Firewire Helium Evo Surfboard Review 86 8

Reviews 6 years ago 18,269 views

Ian reviews the Firewire Helium Evo Surfboard: https://www.boardshop.co.uk/brands/firewire?style=1329 The latest board from Tomo pushes surfboard design again. Having it under your arm puts a huge smile on your face, the anticipation of surfing it is almost too much! We had a chance to have a quick surf on a 5' 5" and although smaller than you'd choose here's what happened: even at this small length it paddled really easily, even in choppy conditions the nose didn't catch. The sheer width of the thing meant it paddled in nice and easy and felt fast, popping up the board feels super stable but very lively. It flows from rail to rail so easily its unreal, Tomo says it feels like its levitating, he's not wrong! Its super smooth and turns easily, an instant smile guaranteed. The smooth and curvy outline really works, it still feels like it'll hold in bigger stuff but for anything knee to head-high its going to be the surfboard of choice. The deep channels give it its drive, presumably what Tomo refers to as the 'double inside single concave into split quad concave planing hull' means the channels. Even Slater said it felt faster than a standard shortboard after that short interlude at the Gold Coast comp. View all Firewire Surfboards: https://www.boardshop.co.uk/hub/firewire-surfboards

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Christian Cruz - 5 years ago

Hi, I ride a 7,2 Ron Jon fun board and I definitely go for the Evo. What Size do you recommend to me? I am intermediate going to advance Surfer.

Jayson Bryan - 5 years ago

Thanks for the great review, I was on the fence about an Evo but was convinced to give it a go after your review. Result... I love the board. This board is a beast on just about any condition I have paddled it in. Super happy with this board.

pierre badenhorst - 6 years ago

my fav board in my quiver BUT it hates medium to strong shore wind... my 2c

Fernando Velloso Neto - 6 years ago

Hey Boardshop, wanted to thank you for this review, it tipped me over and I recently purchased the Helium Evo. While I didn't buy it from you guys (since im in California), I wanted to thank you for the great reviews you do. They were extremely helpful in narrowing down the board models and finally deciding on the Evo. It's an absolute demon - even after all the hype, it completely surpassed my expectations. Am catching more waves than surfers twice as better and more experienced than I am. For a low intermediate surfer, wave count and time on the face is really what you need, and this is absolutely the board to give you that. Thanks again, cheers!

Adah Fanning - 5 years ago

Fernando Velloso Neto how do u size the board being a low level intermediate

ronald roodhart - 6 years ago

What fins would u use in 5.7 evo in north sea beach break ???

Bryce Mo - 6 years ago

Prob just a slip-up of the acronyms but the Evo is/was only available in LFT (Liner Flex tech) for the surf version. The kiteboarding version of the Evo is in FST (Future Shapes Tech) with the wooden rails.

That being said, the Evo is my fav board of all time. Great paddler, planes way before you think it should, glides like nothing I've ever ridden, whippy and yet can still hold down a serious rail carve. An enigma of a board that I'm in love with as well.

Keep the great review vids coming. Cheers!

Ryan Brett - 6 years ago

i have an evo helium (5'6)

Bradley Naughton - 6 years ago

I always like your reviews and bought a Chumlee in Helium after seeing your rave review, love it! I have an Evo in LFT (also a FST Kite construction Evo)and can't say enough good things about it, it's just amazing! I laughed SO much watching this review just now, absolutely classic stuff. I'm going to trade my LFT Evo for a Helium tech!!!

Swee Yong - 6 years ago

Been wanting to get this style board for its alrounder abilities. High volume and small size, great aethetics and rounded nose for minimum damage and safety.

I am stuck on sizing though. I am 5'6 67kg 37 years and fit and always up for a challenge. I am ok with going down the line and would like to progress to doing bottom turns etc. Basically after a size that will continue to help me progress, good compromise on paddling power and high wave counts without going to large, easy to lug around and transport.

Surfing users friendly waves over flat bottom and sandy beach.
What size board would i be be looking at getting.

Cheers.

Rhidian D - 6 years ago

If you're going down the line then you've probably already done a bottom turn (unless you're surfing really slow crumbly waves all the time). What you need to learn is how to link-up top and bottom turns (i.e. surf rail to rail). For your ability I wouldn't go for an evo. It might be a great all rounder but it's the kind of board that needs to be surfed as short as possible to get the most out of it, which isn't ideal if you're just learning to surf rail-to-rail. Not sure what you're surfing at the moment but, if I were you, I'd get a 5'8 or 5'10 spitfire second-hand then, once your stating to link turns consistently, get an evo 5-6 inches shorter than the spitfire you've been using. I think you'll find the spitfire more user friendly, especially if you're stepping down from a 7 foot+ board. For reference I ride a 5'5 evo, am 5'8, 74kg, average to slightly above average ability, and have been surfing on and off for 14 years or so.

chemic - 6 years ago

Finally got my 5'4" HE Evo :) Currently using my old set of Shapers AM1 Spectrum (medium) fins with it.. and looking for something else to try out. Have you guys ridden FCS II Firewire (thruster) fins with it? https://www.surffcs.com/shop/surf-thrusters/fcs-ii-firewire-pcc-tri-set
Or what fins are you guys running under your EVO's? I'm ~71kg + 5,4 wetsuit full of coldish Atlantic water :)

10. comment for Firewire Helium Evo Surfboard Review

David Dow - 6 years ago

OK I never really comes through if he likes it or not... Commit already.

mjacko7 - 6 years ago

Great review, thank you.

Nelson Rice - 6 years ago

Great review! Do you recommend going down an inch for the Helium evo or riding it the same volume as you do in LFT? Thanks.

Bajapalm - 6 years ago

Haha great review - I'll try to cover the ears of my LFT evo..

Legatum Conservation - 6 years ago

HI thanks for the review! I am looking at the Tomo boards and cannot decide between the evo or the vader, I cant find any direct comparisons. I have a couple of boards which are perfectly suited to the average and mushier English waves but looking for more of a one board quiver that can take me right up to the larger and hollower waves when I go abroad and surf reef breaks.
Any info/pointers would be greatly appreciated.
thanks

Rhidian D - 6 years ago

Not surfed a vader but, from what I've read, the evo is geared to slightly smaller/less powerful waves. That being said I never surf my evo in anything under 3 foot and use it all the way up to the biggest winter swells we get in the UK. Some people say they find the evo feels out of control in bigger waves but I've found it has more hold than any of the step-ups I've ever owned, air-drops and all.