new reviews on 2021 North Orbits?

[Havre]

75 Kilos.
Wind was 28-30 in the middle. 25 lowest and gusts to 38.
my quiver is 12/10 reach, 9/7 Orbit 21

Thanks. I would really have to reconsider going all the way down to 8 then.

Might even get away with only two kites. 14 and 10. Hmm....

[dracop]

Promising that it sounds like the Orbit 2021 has improved on some of the seeming weaknesses in the 2020 version.

Would have loved to see some reviews comparing Orbit (2021) with the new Rebel. Also kites like the XR6 and Edge v10.

Hear hear! That would be an awesome review!

[Philicious]

[Ice101]

How do they compare to something like an xr6? Are they faster loop tighter. Do you get that 3 strut feeling from a five strut kite with the orbit?

[potts6449]

Waiting for a strong windy day. Got my 2021 Orbit in 9 and 7 but the last days I just had wind for my Reach 12m. Hopefully I can write something soon

What is the lowest you are twin-tipping on your 12m Reach? I am trying to get a feel for how realistic their wind range is they are promoting because it seems rather...far fetched..

[Blackened]

75 Kilos.
Wind was 28-30 in the middle. 25 lowest and gusts to 38.
my quiver is 12/10 reach, 9/7 Orbit 21

Thanks. I would really have to reconsider going all the way down to 8 then.

Might even get away with only two kites. 14 and 10. Hmm....

The 9/10m are different kites. I much prefer the 9 over the 10. The 9m is just that much quicker and better feel, while the 10m is more normalish and floaty. The 8m is a little too quick for me.

I'm 95kg and can use both the 9/10 in the same low end range (22-25kn, but obviously prefer the 10m). For high end, on the 9m I can handle 40kn gusts while the 10m is about 35. If I were lighter I would only have the 9m and not bother with the 10m.

[Havre]

75 Kilos.
Wind was 28-30 in the middle. 25 lowest and gusts to 38.
my quiver is 12/10 reach, 9/7 Orbit 21

Thanks. I would really have to reconsider going all the way down to 8 then.

Might even get away with only two kites. 14 and 10. Hmm....

The 9/10m are different kites. I much prefer the 9 over the 10. The 9m is just that much quicker and better feel, while the 10m is more normalish and floaty. The 8m is a little too quick for me.

I'm 95kg and can use both the 9/10 in the same low end range (22-25kn, but obviously prefer the 10m). For high end, on the 9m I can handle 40kn gusts while the 10m is about 35. If I were lighter I would only have the 9m and not bother with the 10m.

Thanks. That is excellent feedback.

Seems like I don't have to go smaller than 9 then. The "problem" (which is a bit of a luxury problem) is that I don't want a kite bigger than something comparable to a Rebel 13m. I love my Zephyr, and I have used it a lot, but I'm kind of done with kites that large now (unless new materials completely changes the characteristics of kites). However, I have had a lot of fun borrowing a Rebel 13m and in the Oslo-area where I live you will quite often get wind suitable for that kind of kite. So I was thinking maybe a 14m Orbit 2021 would do the same "job". My 12m Enduro is quite often just a little too small to really ride under those sub-20 knots conditions. It works, but it's not exactly action filled.

I could obviously go 9-12-14. Not a huge deal, but not ideal in terms of covering the biggest possible wind range as those kites would overlap each other quite significantly. 9 and 12 is fine (at least it is for the Enduro), but 12 and 14 is quite marginal. Even if the Orbit 14 might be a bit different and more light wind in its characteristics than the rest of the range?

[gmb13]

Thanks. I would really have to reconsider going all the way down to 8 then.

Might even get away with only two kites. 14 and 10. Hmm....

The 9/10m are different kites. I much prefer the 9 over the 10. The 9m is just that much quicker and better feel, while the 10m is more normalish and floaty. The 8m is a little too quick for me.

I'm 95kg and can use both the 9/10 in the same low end range (22-25kn, but obviously prefer the 10m). For high end, on the 9m I can handle 40kn gusts while the 10m is about 35. If I were lighter I would only have the 9m and not bother with the 10m.

Thanks. That is excellent feedback.

Seems like I don't have to go smaller than 9 then. The "problem" (which is a bit of a luxury problem) is that I don't want a kite bigger than something comparable to a Rebel 13m. I love my Zephyr, and I have used it a lot, but I'm kind of done with kites that large now (unless new materials completely changes the characteristics of kites). However, I have had a lot of fun borrowing a Rebel 13m and in the Oslo-area where I live you will quite often get wind suitable for that kind of kite. So I was thinking maybe a 14m Orbit 2021 would do the same "job". My 12m Enduro is quite often just a little too small to really ride under those sub-20 knots conditions. It works, but it's not exactly action filled.

I could obviously go 9-12-14. Not a huge deal, but not ideal in terms of covering the biggest possible wind range as those kites would overlap each other quite significantly. 9 and 12 is fine (at least it is for the Enduro), but 12 and 14 is quite marginal. Even if the Orbit 14 might be a bit different and more light wind in its characteristics than the rest of the range?

Hi,

I have spaced my Orbit Range 14, 11 and 9. I find that covers a large windrange for boosting and oldschool type riding for me. For Oldschool. I add the 8m extension lines to the bar and with that the 14 has amazing hangtime and works very well for Oldschool riding, even in light winds on a TT.

--
Gunnar

[Blackened]

Thanks. That is excellent feedback.

Seems like I don't have to go smaller than 9 then. The "problem" (which is a bit of a luxury problem) is that I don't want a kite bigger than something comparable to a Rebel 13m. I love my Zephyr, and I have used it a lot, but I'm kind of done with kites that large now (unless new materials completely changes the characteristics of kites). However, I have had a lot of fun borrowing a Rebel 13m and in the Oslo-area where I live you will quite often get wind suitable for that kind of kite. So I was thinking maybe a 14m Orbit 2021 would do the same "job". My 12m Enduro is quite often just a little too small to really ride under those sub-20 knots conditions. It works, but it's not exactly action filled.

I could obviously go 9-12-14. Not a huge deal, but not ideal in terms of covering the biggest possible wind range as those kites would overlap each other quite significantly. 9 and 12 is fine (at least it is for the Enduro), but 12 and 14 is quite marginal. Even if the Orbit 14 might be a bit different and more light wind in its characteristics than the rest of the range?

What year is that Rebel? The 2020 changed materials and made the glide/float incredible (it also killed a bit of the top end, but I love the change). I have a 15/12 airstyle setup for <25kn.

You could probably get away with the 9-14 Orbit, but it'll be pushing the overlap a bit. The 2021s will be better for this as I feel the low end improved over the 2020 by ~1kn and the high end is pretty much the same. You could also go smaller with the 13m and get extensions as Gunnar said. While the larger Orbits are different setups to the smaller ones, they're definitely still quicker than the Rebels (assuming that's what you're looking for).



PS. As a side note if you're considering doing a triple setup, Marc Jacobs still does most of his megaloop tricks on the 2021 11m. Not sure what your intended use is though.

[Havre]

What year is that Rebel? The 2020 changed materials and made the glide/float incredible (it also killed a bit of the top end, but I love the change). I have a 15/12 airstyle setup for <25kn.

You could probably get away with the 9-14 Orbit, but it'll be pushing the overlap a bit. The 2021s will be better for this as I feel the low end improved over the 2020 by ~1kn and the high end is pretty much the same. You could also go smaller with the 13m and get extensions as Gunnar said. While the larger Orbits are different setups to the smaller ones, they're definitely still quicker than the Rebels (assuming that's what you're looking for).



PS. As a side note if you're considering doing a triple setup, Marc Jacobs still does most of his megaloop tricks on the 2021 11m. Not sure what your intended use is though.

2019.

There is no 13m for the Orbit 2021.

Yes. Exactly why the Orbit 2021 intrigues me. I love the boost from the Rebel (at least 2019), but I also love how smooth and fairly quick the Enduro is. So even though the Rebel have given me the "wow-factor" when borrowing it I'm not sure if I would enjoy it that much longer term. The 2019 13m is so so slow. And also the yank is cool when you jump on a 13m in marginal winds, but a little less yank for looping would probably be preferable in the smaller sizes. And lastly, not very important, but all other things equal I do prefer the low V. That wouldn't rule out Duotone though. I am still interested in hearing what people say about the 2021 Rebel - and next year if they come out with a SLS version that would be very very interesting.

So my thinking is if the Enduro is on the left and the Rebel 2019 is all the way on the right - then it sounds like the Orbit 2021 is somewhere in between leaning towards the Rebel. Which would basically be what I would be looking for.

9 - 11 - 14 works of course. My initial thinking was 8-11-14. But sounds like 9 is small enough as I am a big rider - and I don't mind riding with power.

I will not go 9 - 14 though. The overlap I guess is doable in the sense that I could ride, but too often the wind in Norway will be somewhere around 12-14 in terms of kite size. Many of the best days are the ones where I can ride my 12m Enduro. So few good days so can't "waste" them riding underpowered with a 9 or completely overpowered with a 14.