Oh So Close to Perfect
Written: Dec 03 '05 (Updated Sep 13 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Comfortable, Durable, Not overly expensive, the integrated GRINDPLATE is what Heelers have been waiting for!
Cons: Some riders may not like the higher profile.
The Big Deuce is not quite there.
The Bottom Line: The Evolution takes the Heeling to the next level. Any way you slice it, it's the model you want if Heeling extreme is your thing.
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| merlyn_dhc's Full Review: Heely Heelys Evolution Roller /Boys for Men |
If this is your first bit of research on Heelys, please first read my introduction to Heelys by going here:
Heelys Flow Review
The New Evolution
The Evolution is Heelys first attempt at merging the large format wheel with the ever popular under-shoe grind plate. The larger wheel size was introduced during the Revolution model. Its size allowed the shoe to be more street worthy because it is able to clear cracks and pebbles with greater ease than its predecessors. However, the Revolution model lacked a grind plate, which allows the rider to slide on rails, edges and coping. With the advent of the Evolution, these two features are now available together for the first time.
The "Big Deuce"
The main difference between the wheel supplied with the Revolution and the one supplied with the Evolution is immediately apparent. Both are built on the 608 bearing. The Revolution's "Meg-Wheel" is a clear, smooth and very fast. The Evolution's "Big Deuce" wheel is shaped somewhat differently. It looks almost like two wheels sandwiched together. The notion was to allow pebbles to pass between the wheels in order to enhance the ride. And in theory, the rounded edges would allow for greater maneuverability. In reality, neither of these two are the case.
Pebbles, by and large, were not a problem for the Mega-Wheels. With sufficient speed, the Mega-Wheels can easily clear most small road debris. It’s not perfect, but more than sufficient. The problem with the Big Deuce is its lack of speed. It’s made of a more porous material, adding unnecessary friction. Though it is nearly the same size as the Mega-Wheel, it is noticeably slower. Its slower speed has not helped its maneuverability. Even with rounded edges, the Big Deuce does not out perform the Meg-Wheel in weave tests. This is because the riding position of Heelys does not lend itself to banking on the wheel’s edge. Its two touch points eventually wear unevenly leading to an imbalanced ride because the two sandwiched wheels do not spin independently. Once again, HSL is trying something new and its not quite there. But as with the evolution of any sport, product developers must try in order to succeed. This was a good attempt. And perhaps in the next iteration, they will succeed.
Luckily, the wheel bay is backward compatible with the Mega-Wheel. If you are an experienced rider, then purchasing the Mega-Wheels (available separately) is highly recommended. Be sure to select Mega-Wheels of proper size.
The "Good News"
Now the good news. The rest of the shoe is nearly perfect. The ride is comfortable and secure. The grindplates are absolutely perfect for Heelers needing a little edge. If you liked to Heely and grind, then the Evolution is your best bet. Some people may still like the lower wheel base of the Blaze, Rave or Flow (Heelys that use FATs wheels). However, the additional speed and higher wheel base is crucial for skate park ramps and half pipes.
The merging of the two features is near flawless. The large wheel format gives Heelers the speed to hit larger ramps and ride steeper banks. The Mega Wheel (not included) provides more than sufficient stability going up or down vert. The grindplate opens the doors to tons of opportunities.
Riders used to FATs may take some time to get used to the higher wheel. And some time may also be needed to adjust if the local park has tight coping. But no doubt it is worth it to master the Evolution.
Where can I get additional information?
The Heelys website is http://www.heelys.com/
Some Heelys Videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW7ZXF4AaIE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVigkabHbpU
Popular Heelys Forum and Store is http://www.heelychat.com
Recommended?
Most Definitely Yes
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
merlyn_dhc
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Location: New York, NY
Reviews written: 8
Trusted by: 1 member
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