2022 North Orbit Kite

by North • SKU 8715738739819
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$1,359.00
$499.99
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Product Information

REAL Review

Description

From North

Committing to overpowered airs and megaloops in gusty conditions demands an unwavering trust in your kite. Our iconic premier 5-strut kite delivers incredible top-end control and allows you to hold down more power than any other kite per square metre. Big jumps. Big hang time. Big wind range. This kite was designed to rocket you upwind fast, with effortless steering, extreme boosting and hangtime guaranteed to take your breath away. Tested by nature, proven on the podium. The Orbit has your back when the rules of gravity don’t apply. For 2022 we’ve made small refinements to the bridle, so the Orbit retains its light steering impulse, stability, high-end performance and kiteloop recovery. We’ve also further reduced the weight of the kite with new lighter weight bladders across more sizes, so the kite feels even lighter and more responsive in all conditions.

Features
  • NEW HYPERFLOW RAPID SINGLE-POINT INFLATION
    New ergonomic high volume single point inflation system with large diameter hose for rapid inflation and deflation. The cap and valve base have been updated for more comfortable opening and closing in colder conditions (when your fingers are freezing). The bayonet style main inflation valve compatible with most pumps. No adapter needed.
  • LIGHT BAR PRESSURE
    In 2022 we’ve made small refinements to the bridle, retaining the Orbit’s controlled response and fast steering, while giving the kite a more energetic feel with increased depower. Chief Kite Designer Pat Goodman has worked closely with team riders to put the kite through hardcore testing in a lot of wind. This enabled us to further improve the stability, the feedback and the steering behaviour, and to give the kite a lighter, more responsive feel.
  • AERODYNAMIC PROFILE TRANSITION PANELS
    We've added an extra panel that connects to the leading edge seam to ensure a precise lateral profile shape is maintained as close to the leading edge as possible, creating a smooth transition from the segmented leading edge to the curved canopy so the profiles are more uniform throughout the entire wing. The panels reduce inconsistencies in the profile, resulting in a smoother, more efficient kite, with more aerodynamic airflow and less turbulence.
  • KEVLAR REINFORCED STRUT SYSTEM WITH BRIDLE DEFLECTORS
    For the most accurate and durable connection between the strut and the leading edge. Bridle deflectors on the leading edge prevent the control lines from snagging.
  • POWERFUL AND EFFICIENT 2-STAGE ARC DESIGN
    Our two-stage arc design incorporates a flattened, more open arc shape through the central power-producing region of the kite, where the energy is most useful for you performance-wise. This gives you the highest amount of projected area and projected aspect ratio, meaning the Orbit has the best hangtime and power delivery for its size. Pulling the wingtips in towards the rider gives the kite more responsive steering and the smoothest transition of the profile attack angles when it's under load.
  • THINNER DIAMETER STRUTS
    The Orbit’s five struts are surprisingly slender when inflated, helping to keep the weight of the kite down while providing canopy stability.
  • NEW LIGHTWEIGHT BLADDERS IN MORE SIZES
    The lighter the kite, the faster the steering, the more lift it creates and the higher you jump. For 2022 lighter weight bladders have been adopted into more of the larger sizes in the range. This additional weight reduction helps the new Orbit fly more efficiently, so the kite feels even lighter and more responsive in all conditions – and particularly in light wind. It also improves the overall static balance of the wing by reducing weight in the front of the kite. Bladders make up a bigger weight percentage than any other material used in a kite. The new bladder material is 17% lighter than in previous bladders.
  • CUSTOM-TUNED PERFORMANCE
    The steering impulse options are the attachment points at the wing tip on your rear bridle. All our kites come delivered with what we feel is the optimum setting. On the Orbit, this is the lighter of the two, and gives the kite a lighter, more forgiving feeling. If you prefer a more direct steering and shorter depower travel, you're able to move the setting forward on the wing tip. This will increase the amount of depower and make the kite a little bit firmer in the steering and in the bar pressure. It gives the kite a more sporty feel, but requires a little more force.
  • HIGH PERFORMANCE HIGH TENACITY RIPSTOP CANOPY
    All our kites are manufactured using high tenacity polyester yarn canopy material for lightness, high tear strength, zero porosity and longevity.
  • HIGHEST QUALITY NO-PULLEY BRIDLE LINES
    Our high-quality spliced, pre-stretched bridle lines are pre-loaded and measured before cutting to improve accuracy and consistency. This results in reduced shrinkage, reduced elongation and improved longevity. Removing ALL pulleys from the bridle improves safety and gives the kite direct and precise handling.
  • DURALITE SEAM PROTECTION
    Lightweight reinforcement to protect from chafing and abrasion along the struts to the leading edge. Thin foam padding is inserted underneath to form a lightweight durable buffer which lifts the kite slightly off rough surfaces, and protects the stitching along the struts and leading edge seams.
  • STRATEGIC CANOPY REINFORCEMENT
    Lightweight canopy reinforcement material is used on the trailing edge and at the very leading edge to add strength and elongation control, protecting the lighter inner main canopy body and producing a durable kite that can hold its profile for increased performance and lift. Because the fabric is more conforming to the inflated structure than a traditional Dacron, it also helps create a smoother, cleaner entry on the profiles.
  • REDUCED DIAMETER LEADING-EDGE WITH SWEEP
    Gives the Orbit a low drag profile, making it sit further forwards in the wind window for incredible upwind performance. The high aspect ratio swept design allows more area in the centre of the kite for efficiency and easy roll to relaunch.
Package Includes
  • Kite
  • Kite Carry Bag
  • Repair Kit
  • Control Bar and Pump Sold Separately

Customer Reviews

Based on 5 reviews
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C
Chase
impressive once again

Love the kite and love the speed. North hit it. Not even a question for a big air kite.

Z
Zachary Huizing
First Kiteboarding Session in a year

I learned how to kite in the beginning of the Covid-19 Pandemic back in 2020, and I keep up with kiteboarding off and on for couple of months after my lessons. I just went back out kiteboarding for the first time in a year on a 9m North Orbit in roughly 15-17mph wind, and I weigh about 145lbs.

This kite was super easy to handle and a great kite to getting comfortable on a twin tip again. I was mainly focusing on relearning transition and going upwind. Going upwind on this kite felt super simple. During my session I dropped the kite once, and it was almost instant for relaunching the kite in the water. I think that the kite was stable, but I have nothing to compare to since I haven't kited in awhile. This kiteboarding session was the first time that I was able to really feel where the kite was in the air. It was really noticeable the amount of lift you get just from pulling the bar in. I didn't attempt to jump, but just riding the kite I notice it just felt like it wanted to boost.

The one thing I wasn't used to on this kite was where the kite sits when it is parked right above you. The Orbit likes to sit a bit more overhead when compare to other kites. It took a bit to get used to it when trying to relearn transitions, but overall it seems like a stellar kite!

Z
Zoe
Super well designed.

I have both taught kite lessons and had lots of sessions on the Orbit, and North has really hit the mark with this kite. They've geared it toward a certain kind of rider, which allows it to do the things it was designed to do with excellent performance. I feel much more comfortable riding overpowered on this kite than any other brand I've flown, and having a kite with that good of a top-end wind range is a huge advantage for me. I was able to go out and do kite loops on a 7m kite in 30-32mph wind average, when before I wouldn't have dared to be on anything bigger than a 5m.

In their improvements from previous years I've seen this kite become a lot more refined, with a huge emphasis on a precise balance in the bar pressure and reduced front and back stalling in the kite. For what it's designed to do, this kite is perfectly tuned and feels intuitive and sophisticated in its handling.

If you're looking for a kite that will give you outstanding support in windy conditions, great upwind ability, and incredible hang time and performance for boosting, this kite is certainly for you. North's quality construction and obsessive attention to detail continue to impress me, and keeps me riding their kites.

T
Travis Tabeling
Stellar Kite!

The new 2022 Orbit was one of the smoothest, most stable kites I have tested in a while, especially for a 5 strut boosting kite. I feel like they increased the bar pressure a bit, which is great and helps you keep track of where the kite is in the sky without looking at it. I really like how light the kite felt and I think that has to do with the decreased strut size. Build quality is excellent and I really like that they kept that awesome blue color. Jumping on the new Orbit is deliberate and makes you feel like you have a lot of control. It jumps just as high as anything else but it feels like it takes its time to get you up there and has the hang time to drop you back into the water nice and easy. Very happy with this new iteration.

R
Randall
Nice upgrade from previous years

After a great session on a 12m 2022 Orbit, its clear that they once again improved the Orbit year over year. 2020 to 2021 was a big improvement, and the same goes for 2021 to 2022. The kite is more stable, more responsive, and more nimble than previous years.

I found jumping on the Orbit to be really easy and intuitive. It pops off the water really well, gets great altitude, and its easy to come down for a soft controlled landing. Great kite for someone just starting that wants to get better at jumping, or for an expert looking to get some serious height to their jumps.

It seems like its overall more stable and responsive now. Throughout my entire session the kite just did exactly what I wanted it to. No weird quirks or problems, just a stable well designed and well tuned kite!

New colors for this year look killer as well. The colors are more vibrant and look great in the sky.

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