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Havalon Evolve first impressions

ch Offline Etherealicer

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Havalon Evolve first impressions
on: January 13, 2017, 06:01:36 PM
So just got mine.
First impression is, it is well built but rather poorly designed, but I will have to own it for a few days before I go into details.
Its's about the size of the Signal and at least as heavy.
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ch Offline Etherealicer

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Re: Havalon Evolve first impressions
Reply #1 on: January 13, 2017, 06:29:28 PM
Sheath is very nice... looks like great quality too. However, it does not fit the Evolve AND the accessories. Blade removal box... no way, not even the saw blade box fits in.
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ch Offline Etherealicer

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Re: Havalon Evolve first impressions
Reply #2 on: January 13, 2017, 06:48:39 PM
When closing the tool, the two halves are quite far apart.
Opening the rescue hook is also very hard, as the slits in the frame makes where hard to actually get the right nook (see arrow).
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ch Offline Etherealicer

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Re: Havalon Evolve first impressions
Reply #3 on: January 13, 2017, 06:50:28 PM
You thought that the blade-cover on the Skeletool is bad and sticks out a lot (well, at least I think so). The Evolve is worse :ahhh.
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« Last Edit: January 13, 2017, 06:51:34 PM by Etherealicer »
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ch Offline Etherealicer

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Re: Havalon Evolve first impressions
Reply #4 on: January 13, 2017, 06:56:08 PM
I noticed, I haven't posted any pictures of the pliers yet.
The are chubby and look sturdy. Anyone know why the hard-wire cutter has such a big gap?
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fi Offline Padre

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Re: Havalon Evolve first impressions
Reply #5 on: January 13, 2017, 07:01:03 PM
Wire stripper on the pliers?
Looks like a beast compared to Skeletool...
Leatherman:
Charge TTi, AL, Squirt PS4, Surge, Juice XE6, CS4, S2, ST300, Crunch, OHT, MUT, Rebar, Brewzer, Signal, Raptor, Tool Adapter, Croc, Wave, Style CS, Freestyle, Skeletool RX, Micra, Wingman
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us Offline Poncho65

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Re: Havalon Evolve first impressions
Reply #6 on: January 13, 2017, 09:46:52 PM
Looks like a love child between the Skeletool and the Signal :o :D  Thanks for the pics Eth and can't wait to hear more thoughts on it after you have had it a bit and gotten a chance to use it :salute: :like: :like:


dk Offline T14

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Re: Havalon Evolve first impressions
Reply #7 on: January 13, 2017, 11:05:27 PM
I noticed, I haven't posted any pictures of the pliers yet.
The are chubby and look sturdy. Anyone know why the hard-wire cutter has such a big gap?

Love the plier head (with wire stripper notch) and love the blade exchanger.  :dd:
I am not too keen on the rest of the tools aesthetics. :td:
I might just buy one and transplant the lovely bits onto a wave or surge... when slush funds allow :)
-Tom
All I know is that I don't know anything - but I can't prove it!


ca Offline Grant Lamontagne

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Re: Havalon Evolve first impressions
Reply #8 on: January 14, 2017, 01:06:54 PM
I would say that is definitely a wire stripper notch and not a hard wire notch, largely due to the position.  With a hard wire notch you want it as close to the pivot as possible for maximum leverage.

The "sheath" seems interesting- not so much a sheath as a carrying case, which is odd since they went in that direction but then didn't make it big enough to carry the accessories.  That really doesn't make any sense at all- kind of like arguing with someone over a specific restaurant to eat at when you aren't hungry and aren't going to buy anything. 

All in all I think this is a nice first try, but it seems like Havalon took a bunch of good ideas and stuck them together without really giving much thought to whether they should all go together, or how.

I do like the blunt nosed pliers though.  :D

Def
Leave the dents as they are- let your belongings show their scars as proudly as you do yours.


Offline bigraab1972

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Re: Havalon Evolve first impressions
Reply #9 on: January 14, 2017, 05:03:41 PM
I have the Havalon hydra and it appears from your pics they used the same case for the Evolve. I do like that wire stripping notch though...


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ch Offline Etherealicer

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Re: Havalon Evolve first impressions
Reply #10 on: January 15, 2017, 12:36:33 PM
I have the Havalon hydra and it appears from your pics they used the same case for the Evolve. I do like that wire stripping notch though...(Image removed from quote.)


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Looks like your case is larger than the one coming with the Evolve judging from the still packed blades.
I love it as MT case, but I find it kinda sad they didn't make enough room for all the parts.
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« Last Edit: January 15, 2017, 12:38:27 PM by Etherealicer »
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ch Offline Etherealicer

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Re: Havalon Evolve first impressions
Reply #11 on: January 15, 2017, 12:57:36 PM
Bit holder for standard bits.
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ch Offline Etherealicer

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Re: Havalon Evolve first impressions
Reply #12 on: January 15, 2017, 12:58:32 PM
Signal should have this instead of the whistle / fire-steel
Bit storage rail, holds two standard bits.
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ch Offline Etherealicer

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Re: Havalon Evolve first impressions
Reply #13 on: January 15, 2017, 01:06:26 PM
Safety blade removal and blade storage box.
havalon_15.jpg
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ch Offline Etherealicer

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Re: Havalon Evolve first impressions
Reply #14 on: January 15, 2017, 01:09:28 PM
Did some slicing, the blade is really nice, stiff. The lock is rather hard to dis-engage though (you can see on the picture, it is hard to get to).
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Offline bigraab1972

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Re: Havalon Evolve first impressions
Reply #15 on: January 15, 2017, 01:18:05 PM
I have the Havalon hydra and it appears from your pics they used the same case for the Evolve. I do like that wire stripping notch though...(Image removed from quote.)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Looks like your case is larger than the one coming with the Evolve judging from the still packed blades.
I love it as MT case, but I find it kinda sad they didn't make enough room for all the parts.

Oh wow that is a lot smaller! I guess you could upgrade to the hydra case to carry all your blades and possibly an extra bit sleeve, though it would probably make belt carry a little cumbersome haha. I like the idea of a plier swap with a Surge too. The wire stripper notch seems like a good design, it reminds me of a PT540 minus the stupid plier stop. Can't wait to see some testing!


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hk Offline aurabattler

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Re: Havalon Evolve first impressions
Reply #16 on: January 15, 2017, 02:25:12 PM
Thanks for your review.  It is very exciting to see the review of HE.

The lock seems quite secure, which is good.


ca Offline Grant Lamontagne

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Re: Havalon Evolve first impressions
Reply #17 on: January 15, 2017, 05:37:54 PM
I have to say, after this I am intrigued more than I was.  Before I was just curious to see what someone else thought, now I'm giving a lot of thought to getting one for myself so I can see what I think.  :D

Def
Leave the dents as they are- let your belongings show their scars as proudly as you do yours.


 

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