Reach vs. Pivot: Any reviews?

[CorradoWest]

I'm starting to think about replacing my 12M Pivot. I really like the Pivot, but I have never really been a fan of the ATB control bar. I also have a 2020 9M Orbit and I like the Navigator 2021 bar that I got with it. I will at some point try the Pivot with the Navigator bar. I am also investigation the Reach 12M as I would like a three strut kite for my big kite.

I have searched on line for "Pivot vs. Reach" reviews but have found none. When I find a Reach review, it seems the there are always people asking for a review against the Pivot. Did I miss this comparison review or video?
I would like to get the forum's take if anyone has ridden these kites back to back. Ideally we get back to a place where we can demo again.
Thanks

[PAFF]

Fine kites..

If you use a surfboard on the 12m, go Reach, if its a TwinTip go Pivot..

If u like the topend on a 12m kite, go Pivot. If you like low end powred kiting, go reach.


IMHO, the Pivot is a fun devil in top end. Boy that baby can boost and still give you the feel of control. But i do like the light and easy feel of the Reach.

The blonde or brunette.

[Hugh2]

First try the Navigator bar with your Pivot. That’s my setup, although my biggest Pivot is 11m. Last summer when trying to decide on a new 10m I tried the Reach and Pivot back-to-back as rentals from REAL at OBX, riding at Salvo day use area on the sound, so flat water and mostly simple jumps. The Reach has a somewhat more rigid feel, presumably because it has fixed bridle lines, with no slider. The Pivot felt a bit more accommodating, especially of gusts, having as usual a single slider in the bridle. As I was already very comfortable with Pivots since 2015, I decided to stick with it and am very happy with the 2020. It is a major improvement over the earlier models in several ways you can read all about. But I imagine I would have liked the Reach too.

[luca]

Both are aweswome. I like the Navigator bar much more than Naish.
You can choose by Design and Brand what you prefer. It is like mentioned before. Blond or Brunette with perfect body... what do you prefer?! Both kites are perfect as an 3-Strut Allrounder.

[CorradoWest]

"Blonde or Brunette"....I guess either way I will be good to go.
Great feedback, I appreciate it.

[matth]

Don't you get a brunette when you flip a blonde upside down?? lol

[Dirk]

I prefer blond. The Pivot is blond. But to be fair I don´t know the brunette.. .

[Christoph81]

Hi! This question (Reach vs. Pivot) is really on my mind... as I do not have a chance to test both of them

Maybe someone can give a feedback especially to those questions which I'm interested in - especially for smaller kites like 7 and 9m:

1) Pop: Is there any significant differnce between the Reach and the Pivot? Which of them - in your opinion - does have more pop?

2) High jumps and control: I just managed to test an 8m Pivot at quite strong winds and jumping high was really insane. Compared to my RPMs it was much higher and at the same time I always was very confident and never felt somehow unsecure while going as big as possible. With the RPMs I really had more respect even if I did not go that big... But the stearing of Pivot was intuitive from the very first second.
So my question is: How would you compare this secure feeling of the Pivot with the Reach? And does the Reach goes similar big as the Pivot? What are your experiences?

3) Wave: Pivot or Reach? Or are both quite similar in terms of the drift and the light stearing?

Thanks in advance for your feedback
Cheers, Christoph

[Robsw6]

Don't you get a brunette when you flip a blonde upside down?? lol

nope a brunette with bad breath

[Gestalt]

For boosting go with the Pivot. For easy cruising around go with the Reach.
I ride my pivot with the North bar, never even tried the Naish bar.

The pivot has more bar pressure than the reach, which is the only thing I don't like about it. The reach is a decent all round kite, but nothing particularly special about it. I found the reach almost boring.
I tried a 9m reach in 30 knots winds, and yes it can jump, but as a beginner I find it too fast. The kite also had poor loft, so I would not recommend it for boosting.
I found jumping with a pivot is far more comfortable with way greater loft and control.

The pivot has more character, and I found much better drift. The pivot also turns better. In a fast cranking turn I found the reach would often stall/choke, letting me down just when I thought it could pull through.
Personally if I had to choose between the two, I would go with the Pivot.