Review: 2012 Never Summer Evo - Snowboarding Forum

Leo · 03-02-2011, 07:10 AM

Introduction
Alright, so I got some good seshes on this bad boy including a day in the trees jibbing logs, bonking barrels, and clearing (or not clearing lol) gaps. I have to mention that this board turned a lot of eyes which is a good sign seeing as how Never Summer has yet to become popular in Michigan. I was able enlighten people on this brand and this particular board. Even gave the Proto a plug in the conversations

. One local lifty even recognized that I was on a 2012 Evo and was very stoked to see it. Good stuff. By the way, you'll see me make some quick comparisons to the Proto here and there since a lot of you want to know. So without further ado:

Setup
Board: 2012 Never Summer Evo 157
Bindings: 2011 Rome 390 Boss L/XL
Boots: 2011 Burton Restricted Hail 9.5 US
Stance: +18/-12 Regular @ 23.5"

I am 5'9, 180lbs.

Handling
Right off the bat this board felt more playful. I almost want to say it felt like it had more rocker to it than the Proto. I think that's doubtful though. Maybe it was just the softer flex. Maybe I'm just imagining things because I had this mindset that it's a jib board from the start. Whatever the case, it's buttery fun.

On the subject of butters, pressing this board was an absolute blast. Started working on my nose grab, nose presses and I was able to get the tail lifted pretty decent. The blunted tips, like on the Proto, really did affect the swing weight positively. Flat spins and 180's off hips were awesome on this board.

Edge to edge was quicker than the Proto due to the softer torsional flex which I'll get into in a moment. Short to medium carves were quick and smooth and the edges engaged effortlessly due to my now favorite, NS Rocker Camber shape. However, on long, drawn out carves on steeper runs, there was noticeable board chatter. Needless to say, my legs got rocked and I did wash out at the end (I did hold the heel edge for a long time though). I did find a simple solution to this problem; I just made sure to keep transitioning to the other edge before things got too sketchy. Keep in mind that the Evo isn't meant for bombing anyway.

I had the opportunity to jib some 20'ish logs on the Evo. Awesome! I was right in my initial assumption that this board was going to be a great jibstick. The lively feel of the Evo provided that much needed feedback for jibs. When I locked on, I knew I locked on. The second things got sketchy, I instantly felt it and was able to just ride off instead of fighting for it and possibly eating snow turds.

I didn’t hit the park with the Evo so I didn’t hit any kickers with it. No regrets though as I was having too much fun hitting any and every natural feature I could. I jumped a few gaps though and landings on those were smooth and stable. Just like with the Proto, the Evo was forgiving on some of the sloppy landings. The biggest gap I hit was more like a drop. It was only a gap because of exposed grass. I’d say it was a good 10-15’ drop.

Finally, I rode the Evo through a lot of trees. Believe it or not, Crystal Mt in none other than Thompsonville, MI has a lot of tree runs! The playfulness of the Evo really shined here. I prefer softer boards in the trees, especially torsionally softer ones, so I can really whip my turns around with minimal effort. I don't bomb down tree lines so stability is rarely an issue for me here. I like to olly, jib, and bonk whatever I can during them so the soft flex is a benefit. On the same note, I don't want the board to be so soft that I wash out on every little bump. The Evo was just right.

Pop
The Evo excelled in this area. The Proto is more snappy, but the Evo still ranks up there with the best of them. A little harder to initiate and I attribute that to the softer flex of the board. I always felt that I have to work a little harder for my ollies on any soft board. I believe it has more to do with my technique though as I have favored mid-stiff boards over the years. Softer boards are a more recent love of mine.

Flex/Camber Profile
I’m going to give this board about a 4.5/10 flex on my personal scale. Keep my weight and board size above in mind though. Torsionally, this board is soft. In fact, I was able to lift just my front toe side slightly off the ground while standing.

The camber profile? It’s Never Summer’s R.C. It is awesome and it works. Rocker between the feet with a positive camber zone that starts just outside the bindings. For comparison, the camber zone has more bite than a C2’s. This means that Never Summer boards carve better and have more pop than equivalent C2 boards. In my opinion of course.

Other Thoughts
Honestly, I didn’t think the Evo was the board for me. I had convinced myself that it is purely for jibbing. After taking it into the trees, I quickly realized that this board can do so much more than just rail all day. In fact, I prefer the Evo over the Proto for tree runs. The softer torsional flex on the Evo really helps out in the tighter areas. That’s not to say that the Proto is horrible in the trees, quite the contrary actually. In a side-by-side comparison, the Proto was noticeably lighter. However, the Evo is not in the least bit heavy. It is actually lighter than a lot of the 2012 boards I demoed.

Conclusions
The combination of the flex, RC, and dampening on the Evo made for a super playful ride that absolutely helped me kill it in the trees. Never Summer’s decision to make the Evo with blunted tips makes all the sense in the world. I love the reduced swing weight and I really don’t see anyone disliking it. It doesn’t just help for spins, but also for making quicker turns.

I’m not the type to worry about graphics, but I will say the Evo has really, really sick graphics. It stands out enough for the park kid and isn’t so loud that the more mature crowd will scoff at it. If the Proto CT made me a Never Summer believer, then the Evo just made a fan out of me.

Who do I recommend the Evo for? The intermediate-advanced shredder that is looking for a freestyle ride. And yes, I am including the freestyle tree runs in that category so start jibbin some logs!

As always, big thanks to Vince and Tracey for giving me this opportunity.

PS: I will upload better pics as soon as I find my darn camera lol.

rscott22 · 03-02-2011, 09:13 AM

This is the review I have been waiting for!!!

skip11 · 03-02-2011, 10:30 AM

Oooh those bindings are sick!

Smokehaus · 03-02-2011, 11:00 AM

I hate you.

Leo · 03-02-2011, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smokehaus

I hate you.

I ride on Michigan hills... there. Feel better? LoL.

Definitely going to be with Jibbers Friday on one of the bigger "mountains" up north here. So I'm going to try and learn a few things from them while on this Evo. I want to at least hit some boxes so I can speak for how it jibs through a jib novice's eyes

I will say this much for now... Pressing on this board is super fun. My nose presses have been blossoming on this board.

Smokehaus · 03-02-2011, 11:08 AM

No not at all. I live in southern VA current temp 68.

But I just found out that my tax return is going to be enough to pay for a proto ct, new boots, new goggles, new bindings, a lift ticket or two, and maybe some outerwear.

Leo · 03-02-2011, 11:09 AM

Speaking on your tax return subject: I hate you

McSos88 · 03-02-2011, 10:34 PM

Are they coming out with the 157 for next year's Evo? What is the waist width on that?

I wear 10.5US boots, and I don't know if I should get the 155 Evo or the 156 Revolver.

Jay29 · 03-03-2011, 12:12 AM

Cough...Heritage...Cough

Leo · 03-03-2011, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McSos88

Are they coming out with the 157 for next year's Evo? What is the waist width on that?

I wear 10.5US boots, and I don't know if I should get the 155 Evo or the 156 Revolver.

25.3 If I remember correctly. Remember, boards are wider at the binding insert points. The waist width just gives you a general idea of how wide the board will be at the inserts where your boots lie.

My buddy Jay has 10.5 boots and he rode my Proto with the same waist width just fine. You need to scratch wide model boards off your list. I saw that you weigh 210lbs. That means you will likely be riding the 158-164cm range. I can't think of any board in this size range that is too narrow for your boot size. I mean, I don't know all the measurements by heart, but I don't recall co-workers with even size 11 boots having any issues demoing boards in this size range.

David Z has size 11 boots and he's been on wide boards up until now. I invited him to test fest with me and we demoed boards from 155-160cm normal width. He didn't have any issues other than 155 was too small lengthwise for his comfort. Needless to say, he now owns a new normal width board and said he doesn't want wides anymore.

03-02-2011, 07:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
Leo -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Detroit Area Posts: 6,200	Review: 2012 Never Summer Evo Introduction Alright, so I got some good seshes on this bad boy including a day in the trees jibbing logs, bonking barrels, and clearing (or not clearing lol) gaps. I have to mention that this board turned a lot of eyes which is a good sign seeing as how Never Summer has yet to become popular in Michigan. I was able enlighten people on this brand and this particular board. Even gave the Proto a plug in the conversations . One local lifty even recognized that I was on a 2012 Evo and was very stoked to see it. Good stuff. By the way, you'll see me make some quick comparisons to the Proto here and there since a lot of you want to know. So without further ado: Setup Board: 2012 Never Summer Evo 157 Bindings: 2011 Rome 390 Boss L/XL Boots: 2011 Burton Restricted Hail 9.5 US Stance: +18/-12 Regular @ 23.5" I am 5'9, 180lbs. Handling Right off the bat this board felt more playful. I almost want to say it felt like it had more rocker to it than the Proto. I think that's doubtful though. Maybe it was just the softer flex. Maybe I'm just imagining things because I had this mindset that it's a jib board from the start. Whatever the case, it's buttery fun. On the subject of butters, pressing this board was an absolute blast. Started working on my nose grab, nose presses and I was able to get the tail lifted pretty decent. The blunted tips, like on the Proto, really did affect the swing weight positively. Flat spins and 180's off hips were awesome on this board. Edge to edge was quicker than the Proto due to the softer torsional flex which I'll get into in a moment. Short to medium carves were quick and smooth and the edges engaged effortlessly due to my now favorite, NS Rocker Camber shape. However, on long, drawn out carves on steeper runs, there was noticeable board chatter. Needless to say, my legs got rocked and I did wash out at the end (I did hold the heel edge for a long time though). I did find a simple solution to this problem; I just made sure to keep transitioning to the other edge before things got too sketchy. Keep in mind that the Evo isn't meant for bombing anyway. I had the opportunity to jib some 20'ish logs on the Evo. Awesome! I was right in my initial assumption that this board was going to be a great jibstick. The lively feel of the Evo provided that much needed feedback for jibs. When I locked on, I knew I locked on. The second things got sketchy, I instantly felt it and was able to just ride off instead of fighting for it and possibly eating snow turds. I didn’t hit the park with the Evo so I didn’t hit any kickers with it. No regrets though as I was having too much fun hitting any and every natural feature I could. I jumped a few gaps though and landings on those were smooth and stable. Just like with the Proto, the Evo was forgiving on some of the sloppy landings. The biggest gap I hit was more like a drop. It was only a gap because of exposed grass. I’d say it was a good 10-15’ drop. Finally, I rode the Evo through a lot of trees. Believe it or not, Crystal Mt in none other than Thompsonville, MI has a lot of tree runs! The playfulness of the Evo really shined here. I prefer softer boards in the trees, especially torsionally softer ones, so I can really whip my turns around with minimal effort. I don't bomb down tree lines so stability is rarely an issue for me here. I like to olly, jib, and bonk whatever I can during them so the soft flex is a benefit. On the same note, I don't want the board to be so soft that I wash out on every little bump. The Evo was just right. Pop The Evo excelled in this area. The Proto is more snappy, but the Evo still ranks up there with the best of them. A little harder to initiate and I attribute that to the softer flex of the board. I always felt that I have to work a little harder for my ollies on any soft board. I believe it has more to do with my technique though as I have favored mid-stiff boards over the years. Softer boards are a more recent love of mine. Flex/Camber Profile I’m going to give this board about a 4.5/10 flex on my personal scale. Keep my weight and board size above in mind though. Torsionally, this board is soft. In fact, I was able to lift just my front toe side slightly off the ground while standing. The camber profile? It’s Never Summer’s R.C. It is awesome and it works. Rocker between the feet with a positive camber zone that starts just outside the bindings. For comparison, the camber zone has more bite than a C2’s. This means that Never Summer boards carve better and have more pop than equivalent C2 boards. In my opinion of course. Other Thoughts Honestly, I didn’t think the Evo was the board for me. I had convinced myself that it is purely for jibbing. After taking it into the trees, I quickly realized that this board can do so much more than just rail all day. In fact, I prefer the Evo over the Proto for tree runs. The softer torsional flex on the Evo really helps out in the tighter areas. That’s not to say that the Proto is horrible in the trees, quite the contrary actually. In a side-by-side comparison, the Proto was noticeably lighter. However, the Evo is not in the least bit heavy. It is actually lighter than a lot of the 2012 boards I demoed. Conclusions The combination of the flex, RC, and dampening on the Evo made for a super playful ride that absolutely helped me kill it in the trees. Never Summer’s decision to make the Evo with blunted tips makes all the sense in the world. I love the reduced swing weight and I really don’t see anyone disliking it. It doesn’t just help for spins, but also for making quicker turns. I’m not the type to worry about graphics, but I will say the Evo has really, really sick graphics. It stands out enough for the park kid and isn’t so loud that the more mature crowd will scoff at it. If the Proto CT made me a Never Summer believer, then the Evo just made a fan out of me. Who do I recommend the Evo for? The intermediate-advanced shredder that is looking for a freestyle ride. And yes, I am including the freestyle tree runs in that category so start jibbin some logs! As always, big thanks to Vince and Tracey for giving me this opportunity. PS: I will upload better pics as soon as I find my darn camera lol. __________________ www.aGNARchy.com Reviews and David Z's rants Last edited by Leo; 03-13-2011 at 07:17 AM. Reason: Added some stuff, corrected some grammar

03-02-2011, 09:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
rscott22 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Waynesboro, PA Posts: 101	This is the review I have been waiting for!!! __________________ Board: LIB Tech SKate Banana Bindings: UNION Force Boots: ThirtyTwo TM Two

03-02-2011, 11:09 AM	#7 (permalink)
Leo -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Detroit Area Posts: 6,200	Speaking on your tax return subject: I hate you __________________ www.aGNARchy.com Reviews and David Z's rants

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03-02-2011, 10:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
skip11 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 378	Oooh those bindings are sick!

03-02-2011, 11:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
Smokehaus Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: NoVA Posts: 891	I hate you.

03-02-2011, 11:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
Smokehaus Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: NoVA Posts: 891	No not at all. I live in southern VA current temp 68. But I just found out that my tax return is going to be enough to pay for a proto ct, new boots, new goggles, new bindings, a lift ticket or two, and maybe some outerwear.

03-02-2011, 10:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
McSos88 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 9	Are they coming out with the 157 for next year's Evo? What is the waist width on that? I wear 10.5US boots, and I don't know if I should get the 155 Evo or the 156 Revolver.

03-03-2011, 12:12 AM	#9 (permalink)
Jay29 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Detroit Posts: 431	Cough...Heritage...Cough