PSE Evoke 35 EC Review

Editors' review

The Evoke 35 EC is a legit do it all bow capable of handling every style of archery very well. Whether shooters are interested in spots, 3D, or hunting, the PSE Evoke 35 EC can be set up and perform exceptionally well with any of those styles in mind. The Evolve Cam System may be the best cam PSE has ever produced, and the adjustability and personalization shooters have with this cam really make it a unique offering on the 2019 bow market. The Evoke 35 EC is pretty slow for 2019 standards with an IBO rating of only 328 feet per second, but with an almost 7-inch brace height combined with 35-inches of axle to axle stability, the Evoke 35 is a forgiving rig! PSE integrated dual riser bridges for the Evoke, which adds a great deal of strength and rigidity to the riser, while keeping the overall bare bow weight at a manageable 4.5-pounds. PSE also upped their finish quality by offering Kolorfusion this model year, but there is a $50 upcharge in price for that option. Overall, the Evoke 35 EC fits a need for those shooters wanting additional stability on target, or wanting one bow to do every style of shooting. The bow aims, and shoots exceptionally well for anyone wanting a longer, more forgiving model.

Finish

The 2019 PSE Evoke 35 EC looks great with any of the available finish options applied. The finish from PSE has always been a durable and long lasting finish, with exceptional coverage and overall look. For 2019, shooters are able to choose Kolorfusion as well, which many shooters will be thrilled about. This technique does come with a $50 upcharge to the MSRP, but that is not too bad considering some companies charge $100 upcharge on different finish options. With the potential for the Evoke 35 EC to be used for hunting and target archery, it is a little disappointing the PSE website has very limited target color options listed. PSE has a great deal of target bows available allowing shooters to choose a variety of target colors, but for them to limit the finish options on the target side of this rig, according to their website, is pretty disappointing. Color options for the Evoke 35 include Realtree Edge and Mossy Oak Break-Up Country for more traditional camo options. For shooters wanting more trendy patterns, Kryptek Altitude and Kuiu Verde are available for 2019 as well. Gore Optifade and Under Armour patterns are pretty popular amongst other brands, but PSE does not offer any of these options yet. Hopefully, these are options shooters will have in the future. For those wanting a solid color, tan, black, and green are available. It would be nice for more solid colors to be offered given this rigs ability to be used as a target rig, but the three solid colors are pretty cool looking in person.

Riser

The aluminum riser of the 2019 Evoke 35 EC is a substantial one to say the least. In order for PSE to get the 35-inch axle-to-axle measurement, the riser needed to be a major component of the overall measurement. In addition to a long, stable riser, the engineers decided to add a bridge design to the top and bottom of the riser. This does add a bit of weight to the barebow measurement, which is an advertised 4.5-pounds before accessories. PSE hunting bows have not seen this bridged riser design in the past, but the idea is to give the overall platform more strength and keep it from twisting while being drawn. Although the bridge above and below the grip will not totally keep the riser from twisting, the improvements to outgoing models in regards to riser torque is worth taking a look.The riser design also allows for a 6 ⅞-inch brace height to keep things as forgiving as possible. It is worth noting the longer axle-to axle measurement in addition to the longer brace height does slow this bow down a bit making it a relatively slow rig when compared to other models in the lineup. However, the benefits of having a slower, easier to shoot bow will often times outweigh faster shooting arrows that do not find their mark. PSE also went to great lengths to make sure this longer riser is still as quiet and vibration free as possible. For starters, the string stop system remains adjustable for fine tuning and shooter preference, and can have colored options if anyone wants to stray away from the factory installed black version. There are also newly added rubber dampeners to the top and bottom of the riser near the limb pockets to keep vibration away from the shooters hand. The cable guard is also fairly unique as well. The cable guard slides on the moveable rod with rollers while the cables also get rollers to slide against. This is a pretty unique design, but seems to work well in making the draw as smooth as possible.

Grip

PSE grips have historically been well-received in archery world, and the integrated aluminum grip of the Evoke 35 EC is no different. The flat back is the trendy configuration for 2019, and PSE has always done that feeling well. The edges of the grip are rounded just enough to be comfortable in the proper hand placement, and the thickness of the grip is more preferred than the wider carbon model grips from the PSE camp. There are no additions to the grip area, so shooters are getting a riser to hold for the grip. This is going to be cold in hunting conditions, but perhaps not much colder than other versions PSE has offered in the past with rubber inserts. For those wanting a repeatable, comfortable grip, this one is it. The stamped PSE logo is a nice touch of brand badging, on an otherwise fairly plain design.

Limbs

The PSE X-Force style split limbs continue to get the nod for the archery giant in 2019. The split limbs make the bow look aggressive and characteristic of older PSE models. Everything about the Evoke 35 geometry screams PSE from a design standpoint, and the limbs are a major reason why. Shooters on the Evoke 35 equipped with the Evolve Cams have the option for maximum draw weight limbs of 60, 70, and even 80-pounds. Other models in the Evoke lineup have 65-pound limbs as well, but the three configurations on the Evoke 35 should meet the needs of most shooters. From a design standpoint, the limbs are pretty consistent to what PSE has been offering in recent years. The split limbs offer a relatively wide shooting stance to continue the stability created throughout the rest of the bow's design. The Evolve Cams are pretty massive, and the larger split limbs are able to handle their size and created energy without buckling or twisting under the pressure they create during the draw cycle. The limb pocket's locking system is pretty legit as well. Shooters can get the draw weight and tune they desire, then tighten down the pocket system so everything will remain exactly where it is without any chance of moving out of that original tune unless shooters want to reconfigure.

Eccentric System

The Evolve Cam System is an option for the Evoke 35, and more than likely will be the cam shooters choose given the outstanding track history these have in the PSE lineup. PSE claims these cams are the easiest tuning cams they have ever produced, and the customization is off the charts! The Evoke 35 is adjustable from 26.5-32-inches, in half-inch increments with a rotating module, without the need for a bow press to make any of the adjustments. Simply line up the cams with the appropriate laser engraved identification letter for the desired draw length, and shooters are ready to go. In addition to easily adjusted draw lengths, the let-off can be fine tuned to personal preference as well. Shooters can opt for a high let-off module with 80, 85, or 90% let-off, or a low let-off module with 65, 70, or 75% let-off. For shooters to be able to choose from six different let-offs ranging from 65-90% within the same cam is a truly revolutionary shooting experience. These let-off changes can also be made without a bow press, but there are two separate modules required to change from the upper to lower extremes. From a design standpoint, the Evolve Cam System is the same as previous model years, without any changes. The system features a quadtrack configuration with split cables in place of yokes. This helps the balance of the cams as they are drawn, and all but eliminates cam lean by design. When paired with the rest of the Evoke 35 design, the IBO speed rating maxes out at 328 feet per second. To be fair, this is pretty slow for a hunting bow in 2019. However, as stated earlier, the slower speed and added forgiveness and potentially increased accuracy will be more sought after than a faster bow, which will more than likely be harder for shooters to be accurate with. Ultimately, shooters will be forced to decide if this speed rating is right for them, but from a shooting standpoint, this thing is a tack driver.

Draw Cycle/Shootability

The Evolve Cams are some of the best feeling cams PSE has ever created, ever. There was a time when PSE was chasing the fastest speeds possible, and that lead to some draw cycles with an acquired taste. The Evolve Cams are an amazing mix of performance and shootability, and the ability to customize the back end feel is second to none. The draw weight stacks up very quickly on the Evolve Cam when paired with the Evoke 35 configuration allowing shooters to reach peak weight in the first half of the draw cycle. From there, the draw weight gradually lessens until the desired let-off percentage is reached. The transition or rollover into the back wall is easy to manage and seems to come at the best spot in the draw cycle. Although the holding weight and valley associated with the chosen let-off is customizable, they all end with a firm back wall. Holding on target with the Evoke 35 is really easy, which may be due to the extended riser dimension, the firm back wall, the almost perfect balance at full draw, or even the overall bare bow weight. Whatever the reason, the pin effortlessly floats on the intended target, and the arrow is released crisply and without a major disruption. The feeling in the hand after the shot is great, and noise and vibration are very minimal. Shooters will be able to fine tune the bow to get the exact feeling they are looking for, but there is not a bad setting in the Evolve Cam. To further the argument about the Evoke 35 being a great do it all bow, shooters would be able to easily adjust the let-off for different times during the year and for different archery styles. Obviously, a different let-off will have a different arrow speed, but it would be pretty rare for an indoor spot shooter to have the exact same arrows and sight as a hunting rig anyways. So the bow's performance and feel could easily be adjusted along with accessories to shoot one style in the morning and another in the afternoon with great results.

Usage Scenarios

The Evoke 35 outfitted with the well liked Evolve Cam is as close to a do everything bow in the PSE lineup. Although this bow was designed as a longer framed hunting bow, the specifications transfers well to indoor spot leagues and 3D archery. Shooters wanting to swap some accessories and shoot the same bow for the entire year honestly have that option with the Evolve 35 without many compromises in any of the three categories. This bow is worth a look for someone wanting a do it all type of rig for 2019.

Evoke 35 vs. Carbon Air Stealth 35 EC

Bow	PSE Evoke 35 EC	PSE Carbon Air Stealth 35 EC
Version	2019	2020
Picture
Brace Height	6.875 "	6.875 "
AtA Length	35 "	35 "
Draw Length	26.5 " - 32 "	26.5 " - 32 "
Draw Weight	50 lbs - 80 lbs	40 lbs - 70 lbs
IBO Speed	320 fps - 328 fps	320 fps - 328 fps
Weight	4.5 lbs	3.5 lbs
Let-Off	80% - 90%	80% - 90%
Where to buy Best prices online	Not available now. Please check later.	Not available now. Please check later.
	compare more bows

PSE Evoke 35 and PSE Carbon Air Stealth 35 EC are very similar in what they offer shooters for 2019, with the major difference being in the riser material and price. The technologies between the two rigs are shared for the most part, making personal preference on which bow shooters end up with even more dependent on an aluminum or carbon riser preference. $500 for a carbon riser upgrade is a decent amount of money, but fairly comparable to other companies with an all carbon riser. For shooters wanting more of a do it all bow, the Evoke 35 will more than likely be a better option. However, shooters wanting a longer hunting bow will have a decision to make. The warmth of the carbon riser and grip during hunting season, in addition to the lighter weight of the bow overall makes it a solid hunting rig for many buyers.

Summary

PSE prides themselves in being able to create a bow for every single archer. Their entire lineup from top to bottom has amazing characteristics, and spread across almost every price point allowing for shooters to pick the bow that meets their needs and budget. The Evoke 35 EC is a Pro Series bow with the ability to be used at the highest level of competitive archery in addition to the hunting woods for those wanting a longer axle-to-axle hunting bow. The Evoke 35 is not fast with a maximum IBO rating of 328 feet per second, but the forgiving platform and ease of holding this bow on target is an easy trade off for a few feet per second slower arrow speeds. It would be nice to see some additional finish options on the Evoke 35 to include some more popular camo patterns, and some more target colors, but what is available looks great and the Kolorfusion is a nice addition. Overall, any complaints related to the Evoke 35 are minimal at best. The Evolve Cam System is one of the best PSE has ever made, and it allows shooters to fine tune for a personal feel. The Evoke 35 is an outstanding do it all bow, and for a competitively priced MSRP of $999, shooters have a lot to consider with the Evoke 35.