The 2022 Liberty Evolv 84 W is an amazing choice for ladies who spend most of their time on groomed terrain, but who are also looking for something that can provide some adventure and fun in the off-piste zones as well. Thanks to the addition of the VMT 3.0 construction, the Evolv 84 W gets a boost in power from three vertical metal struts in the core. These struts are sandwiched between energetic poplar wood, which is sandwiched between stringers of bamboo and paulownia wood. Carbon stringers round out the burliness and power of the build, allowing for an impressive amount of power and stability in these well-rounded skis. At 84 mm underfoot, we’re dealing with some versatility, but not a whole lot, especially in terms of powder performance, but they do really, really like softer groomers. For skis that are built and designed in Colorado, this is a very nice thing, and it makes a lot of sense.
ROCKER PROFILE
Rocker / Camber
CORE MATERIALS
Carbon Fiber
PREFERRED TERRAIN
All Mountain, Groomers
Alli Ruschp got a couple of cracks at the Evolv 84 W, once at our media day here in Stowe, Vermont, and another on a spring trip to Vail, so she really put this ski through its paces, and it’s interesting to see the differences in her experiences given the varied locations. Both times, she skied the 165. In VT, she noted that the length was perfect, scoring 5’s out of 5 for quickness, maneuverability, and forgiveness. 4’s were given for playfulness and overall impression with the rest of her scores as 3’s. Here in VT, she calls the Evolv 84 W a “Soft-snow lover. Meant for easy turning in soft snow, not great on ice. A little chattery, but light weight and forgiving for an intermediate looking to stay on-trail.” Now, how did her western experience differ? For length, she noted that while the 165 was good, she’d also be happier with a longer ski (joke’s on her, as the 165 is the longest in the 84 W, men’s version is a bit stiffer and heavier, but does have the 172, or the Evolv 90 W has a longer size as well). Interesting how that changed when the trails open up in Vail. The same two 5’s exist, while another 5 was added for playfulness, as the softer groomers in Colorado allowed Alli to open up her turns and get some more performance out of the ski. “I enjoyed skiing this much more out west than at the test. They are perfect for soft snow groomers. Smooth ride when in soft snow, but get a little deflective and not as stable when on ice. Great ski for a lady that skis only during soft conditions, or a west coast skier that stays in the resort. Fun and playful in bumps and trees, easy to maneuver.” Maybe it’s Vail, and maybe it’s the ski, I guess we’ll never know, but it’s great to have the east/west test come to life.
Louise Lintilhac skied the 165, and while it was fine for her, she’d also opt for a longer length if given the choice. Nothing fancy about her scorecard, with 4’s given for all categories, showing not only a high-end of attributes, but also a nice, even spread of said scores. While Louise is more of a freeride skier, she notes that “Of all of Liberty’s skis, this was my favorite. While still a heavy ski, it balanced that weight with a sidecut that gave the ski added maneuverability and pop. The tips sink a bit in crud making the swing weight feel heavier than necessary, but at medium to high speeds the ski was able to plane over crud. This ski would be great for an advanced skier looking for a one quiver resort and side country ski that could tackle any condition.” The longer effective edge and the lack of rocker and taper do make the ski feel like it’s heavier, and that sounds like what Louise has going on here for sure.
The Liberty Evolv 84 W is an amazing ski from this Colorado ski company, and since it has the more freeride character to it, it feels different from other skis in the mid-80's range. Whether you’re in Vermont or Vail, groomers or off-piste, the burly Evolv 84 W has a great new build that’s going to make a lot of skiers quite happy.
