i have a 2018 Evo 12 m and a 2018 rebel 11 m and i am mostly in old scool ( 50 years old and never unhook ) i did ride them back to back quit a few times and i think these kite's are far from the same .
I have also a Evo 2017 9 m so can compare with the 2018 model . I think the Evo 2018 is a lot different than the 2017 version in the positive way . It is faster , more playful but still very stable .
The low end is super even so is the high end . If you use a surfboard the Evo is really good . I find it to be a very around kite , easy to use and fun to ride .
The Rebel on the other hand is a kite i have never had before ( because off th e5th line ) and is a more specific kite . If you like to back - and front roll ( with or without kite loop ) dark slide ect both kite's are good but the rebel has such a precise feel i like a lot .
The Rebel low end is not as good as the Evo's imo , and i mean the rebel needs more wind to enjoy the kite , while the Evo is playful even in the lightest conditions .
BUT ..... Jumping on the Rebel is unbelievable for me . The way it behaves from start to landing is way much better than the Evo ( not that the Evo is bad or something ) .
This kite is really made for this and get you higher and keep you longer in the air and in such a easy controllable way you feel confident to try a lot off things you did not before ! ( in my first perfect powered session i broke my record and jumped 10,9 m )
So i am learning to kite loop ( not mega loop ) and here is the Rebel far more easy than the Evo to ! The rebel does not pull so hard as the Evo and for a beginner this means better control and again more confidence .
i am not a very good kiter , but most off the people around me are not . For the very good kiters out there there will be other way's to judge the kite's i am sure !
For me having RRD , Switchblade 2014 , Best TS 2016 , Bandit 2016 , Naish pivot 2015 , 2016 , 2017 the North kite's are the one's with the biggest windrange off all and have a easy enjoyable feel to have fun , and that is what a hobby is all about !
I will go for Evo's in 12 and maybe even 11 m ( because the rebel11 m is slower than the Evo 12 ) , but below the rebel stool my heart ( have a rebel 9 and 8m coming next week
Enjoy kiting everybody !!!