Quick review on North’s 2016 kites and twintips

North is a big brand as in very well known around the world, but also in terms of the amount of different types of hardware. For 2016 North has roughly 8 different kites, 10 twintips and 8 different wave boards. An incredible amount and most of them are redesigned every year. Is this redesign a marketing driven thing or can we pin point some real improvements? To give you an hint; most North quiver is not really changed but tweaked.

We had the chance to ride most of the 2016 equipment for a couple of hours. Below you will find some highlights of the first impressions we had from it. In a further stage we give you more detailed reviews on all main stream kites and twintips.

Jaime

The Jaime has been in the North kiteboarding range for over ten years. We rated the 2015 version as a fast, upwind miracle but a bit stiff. It clearly is faster than the more comfortable (especially on the landings) Team Series but also has less pop. Apart from the graphics hard to judge in one session if the 2016 version really feels different from 2015. However it’s outline for 2016 is definitely changed. It’s wider to make you pop better and your landings easier. According to North the new Jaime is now more a freestyle board with a new Carbon Beam construction, which should give the board a lively and eager feeling on the water.

North 2016 Gambler and Hyperlite POP boots

 

Gambler (on Pop boots from Hyperlite)

A park and wakestyle, very curved and flexible board. To be used on flat water preferably with some kickers and sliders. But it is not an obvious choice for most of us. The Gambler is very slow and won’t go upwind. Unlike we have
seen before with other boards (like the F-one Acid, labelled as new School or the wake-style performance Bucca from Vanhunks) using the Gambler out of its intended usage is a  big no-no. If you use where its meant for this, hit the park on the kite or the cable, the 2016 Gambler has a real nice new feature: The Track System is positioned in one line, so boots can be ridden on both edges. This way the Gambler can be switched and used -in theorey- much longer. The new double concave offers quite good grip so you should easily be able to ride it without fins.

The 2016 POP boots clearly changed a lot from 2015. They seemed changed both in shape (wider nose) and stiffness. Although it is a bit unfair to compare a used (2015) boot to a new boot, it still felt like the 2016 POP boot is harder, not to say less comfortable, on the inside.

Team Series

Team Series bottom differences from 2015

The Team Series board, now at 999,- Euro’s, is part of the top end line of North. We reviewed the 2015 version concluding it, although not being the fastest or at its best going upwind, has a good combination of pop and comfort. The first few sessions we had with the 2016 version of the TS didn’t reveal any major differences. Some details did change, like the shape of the bottom, specifically the bottom side has different channels as in 2015. Something to investigate further when we have a chance to ride the board a bit longer. 

 

 

Vegas

Bridle options Vegas 2016

The non bridled 100% freestyle Vegas is tweaked up a bit from 2015. The Vegas -of course- still needs a fair amount of input and probably has the worst wind range of all North kites, but when used properly in the right conditions (which is not too underpowered) is the most rewarding kite from the North range.

It has almost unlimited setting options, both on the bridles as on the tips (on the contrary for example to the Rebel  which just has one option). Aaron Hadlow gives his explanation on the different settings in a video here. To judge the changes to the 2015 version we need to take the kite out a lot longer, which we certainly hope to do so.

North Dice 2016

Dice

If it was a fish, the Dice would be a dolphin; friendly, playful, fast and everybody likes to touch it. The Dice, 2015, was our favourite North kite. A good cross over kite if you can’t choose, usable for most riding styles and probably the best choice for 90% of the kiters out there. For this reason the Dice will have our first review on the 2016 North kites. And yes, the 2016 version has been improved from 2015. Smoother and a bit more low end.

Rebel

The old time favourite for the numerous freeriders out there. It’s the ultimate jumping machine with exceptional hangtime. The Rebel has it’s own kite category. You hate it or you love it. Although not my favourite type of kite, it’s North’s pinnacle for a long time. And there is a reason for that. The low end of this kite is really incredible and jumping is made very easy. You don’t have to be technically perfect to boost huge airs. Nothing has changed so far in 2016. The pop is amazing and hang-time is like before, crazy. The low-end keeps surprising when everybody is on foil kites or 14+ a rebel 12 does the job. The kite is a bit more technical then others, its doesn’t like that you keep pulling the bar, it needs a little bit of breath before it gives what you expect. The aspect ratio of the 2016 kites have been changed. The smaller sizes in the range now feature a lower aspect ratio while the bigger ones got an higher aspect ratio for higher jumps and better hangtime.

Split point Quad bar

Quad bar

The 2016 Quad bar didn’t change much except for one major detail. The way the front line split and how it works out when using your safety release has been redesigned completely. It now has a metal tube connection where the 2015 version just had 2 rings. We didn’t like this 2-ringed solution North came up with (initially end of 2015 The North Quad bar turned up with a square piece of plastic which damaged the front line). The 2016 split looks much better, but has one disadvantage; The front lines are unequal in length. A small detail which will only be a hassle when replacing one of them; Ordering it at your local shop you should at least give the following information: “Can I have the red front line, 22m, 2016, North Quad bar version please”. For the rest this amazing multi adjustable bar (have a look at the 2016 5th element video which explains also the Quad features) is unchanged from 2015.

Most of the products described here are already for sale. Please note that not all 2016 versions (for example the Evo) are on the market yet.

List prices (for Europe) have gone up from 2015 to 2016 about 10-12%

Test twintip North Team Series 138*41cm 2015

North Team Series 2015

How much better is a twintip that costs approximately a 1000,- euro’s compared to cheaper twintips with similar features? We tested the North Team Series 138*41 cm 2015 to get the answer.

North online board selection tool

North produces a large quiver of kiteboards. With 10 different (in 2015) twintip boards to choose from it’s a good thing they have made an online tool to point you in the right direction. When you set this tool to “100% freestyle” it suggests 3 twintips; The Team Series, the Team Series Hadlow version and the already tried and tested Jaime.

 

Review: Vanhunks Twin Tips Manakel and Bucca

The South African brand Vanhunks sales skateboard, surfboards, SUP, kite surfboards and twin tips. They have  three different twin tip models which are made in two to three different versions and are (except for the Anemoi) available in a short and a long version and most of them come in different colour options. Apart from the colour options there are 17 (!) different twin tips available. Apart from the size, Vanhunks still have nine different twin tips to chose from. To make a good selection from those nine different boards is a bit overwhelming. Too bad the graphical explanation on the Vanhunks website it too difficult to really help you make a choice. The two boards are 599,- Euro each (including straps and pads), which is not really expensive.

Vanhunks Manakel Cross Over white bottom

We used two of the Vanhunks twin tips and checked if they are also in it’s element in another continent. We tried the Manakel Cross over white 137*41 (large) version and the Bucca Flex 135*41 (small). We tested the boards in open sea with 25-28 knots of wind with medium waves with different kites like the F-one Bandit 7, the North Dice 2015 and the Ocean Rodeo Razor 2015. We didn’t do any freestyle moves, but we could test them for old school big air’s, upwind capabilities, comfort, speed and handling of chop.

Review: JN Kites twintip Chit Chat Reloaded 134 and the Peacemaker 136

Peacemaker (L) Chitchat (R) bottoms

Chit Chat reloaded 134

Today is gonna be a good day. One of the many cheering lines of the JN Kites Twintip Chit Chat reloaded. It has over 20 randomly chosen sentences written down, both on the top and the bottom of the board, which makes the looks of this board unique and cheerful. The Chit Chat is described as a an unrivalled freestyler in terms of pop, speed and landings.  We tested the Chit Chat reloaded 134 in several conditions; with 20 till 28 knots in choppy till rough (2.5 m waves) sea. Not the perfect conditions for a test of a freestyle board, but we tested the Chit Chat 134 * 40 cm to see if it is also in it’s element out of pure freestyle conditions. This should work out not too bad, since the aim is to bring you to the next level in freestyle and freeride. The 134 is the second out of the four possible sizes. We reckon this board is suited for kiters till 70 kg. A more heavy (or bigger than roughly 175cm) person will notice the 134 board gives some spray in the face and needs to get a bigger sizes board (138 or even 142). The board has a honeycomb core combined with a layer of carbon and is about 150 euro’s more than the Peacemaker. Both boards weigh, with dry straps, around five kg. The weight feeling while kiting feels medium till light; a bit lighter than most other boards, but not as light as for example the ultra-light North Select twintip.

Board Review: North Select 133*41 2015

According to the North website their North Select twintip is a 100% freeride board. It is described as a fast, light and responsive board and is build with Textreme Carbon. Out of curiosity we checked what Textreme Carbon actually is. Apparently it is not just a marketing term, but an existing material.
TeXtreme is the trade name of Oxeon’s “spread tow” carbon fiber composite. TeXtreme is different than traditional carbon fiber because the individual fibers are configured like extremely small ribbons, not round strands of carbon as with conventional carbon fiber. The wider, flatter orientation of TeXtreme carbon fiber means the individual carbon fibers nest closer to one another, producing a denser, stiffer, stronger interlace of carbon fibers. Since the carbon fibers are arrayed in closer proximity to each other there is less room for the matrix material, the “glue” that makes carbon fiber solid. Less matrix means more carbon and more carbon means better stiffness and energy management. It also means North can use less carbon fiber to produce an even stronger and lighter board.

Test Twintip North Jaime 133*40 2015

The North Jamie board is one of the most popular boards of North. The 2015 model is already the 10th edition. It got its name from Tarifa veteran kiter Jaime Herraiz.  The website of Northkiteboarding has sophisticated choose&slide features which pops up “best match” with the Jaime when selecting 25% Freeride and 100% Freestyle. The Jaime, according to the North website, is “The real beauty of the Jaime however is its forgiving nature; it’s one of the easiest boards to ride, yet it is still packed with performance “.

Test Twintip Airush Livewire Team 140 *42 cm 2015 model (boots)

Riding with boots is something all freestyle pro’s do. We rarely see other riders with boots. Why is this? And can non-pro’s (or non-wannabe’s) also enjoy riding with boots? We tried the 2015 Airush Livewire 140cm with AP Boots and see if we could enjoy it.

First time one boots

We rode the boots in 2 situations; underpowered with an 11m in 17 knots in open ocean with 1
m waves and nicely powered with 25 knots onshore wind on open ocean with 1,5 meter waves on a 9m.

So how does it feel? Heavy! The first thing (after having struggled at the edge of the water getting in the boots) you notice is the additional weight. It is only a few kilo’s, but it is enough to feel a difference especially while jumping. Another disadvantage of riding with boots underpowered is that they have considerately more drag than straps. So it was pretty difficult in our underpowered 17 knot session to get going. Each time a wave catches the board it is getting pushed back on the boots. All though we rode a relatively large board, riding with boots is not the perfect choice in (light) 17 knots wind conditions with waves.