Revolver vs. Rook vs. Rome + Garage Rocker?

Posted: 09 December 2010 06:53 AM

Hey all, just thought I’d throw this out there, I’m looking into getting a new board and have been contemplating getting a new Never Summer Revolver (wide evo), a Nitro Rook or perhaps something from the Rome lineup.

I’ve been riding an Option Mirror 157 (MW - 254mm) for probably 5-6 years. I’m needing the med-wide/wide because I rock size 11/11.5 boots. I used to ride as much pipe as possible, but the last few years my hill has decided that a pipe isn’t sustainable. Since then, I’ve been forced to other terrain… chutes, groomers, pow when it can be found, but always come back to hitting some rails, boxes and jumps. I kind of ride everything. However, I always like to make it that bit of freestyle - popping off of whatever I can, spinning as much as possible… I think of it as a good way to practice board skills popping 1’s off of whatever I can. Because of this bit of mellow fun, I’m thinking I want a true twin that has some flex, lots of pop, but enough stability to do some speed work.

A few years ago I had a Burton Rush 156 as a pipe board and loved the way it would load up and the snap that it had. Since that, I’ve always searched for a board with a ton of pop in it. However, I’ve tried some friends skate banana’s and wasn’t too impressed, tried a Ride DH.2 and found it had pop, but it really needed to be loaded in order to harness it.

I’m hoping to try out a Revolver, the wider version of a the Evo, but was wondering if anyone has any feedback to compare it to the Rook, a 0 camber board. I’ve got a friend riding an NS SL to at least get a feel of the RC and am hoping to give it a go, but don’t know anywhere nearby to try any Nitro’s. I’ve also had Rome suggested to me, in particular the Rome Agent as being similar to the board I’m currently riding. I’ve also contemplated the Mod (if it’s wide enough), Pusher, Postermania and last years (2010) Design. The NS and Nitro are appealing in that they aren’t all out rockers, Rome in that it has a few positive camber options, but nearly so much as to make it an even more difficult choice.

On a second note: Anyone ride the Rome Garage Rocker? I’m just curious about picking that up as a cheap rail board. Not sure how much of a beating it would take and if it would be a worthwhile board to pick up or if it’s just a cheap board that is designed as a bare minimum type thing.

Any comparisons between these boards, comments, suggestions, etc, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for any help!

Posted: 14 December 2010 09:49 AM

The Revolver sounds like it would definitely fit your needs. RC tech does give NS boards tons of pop that isn’t too hard to work and in my experience the EVO gripped great in carves. A board that would happily work in the pipe and park… and all mountain to be honest. That said although I haven’t ridden the Rook, but I’ve heard great things about it. I find sero camber works better for me on rails but that’s just personel opinion.

The Garage rocker sounds like the perfect board for a cheap rail stick. Nothing fancy, a bit of rocker, biax glass, extruded base… all you need. I’d put it in tha smae league as the Stepchild chiborg.

Rich

Posted: 14 January 2011 04:47 AM

The one thing I heard about the Revolver was that it’s a little on the soft side, which I’m really not sure about. I tried a buddy’s ‘11 T. Rice this weekend and loved the pop and flex combo in that. Could butter on the tail with both bindings in the air, but it just snapped me right up once I released the pressure.

Argh, such a tough choice having not ridden either. I’ve got 156’s of each lined up, but can’t seem to bite the bullet on either! Frustrating!

Posted: 14 January 2011 10:26 AM

Of the three boards there I reckon the Revolver has got the firmest flex… although it might be the Rook… I’m not sure. But NS boards are definitely not soft, the Evo flex is more medium…. not much softer than the TRice. I’d put the Revolver in a similar stiffness to the GNU Danny Kass. If you want a similar flexing board to the Travis Rice, check out the 157mW Lib Tech Lando Phoenix.

At the end of the day as long as you go for the board that’s pulling your heart strings, you’ll love it. If you go for a board you have doubts about, even if it rides great you’ll be finding problesm with it in the back of your head.

Posted: 21 February 2011 11:17 PM

Just as a heads up, I managed to hit up a huuuuge demo for next years gear a couple weeks ago. Managed to try next years Revolvers, eh, ok. With size 11 boots, it gave me plenty of coverage, but just not very quick edge to edge. Tried the 157 (blunt) Evo, I’m sold on it. It was in incredible. Definitely getting one asap.

Didn’t get a chance to try the Nitro Rook, but tried the T-1 which is similar. Manual’d well, but not great at buttering…. I mean, you could pop up on the tail and ride down the entire hill, but you add any twist to it. Tough to get it to pop, but you could feel whenever there was a transition, it loaded and popped great. Just tough to do on your own.

Next best thing was the K2 Weapon, a bit stiffer this year, but still a ton of fun. Nice and easy to ollie and spin. Not quite as responsive as the Evo though.

Anyways, just thought I’d pass that on in case anyone dug up this post sometime and was hoping for some answers.