One Drop’s Booster Rainier drops tomorrow, May 28th, at 11am PST.
From One Drop:
“The Rainier started with the idea of scaling up a Cascade and shifting the weight out to the rim and turned into a performance monster. It was one of our first “Dark Side” yo-yos and among our best performing models. It seemed natural to make a Boosted version.
“Boosting” is making a 6061 alloy yo-yo out of 7075 alloy, but changing the design so that the overall weight ends up being lower, even though 7075 is a heavier alloy than 6061. It takes a lot of tweaking to the design to make this happen, but we like to do it in a way that yo-yo looks the same and has the same or similar specs (except for the weight). Given that 7075 is a heavier alloy, if we took the same design of a 6061 yo-yo and produced it in 7075, it would end up about 2.5 grams heavier. We have done this in the past and called it “GZR Edition”. Turns out to be not as interesting as Boosted because the weight distribution is the same so it plays very similarly. Changing the weight distribution is how to make the feel in play change which is why we do Boosted and not GZR when we make a 7075 version of a 6061 model.
The Rainier is optimized for rim weight at essentially the limits of 6061 alloy. We have a hard limit on what we consider the thinnest we can make the body. We can safely go thinner with 7075 alloy which is what we did: thinned out the body and added rim weight while maintaining the same profile shape. The result is a yoyo with considerably more rim weight, but a total weight of about .5 grams less (or about 3 grams less than if we just ran the same design in 7275 – see above). The Boosted Rainier is further into the Dark Side than the original. It’s even more of an extreme design.”
Specifications
Base Weight: 61.05 Grams
Shipping Weight: 63.95 Grams with Aluminum Micro Caps
Width: 48.4 mm
Diameter: 56.4 mm
Stock Response: One Drop Flow Groove
Gap Width: 4.27 mm
Bearing Size: Large (C) stainless steel (One Drop 10 Ball Bearing)
What do you get when you combine a “cloud-blasted” aluminum with stainless steel rims and recessed, polycarbonate caps? I mean, you’re reading a review for the Nimbus, so the answers is obviously the Nimbus, from Dressel Designs. I’m not really here to make this hard for you, people.
The Nimbus is the signature yo-yo of Shinnosuke Ishizuka, and it’s touted as “Like playing with a cloud.” Honestly, that’s not too far off, as unlikely as it seems with everything that has gone into this yo-yo, it really does play smooth, quiet, and a bit floaty. It’s not something you would expect from a tri-material yo-yo, but the Nimbus fits these qualities to a T.
Dressel’s Nimbus is a mid-sized throw that feels like it’s just bordering undersized. Both the rounded-H shape and the “Cloud Blast” finish make it incredibly comfortable in the hand. Upon first throw, you’ll be surprised at how quiet it is, and how it seems to effortless move on the end of the string. While the Nimbus can handle almost whatever players can throw at it, it feels most at home moving at a slower pace, lending itself to flow and precise control. It’s not what I’ve come to expect from a bi-metal yo-yo.
There is certainly nothing in my collection like the Nimbus, and I mean that is a very positive way. It’s not just another competitive bi-metal throw, but one that feels like all the parts where meticulously put together for a very specific purpose. This yo-yo feels right at home banging out repeaters, then switching gears effortlessly to handle more precise combos.
I have never had the opportunity to play a purely stainless steel yo-yo before, so I jumped at the chance to play with the Dressel DesignsOasis. This throw is a mid-sized, D-bearing organic with a fairly large gap width that feels a bit dainty, though that could not be farther from the truth. Oh, and the sounds this thing makes puts titanium yo-yos to shame.
The Oasis comes in at 63.6 grams, and certainly floats on the string. As mentioned earlier, it feels delicate in the hand, but don’t let that fool you, the 100% Stainless Steel composition makes this a little tank of a yo-yo. I full fledged slammed this thing against the tile floor at the Northeast Regional Yoyo Contest in the American Dream Mall and there wasn’t even a slight scuff from the impact. It sure let out a beautiful sound as it it, though.
This throw plays exactly like it looks like it would play. It’s light, floaty, yet maneuvers beautifully. The gap is large, allowing for easy catches and lots of string wraps. I end up playing it with a slightly thicker string, which helps compensate my lack of skills and allows me to fully enjoy what the Oasis has to offer.
While there are organics I enjoy more than Dressel’s Oasis, I can easily see this becoming an EDC yo-yo for me. It’s capable, fun, but most of all tough! I can toss this in my bag and not worry about it getting banged up and damaged no matter what I throw at it. It’s certainly a top 5 organic for me, and I can’t imagine going anywhere without it.
Here’s what YoYoExpert has to say about the new release:
MK1 YoYos teams up once again with Spinworthy to bring you a fresh take on the beloved RBC—this time in plastic!
The Plasm is a polycarbonate yo-yo built for responsive play. Featuring a translucent, multi-piece construction, it offers a lightweight yet durable design that’s perfect for everyday throwing. Whether you’re working on classic tricks or just want something fun to carry on the go, the Plasm delivers smooth performance with a nostalgic feel. A modern responsive yo-yo designed to go wherever your creativity takes you.”
Yoyofriends just announced the Netrunner, and had this to say about it:
“Introducing Netrunner – yoyofriends’ first ever 7075+SS bimetal and hollow SS ring yoyo. Built for the current competition stage and beyond, Netrunner ushers in a new era of performance in the yoyofriends lineup.
Netrunner was used by both Stephen Madden and James Heder at [Pacific Northwest Regionals]. James also won [Northeast Regionals] with Netrunner.“
