Epic v10 gen 4 or Nelo 550 ??

I'm thinking of the Epic V10 gen 4 (Ultra) or the Nelo 550 (wwr) as an stable alternative to my Epic v12. Have any of you tried both?

I paddle in the ocean and flat sea conditions are pretty much non existent

I love the seat in my v12 2G and little worried to change brand after many years of not fitting Fenn skis, but intrigued by having a nimble 550 cm ski even if little wet.

Also curious about the primary stability of the Nelo vs Epic.

Looking froward to hearing your views

If you like the v12 then you should go for the new v10. The nelos are good designs, but surf very different than the longer boats. They are very responsive and require more driver input than the epics. Not better or worse, just very different. The epic v10 g4 is an amazing boat from everything i have heard and a safer bet if you can not test them back to back in waves.

I have had my V10 4g since April 2024 after purchasing it in January 2024. I still have my 550L 2G, Think 6, V9 and V14. Since getting older, I have split my time between running, cycling, and paddling since 2021. In June I raced my v10 in my race, 13 miles in conditions(small bay but challenging, white caps, refractory, downwind, slop/chop, nothing clean. At this point, this was the biggest condition I had paddled it in. I was so pleased with this ski. With limited paddling, I only braced once, going between one rock and the shore.

I bought this ski having never paddled it, based on the bucket size, overall shape, and low gunwales for remounting. It is a wonderful ski. Stability is relative to each individual but this ski is very, very stable for me. I was taken aback by how stable it is in all conditions. I don't paddle advanced skis in the ocean anymore, only intermediate skis with few exceptions so I am not coming off paddling advanced skis getting into the V10.

Of all the skis I have paddled and reviewed over the past 21 years, I would compare this to the Huki S1X Special. I would probably still have an S1X special if the hump had been lower and the leg length had smaller increments in adjustment. This S1X was not the fastest ski but it was fast enough, surfed well, stable in big water, and looked awesome.

The V10 4G does everything well with a great-fitting bucket for the small to medium/large paddler. It does not have any handles forward or aft and none for carrying. I have paddled so many skis, but this is one of my all-time favorites without any hesitation.

It handles so differently than 550, dramatically different. 550 is less stable in all conditions and requires you to be more attentive since the bow is always moving, and rudder placement is not ideal. I still paddle my 550 in flat conditions since super comfortable, very light(22lbs), easy to carry, and has a narrow catch.

That’s a pretty glowing review. I’m currently paddling a gen 3 v10 ultra. Would it be worth upgrading to the gen 4?

Thank you Wesley
Awsome review. I bought a V10 G4 without trying the V10 or the 550. The key for me became to keep the Epic seat which fits me so well and the reports on its stability.
I’m a big fan of primary stability to keep power up. Epic’s stability profile fits me very well to other brands. To me, low primary stability/ twitchyness equals loss off power, speed and fun in the DW wrong places and times

After 4 sessions in the ocean, I can support everything Rob and Wesley have written. Very happy choice for me. I have a Fenn XT 2010 with a 9 inch DK rudder and I would actually say the new V10 is closer til the Fenn XT than the V12 G2 in stability.

… and the 4 small silly unneccessary designs flaws ( in my opinion) remain on the new model:
The two always falling off rubber pads on the footboard
The always falling off rubbercap on the drain lever
Thin and flimsy footstrap
Floppy pedals falling back

…. These are all well known easy fixes.


Last item for me is the standard 9 inch elliptical rudder. The rudder is very aggressive and adds instability with small rudder input. I prefer a less agressive 7-8inch DK rudder with a 30 degree rake on my elite skis. I find it is super effective and adds primary stability in the ocean. So a new rudder is inbound.