decide myselft 😉
Shay, good to know that if there is a small changed if there is 😉 it is not so noticeable 😉
jr
April 13, 2010 at 7:58 pmshay pretty sure the revolver i have is production. i know the raptor and herritage x i had were non production with different core mixes.
francis, not to sound like a dick, buti know im right in the fact the rc tech has been changed, its not just marketing. you can litteraly feel the flat spot on the base. and not just mine, but my buddys evo and a herritage x from next year i had for a while you can feel it. not every company has to do bs marketing to get the flock of sheep to drink their cool-aid (mervin and capita for example).
KLEVELAND_KILLA
April 14, 2010 at 9:03 ami recently bought the 09-10 evo-r and i luv it. the amount of flex and butteryness is unbelievable. i learned how to spin on rails/boxes the 2nd day out on it. the amount of pop experienced on jumps is still relatively good considering it is super buttery. i have a had a few problems adjusting my turning radius and how much i dig into my turns with this stick, however, ive ridden way worse. overall, the best stick ive ever purchased. highly recommend u try 1, youll be hooked instantly
Drew
April 16, 2010 at 11:21 amJR and Shay,
I wanted to get a revolver and had to pick, which one would you recommned 09-10 or 10-11
Vince
April 21, 2010 at 10:41 pmJust to clarify things, our RC tech other than the Raptor which is a new profile is unchanged for 2010/11. The flat areas have always been there, we are just marketing the benefits now. Which is reducing drag and edge grab, having the camber end 2″ shy of the effective edge allow the board to glide and not plow against the snow and make it less likely to catch an edge. Like Shay you shouldn’t feel any difference from last year to next’s Revolver since profile and sidecut is unchanged. We are constantly working on modifying our cores to create a lighter underfoot feel while maintaining durability. So Drew either way you will be stoked on your Revolver but this late in the season I would wait for the 2011. Any questions feel free to contact me vince@neversummer,com
JpBergeron
April 22, 2010 at 4:40 pmVince would certainly know- he’s our production manager!
lukas
November 1, 2010 at 10:02 amJust wondering how catchy the EVO is on rails. I’m looking @ buying one but I’m hearing mixed things on how it works on rails,boxes…. Thanks for the help.
Shay
November 1, 2010 at 7:18 pmLukas, I’ve ridden the evo all summer in the park and felt fine on it. It’s smart to detune if you don’t want to worry about that either. It’s a board meant for rails.
wraithzzz
November 2, 2010 at 7:09 amShay, your board reviews are a great thing, especially since shops here just don’t do demo days. This year i looking to upgrade my ride and find myself really stuck between boards GNU Danny Kass, NS Revolver and Stepchild’s Chiborg or Salary man in RC for heir killer art, though I’m afraid that 155 is going to be a tad small for me.
As far as i understand the tech in those boards is fairly identical with the differences being Magna on the GNU, indestructible base of the NS and the stepchild being just rocker without any camber.
I’m a fairly big guy at 200 lbs and 6’1″ with size 12 Vans Cirro boots and do have a 166 cm Heritage for those rare trips to the real mountains, and don’t do much park but i really want to play around more on the small runs and off kickers, since we don’t have much mountains round Moscow. I also plan to upgrade this year to Union Forces thanks to your reviews.
Keither
November 4, 2010 at 10:15 amwraithzz:
Go with the Danny Kass… or the Revolver. Those are far better boards than the Stepchilds. Magnetraction is the bomb. Best tech invented straight up. You detune the shit out of it, and it rides like a sharp normal edge. And awesome for spraying unexpected skiers 😉 Just a suggestion, with those big feet, you might wanna look at the Lib Tech TRice. It’s a midwide like the Revolver and will get rid of that nasty toe drag you probably have with a normal board. For your size, you may find the Revolver a little soft compared to the DK or Trice. IMHO for what you are going to be doing, go with the 158 Danny Kass or the 157 TRice. Both are kick ass boards.
Keither
November 4, 2010 at 10:16 amoh yeah good choice on the Forces, easy 100+ day binding
Shay
November 4, 2010 at 8:25 pmWraith, for your size 12’s the DK won’t cut it on the waist width and the salary man is a midwide which only comes in the largest of a 155, the chiborg doesn’t come in wide. The revolver comes in bigger sizes and definitely enough waist width. Really the question is what do you want out of the board, are you looking for a park specific board? Or something for all over the mountain? Do you want something soft or stiffer? Really a lot depends on your riding preference and then making sure the ww suits you.
Keither, have you ridden stepchild?
Rico
November 5, 2010 at 7:20 amHey Shay, I’m looking at purchasing this board or the SL for my next board? How does the evo and sl flex compare to the Machete (currently riding this)? I’m really torn between these 2 boards. I’m 5’5″ 150lbs riding mostly in Whistler. I ride mostly groomers, like to carve and want to start learning small jumps, 180 and 360s. I asked Vince about this and he said to go with the Evo but it seems the SL would suit me well too.
Rico
November 5, 2010 at 7:21 amEDIT: I also like doing some presses/butters
mervinsnow
November 5, 2010 at 12:50 pmHi Rico
Well, because you also want to presses/butters as well…. the king of the board in NS will be EVO for sure… Depending if you want more fun fun factor it will be EVO if you want more groom runs and speed SL… but both can carve well in my opinion But at your shape I guess Vince is right EVO 155 will give you everything you want +++ and even carve runs plus all the freestyle you need for presses/butters and powder… plus the EVO is so rad color in 2011. Just to let you know I am also looking for NS in 2011 but I am more big mountain Freestyle so I will go for NS Heritage 158 (5’10 at 170lbs) NS have so much good quiver choice in 2011. Francis
Rico
November 5, 2010 at 1:08 pmHey thanks for the reply Francis. Hopefully I can demo both boards if I get the chance. I’m more stoked on the Evo but it just seems that the SL will suit my riding style better lol.
mervinsnow
November 5, 2010 at 1:23 pmHi Rico,
I understand your dilemma not easy but go with you feeling too… maybe in Whistler you will be able to demo… and if you do all mountain riding not allways in Park… of course the SL 155 is certainly a machine 😉 here more info on EVO. copy paste these two links.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwdtotVmJG4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN1rp1saGRE
Francis
Shay
November 9, 2010 at 7:49 amRico, NS usually demos at Whistler but I only know of them being at Telus Festival in April every year. Not sure what shops there might have them, but you could try that route.
Here’s my biggest differences for evo/SL. Evo is softer and less damp than the sl, it’s also a twin versus directional. Dampness helps when you get to bumpy, choppy terrain and the SL would hold better through it, absorb it is the best way to describe it. The evo you’d feel it. If you want a board similiar to the machete, I’d say it’s the evo and it can handle your riding but of course its’ a park board so unless your riding park the majority, the SL might give you less work and more play on the mountain. Personally for me, I prefer the evo over the SL just by preferences. The SL is a fine board but I like how the evo rides and is so fun and playful.
Rico
November 9, 2010 at 8:16 amHey Shay thanks for the reply. Thats what I figure too after watching NS team movie, most of the team guys rides the Evo/Revolver and it seems so much fun. I don’t do park or I might learn just small features this season. I just can’t get the Evo out of my mind. If the Evo’s dampness is about the same as the Machete I think that should be fine. I consider my machete to be pretty damp.
Kevin
November 29, 2010 at 12:45 pmYou gotta help me out! I can’t decide on the SL or the Evo. I spend most of my time on groomers and I always hit the park on my way down the mountain. I can’t decide on the SL or the Evo…Thoughts, advice, or tips?
Shay
November 29, 2010 at 8:27 pmKevin, Hmm tough for sure. Have you compared sizes specs for both boards. I own the evo and love riding it on groomers and then playing in the park which it handles. It’s a softer board so really depends on what you are looking for.
Francis
November 30, 2010 at 4:51 pmHi Shay,
I do you the same dilemma of Kevin… was thinking too EVO or SL in 158 cm ( I am 5’10” 178 pds) (9US boots) I guess on the SL you can charge and go faster on groomers? I know it is about flex but about the damping? is that really different?
thanks
Shay
December 1, 2010 at 10:48 pmCompared to each other, the SL is stiffer and has more dampening so it absorbs rougher terrain better. Check out the specs and see which one might work better.
Duckforest
December 6, 2010 at 12:18 amHi Shay,
I was wondering if the Evo could be ridden as an all mountain board? I’ve been riding an old Option Sansalone for a few years now, and I want something that I can play around with. On my old board, for some reason, I was never able to ride switch (maybe because it was a directional twin?) but I can definitely charge down the mountain on my regular stance. I read your review on the NS SL and although it suits more my style of riding I believe you said riding switch on it was a little difficult. I really want to be able to learn how to ride switch this year and looking for an all mountain freestyle board.
Would the Evo be a good choice? Other boards I’m considering are the T.Rice and Danny Kass.
Thanks
Tyler
December 7, 2010 at 7:46 pmLike many other people, I also have a very hard decision of picking the SL or the Evo. I spend most to all of my day in the park, equally on jumps and rails. I was going to get the 153(IM 5′ 8″ and 135 pounds). Im leaning towards the evo, theres just one question I got, My friend who has the sl said that I wouldn’t be able to spin on big jumps with the evo, Anyone care to expand on that to help me make this very hard decision?
Shay
December 9, 2010 at 5:37 pmTyler, evo definitely sounds like the board for you for your park laps. Your friend who has the SL and said that is full of BS. Ask if they’ve ever ridden the evo and find out why. I’ve ridden both and the swing weight is fine on both so no reason why you wouldn’t be able to spin on the big jumps. It’s a softer board so definitely landings on big jumps you might have to adjust to stomp.
Shay
December 24, 2010 at 10:21 pmDuckforest, yes it can be ridden as all mountain. I’ve owned the 155cm in the past and rode it as all mtn for the majority of the season. Definitely having a true twin makes switch easy.
Johan
December 28, 2010 at 5:01 pmGoin for the Evo. I’m 6’2″ and 165 lbs. Currently riding a 155. Which size would you recommend? Park rider
Johan
December 28, 2010 at 6:21 pmsize 10 btw
Shay
December 28, 2010 at 6:40 pmJohan, Sweet on going for the evo. You could go for the 155 or the 151, 151 if you want a smaller jib board, 155 if you want more stability for jumps. I’ve ridden both, I’d probably do 151 for straight up park and 155 if you ride more all mountain with it.
Johan
December 29, 2010 at 2:22 amThanks! I’m afraid that 151 will be to small. Think i’ve read that the 153 had a 244 mm waist. Thats quite small since im goin for 390 Boss bindnings L/XL. Don’t wanna go for the revolver either, that waist is to wide for me, 260 mm on 153.
If m choosin between those lenghts you recommended, 153 should a even better option?
Im going for the park really, would say im 80% park 20% pow, but because im goin to whistler for 6 months it should really be able to handle pow. Don’t want any all mountain, it should just be able to hold up some pow lines at the end of the day. But the board is basically for jibbing, mostly boxes and rails but also 20-50 ft jumps. Love soft flexy buttery fun boards! Goin from a burton blunt 10′ and that was really pleasin me in how playful it was.. blah blah blah. Bottom line, should i go for Evo? Will it give me that playful feelin i crave? Choosin between youngblood, horrorscope, rome artifact, sub zero or the Evo.
Thanks!
Jay
January 8, 2011 at 2:21 amHey Shay!
Torn between the Evo, SL & the Revolver. I’m an all around cruiser, love to carve around (short and long radius), just got into flatland/groomer butters, 180s and riding switch, i like to hit the little random jumps that pop up along the side on groomed runs and I’ll hit the throttle and just bomb down the mountain at times. Also love mashing through the pow and cutting through the trees. I’m 5’8″ and about 150lbs… I previously had an ’09-’10 156cm Skate Banana which I loved… but I discovered that the 156 was too heavy and too stiff for me… I totally want something smaller and with MORE FLEX to play around but also with all mountain capabilities. Might even possibly just go with a smaller Skate Banana (153)… but I’ve had my eyes on the 3 aforementioned NS boards for a while now (mostly the Evo). Help a brotha out! Thanks!
Jay
January 8, 2011 at 2:46 amTotally have my eyes set on the Evo 153. I’m a 9 1/2 boot… would that be a good board for my needs? Or would any of the prospective latter work? Thanks again.
Jeremy
January 10, 2011 at 3:02 amJay:
You should be fine with 153, the waist is 24.4cm, you can go with 155 if you are worried 2cm wouldn’t make that much of a difference. The Evo is the softest out of all and it is very playful.
Jay
January 11, 2011 at 7:43 amThanks Jeremy. Yeah, I picked up the Evo at Evo Seattle a few days ago. Ha! Went with the Evo 155. I have the Union Forces bindings and the Dakine stomp pad all set up. Been buttering and jumping with it in the living room… Ready to hit it up tomorrow!
Jay
January 14, 2011 at 2:06 amoops my bad… i went with the 153 and not the 155. lovin’ it!
Pedro
January 20, 2011 at 3:28 pmHello there!
I’m looking for an all mountain board focused on park, jibbing and not too big kickers. I prefer twin shape for better switch riding. I’m small, about 5.5 and 132 lbs, so I thought about a 147-149 board. My biggest doubt is between an Evil Twin and the Never Summer EVO. I’m also considering the GNU Street Series, but the other ones seems better for me. I never tried TBT, but it looks like the sickest base tech out there! What would you say?
Shay
January 20, 2011 at 6:58 pmPedro, definitely all the boards you mention are built for park and true twin shapes so just gotta decide what you would like for the specs of the board, reverse camber, TBT or rocker. From there you’ll be able to decide what board you like best. I’d see if your local shop has any of the boards so you could demo them first.
Pedro
January 21, 2011 at 3:58 pmHey Shay, thanks for the answer!
Actually it’s pretty hard for me to demo a board, cause I live in Brazil. The problem is that I don’t know which tech would be better for me. I am not an advanced rider, but I like to jump everywhere I can, go off piste, ride switch, ollie, 180 and 360… And usually I spend most of my time in the park, that why I’m looking for a park focused board, that it should be fine in all mountain, cause I’ll just have one board and also like to ride some pow and get some speed down the moutain. I guess my choice might be decided by a buying opportunite, the one I find with lower price or any good deal. My main concern about the TBT is the icy riding and how it goes on rails. I saw a review of the “Kings of Jibs 2011” but there was no TBT boards and the EVO got the 1st place with pretty nice scores in everything, it looks like a complete board. The GNU Street series was 2nd and Park Pickle the 3rd. And almost any review I read people love the EVO and TBT but a few don’t like much the TBTs. From what I’ve been looking (lots of reviews, videos, opinions etc) looks like the EVO might be better for an all mountain board, including pow riding and so. One thing that catches my attention on the Bataleon is that many people are so in love with it, they talk about it like it was the most perfect thing in the world and everyone needs to try it, I guess some people even might want to have sex with their TBT boards! This makes me really wanna try it.
About the size you thing it’s ok to go for one of these? I thought about getting a Custom V Rocker Youth (145W) that is pretty cheap, but it might be too small, what do you thnk?
Sorry for the big text.. I guess this doubt is making me a little bit crazy!
Thanks again!
Cheers!
Shay
January 21, 2011 at 9:16 pmI’ve ridden the evo in pow and park, it’s definitely a softer park board but the reverse camber will help in pow. My time on TBT, those boards rally on edge and carving.
What’s your weight, boot size? That’ll help determine size. I wouldn’t get a youth board unless you are a youth. Definitely look around to see which boards are easier to get and in your price range, that’ll determine a lot too. All the boards you mention are solid boards.
Pedro
January 21, 2011 at 9:41 pmDamn! More I read, more doubts I get.. I’m really leaning for an Omatic Wigglestick now, seems pretty cool and even better than TBT. One thing that worries me is the setback, this can make a big difference for switch riding? What I most want in a board is a nice catch free feeling, aiming it for jibbing boxes, rails and landing spins. Which one would be better for this? A smooth riding across different type of snow comes in second (hard pack, moguls, chopy, icy..). After that I chose speed stability, and for last powder riding. A good flex would be nice too, but I guess in terms of “popness” and “butterness” those boards are pretty similar…
Thanks for the answer Shay!!
Pedro
January 22, 2011 at 1:05 amHey! I was also looking for the Nitro Sub Pop.. Basically I look for those ones with the better catch free system for rails and spins landing.. Damn there are so many!!