Review: 2014 Never Summer Evo 4.0 - Snowboarding Forum

Leo · 02-06-2013, 06:34 PM

Introduction
This is my FIRST IMPRESSION on the upcoming Evo 4.0. I will be adding to this review as I ride it more throughout this season and the next. I also have a 2012 Evo to compare this to side-by-side, but I will wait until the new one is broken in to make those comparisons so stay tuned!

Stats
Board: 2014 Never Summer Evo 4.0 154cm
Bindings: 2013 Burton Genesis M
Boots: 2011 Burton Restricted Hail 9.5 US
Stance: +18/-12 Regular @ around 25"

I am 5'9, 165lbs (Yes, I lost 15lbs)

Flex/Camber Profile
The new Evo retains the same core as previous years so it is still their softest flexing board. However, they added "Harmonic Dampeners" in this model in the tips. The camber profile has also been tweaked with "Low Profile Tips."

Since this is still a brand new board, I cannot determine it's true flex. As it is now, it's stiffer than the old Evo by a good notch, particularly in the tips. I can still press this easier than my 2012 Proto though.

Handling
Simply put, the handling is excellent. The HD in the tips definitely makes this board very quiet. The previous Evo would very noticeably chatter at speed or on less-than-ideal terrain. Not the case with the Evo 4.0. Mind you, I downsized this time around.

Edge-to-edge is not quite as responsive, but again, I'm going to wait until the board breaks-in to definitely say. I'm expecting the torsional flex to give a little more which should help with that.

With the newfound dampening system, I did not hesitate to lay down drawn out carves at speed. No chatter whatsoever. A stark contrast from the old Evo. I know this is a park board, but I like to add these types of tests to get an all-around opinion on the board's limits. I'm looking forward to trying this on the bigger hills around here. Yea, yea, more like bunny hills. Regardless, I'm gonna tackle whatever resemblance of a steep we have here in beautifully flat Michigan.

Pop
Very satisfying pop. The Proto still has it beat by a noticeable margin though. Compared with a DH2, the pop is just decent.

I want to emphasize the word "satisfying" though. Ollying on the Evo 4.0 is a pleasure. It gives you a stable platform to launch off of. It's reminiscent of a flat rocker (I'm not a fan of them, but this is one aspect I love about them). I reported this to Vince and he told me that it was due to the Low Profile Tips. All-in-all, my ollies felt real solid on this thing.

Other Thoughts
I'm really hoping the flex goes back to that of the more familiar mid-soft flex from the previous Evo. That flex with dampened up Tips is going to make for a superb freestyle board.

I'm really liking the low profile tips. Not only does it give you a stable platform to load up and pop, it also gives you a nice stable landing platform.

Conclusions
So far, the Evo 4.0 is well on its way to replacing my old Evo as my go-to. I'm looking forward to breaking this bad boy in more. By the way, I forgot to mention the graphics... sick is all I can say especially on the matte topsheet. I wish it had an orange sno-glow base though. Would match the Orange NS logo on the topsheet nicely.

Stay tuned for more in-depth thoughts on the upcoming Evo as I ride it more and some more side-by-side comparisons to the older model.

Leo · 02-06-2013, 06:36 PM

hot-ice · 02-06-2013, 10:18 PM

I'm glad you went ahead and posted your initial impressions. I also have a 2012 evo and am about the same size as you, so this was very interesting for me. I know what you mean about the chatter from the 2012, it is very loud and can get somewhat annoying. Im looking forward to your review; it sounds like an awesome board!!

Snowboard_Otaku · 02-07-2013, 12:07 AM

great review as always leo looking forward to see more of ur thoughts

crash77 · 02-07-2013, 12:31 AM

Appreciate the prelim Leo. I'll be stuck to this thread waiting for the in depth!

snowklinger · 02-07-2013, 12:41 AM

I've had an order in since before xmas (for a 154 evo)...hopefully waiting this long will pay off(as in '14 harmonic thingys!)....my proto needs a week at the Dr. so bad...

Not sure I understand the new camber profile but I'd like to.

The last 2 years (13 and 14) the graphic on the Evo has been really really sick imo, fugly the Cobra all they want...

Leo · 02-07-2013, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowklinger

Not sure I understand the new camber profile but I'd like to.

It's not really a new camber profile. It's more of a tweak to the profile of the board in general.

What they did is lower the rise of the tips. So if you lay the old and new Evo on the ground and then step on their tips, the other end of the old Evo will stick up higher than the new Evo.

snowklinger · 02-07-2013, 01:06 AM

Cool. I'll probably only ride one of em' so I guess I'll find out.

CMSbored · 02-07-2013, 02:35 AM

Is it me or is the new evo ugly as sin. thats the worst looking Never Summers ive seen. not really impressed with the other boards either as far as graphics (which really means jack shit)

alex12 · 02-07-2013, 02:42 AM

The graphics on this doesn't really fit in with the rest if the NS lineup. This is a good thing

02-06-2013, 06:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
Leo -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Detroit Area Posts: 6,212	Review: 2014 Never Summer Evo 4.0 Introduction This is my FIRST IMPRESSION on the upcoming Evo 4.0. I will be adding to this review as I ride it more throughout this season and the next. I also have a 2012 Evo to compare this to side-by-side, but I will wait until the new one is broken in to make those comparisons so stay tuned! Stats Board: 2014 Never Summer Evo 4.0 154cm Bindings: 2013 Burton Genesis M Boots: 2011 Burton Restricted Hail 9.5 US Stance: +18/-12 Regular @ around 25" I am 5'9, 165lbs (Yes, I lost 15lbs) Flex/Camber Profile The new Evo retains the same core as previous years so it is still their softest flexing board. However, they added "Harmonic Dampeners" in this model in the tips. The camber profile has also been tweaked with "Low Profile Tips." Since this is still a brand new board, I cannot determine it's true flex. As it is now, it's stiffer than the old Evo by a good notch, particularly in the tips. I can still press this easier than my 2012 Proto though. Handling Simply put, the handling is excellent. The HD in the tips definitely makes this board very quiet. The previous Evo would very noticeably chatter at speed or on less-than-ideal terrain. Not the case with the Evo 4.0. Mind you, I downsized this time around. Edge-to-edge is not quite as responsive, but again, I'm going to wait until the board breaks-in to definitely say. I'm expecting the torsional flex to give a little more which should help with that. With the newfound dampening system, I did not hesitate to lay down drawn out carves at speed. No chatter whatsoever. A stark contrast from the old Evo. I know this is a park board, but I like to add these types of tests to get an all-around opinion on the board's limits. I'm looking forward to trying this on the bigger hills around here. Yea, yea, more like bunny hills. Regardless, I'm gonna tackle whatever resemblance of a steep we have here in beautifully flat Michigan. Pop Very satisfying pop. The Proto still has it beat by a noticeable margin though. Compared with a DH2, the pop is just decent. I want to emphasize the word "satisfying" though. Ollying on the Evo 4.0 is a pleasure. It gives you a stable platform to launch off of. It's reminiscent of a flat rocker (I'm not a fan of them, but this is one aspect I love about them). I reported this to Vince and he told me that it was due to the Low Profile Tips. All-in-all, my ollies felt real solid on this thing. Other Thoughts I'm really hoping the flex goes back to that of the more familiar mid-soft flex from the previous Evo. That flex with dampened up Tips is going to make for a superb freestyle board. I'm really liking the low profile tips. Not only does it give you a stable platform to load up and pop, it also gives you a nice stable landing platform. Conclusions So far, the Evo 4.0 is well on its way to replacing my old Evo as my go-to. I'm looking forward to breaking this bad boy in more. By the way, I forgot to mention the graphics... sick is all I can say especially on the matte topsheet. I wish it had an orange sno-glow base though. Would match the Orange NS logo on the topsheet nicely. Stay tuned for more in-depth thoughts on the upcoming Evo as I ride it more and some more side-by-side comparisons to the older model. __________________ www.aGNARchy.com Reviews and David Z's rants

02-06-2013, 06:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
Leo -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Detroit Area Posts: 6,212	__________________ www.aGNARchy.com Reviews and David Z's rants

02-07-2013, 12:41 AM	#6 (permalink)
snowklinger Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: fuck boulder Posts: 2,821	I've had an order in since before xmas (for a 154 evo)...hopefully waiting this long will pay off(as in '14 harmonic thingys!)....my proto needs a week at the Dr. so bad... Not sure I understand the new camber profile but I'd like to. The last 2 years (13 and 14) the graphic on the Evo has been really really sick imo, fugly the Cobra all they want... __________________ is it late october yet? Last edited by snowklinger; 02-07-2013 at 12:50 AM.

02-07-2013, 01:06 AM	#8 (permalink)
snowklinger Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: fuck boulder Posts: 2,821	Cool. I'll probably only ride one of em' so I guess I'll find out. __________________ is it late october yet?

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02-06-2013, 10:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
hot-ice Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 138	I'm glad you went ahead and posted your initial impressions. I also have a 2012 evo and am about the same size as you, so this was very interesting for me. I know what you mean about the chatter from the 2012, it is very loud and can get somewhat annoying. Im looking forward to your review; it sounds like an awesome board!!

02-07-2013, 12:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
Snowboard_Otaku Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 197	great review as always leo looking forward to see more of ur thoughts

02-07-2013, 12:31 AM	#5 (permalink)
crash77 -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 308	Appreciate the prelim Leo. I'll be stuck to this thread waiting for the in depth!

02-07-2013, 02:35 AM	#9 (permalink)
CMSbored Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Laramie, WYO Posts: 457	Is it me or is the new evo ugly as sin. thats the worst looking Never Summers ive seen. not really impressed with the other boards either as far as graphics (which really means jack shit)

02-07-2013, 02:42 AM	#10 (permalink)
alex12 Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 65	The graphics on this doesn't really fit in with the rest if the NS lineup. This is a good thing