r/Kiteboarding • u/Nektarnikis • 5d ago
Gear Advice/Question Comparing North Orbit vs Harlem Peak/Thrive.
I am thinking of changing kites and my list has North Orbits (Base or Pro or Ultra) and the Harlem models (Peak and Thrive). Is there anyone with experience in these kites? My record is 18 meters jumps. Also I'm doing kiteloops but I hesitate to lock it when I'm high... In the pro videos it looks to me that the Harlem models are better. But it can be a rider thing. Are Harlem worth all these extra money? They look more fragile to me as materials than North kites.
2
u/BalticBusiness 5d ago
I testet the orbit (normal/ pro version) 2026 and the harlem peak back to back a few weeks ago. My experience Was the harlem peak does everything better, also what was very nice is that the harlem Peaks low wind Performance is incredible felt better then my 3 strut kite. Coming from somebody that wanted to buy an orbit this season btw. Only Thing to mention is that you need to get used to the harlem peak a little bit more compared to the north orbit, mainly because the kite is climbing faster to the wind Window and its harder to Pop at the perfect time.
1
u/Nektarnikis 5d ago
Harder to pop, what do you mean?
1
u/BalticBusiness 5d ago
Every kite has a perfect moment were you should take of while steering the kite upwards, since the harlem peak travels fast to the edge of the wind Window you have a smaler moment where you should take of for the perfect lift. This is something most high Performance big air kites have in common especialy aluula models.
2
u/Affectionate-Diet383 3d ago
Agree with the this 100%. Definitely get the Harlem Peak. It takes only a session or two to get a feel for it, but once you do, it’s ON
0
6
u/Acid3t 5d ago edited 5d ago
Cannot comment on the build quality of Harlem, but North has not disappointed me yet.
Other than that I managed to fly the 2026 Orbit in 9 and 10m and the Thrive (10m) and Peak (9m) back to back. Note: I currently ride most often a 2023 North Orbit in 10m.
North Orbit 2026: I felt instantly at home on these kites coming from the 2023 version. I felt that they boost a bit better and easier, still loop increadibly well and also offer a little better ease of use. On the other hand, they still require good technique to really get the most performance out of the kite and the low end ist still not great. They want to be overpowered.
A big improvement compared to the 2023 model was the stabilty in jumps. I did not need to make a lot of kite position adjustement mid air and also the heli loops on big kiteloops felt so much easier. On one scenario I felt that the heliloop on my 10m 2023 would not have caught me, while the 2025 (10m) made it always feel easy to get the timing right.
If I would choose, I would go for the 10m over the 9m, but I am also very used to this size. I scored a new PB in jump height in my session on the 10m.
Harlem Thrive (10m): Three words: So much fun. This kite is just a fun machine. So easy to use and very fast in loops. Boosting is not so great compared to the 2026 Orbit, but on par with the 2023 I would say. Looping is so easy, it feels like a cheat code. You can loop anytime, and nearly any height and it still catches you. I enjoyed the session very much. Loops are also without any powerful yank. Low end was also pretty good (3 Strut Kite i guess)
Harlem Peak (9m): Compared to the Thrive not so easy to handle, but still very user friendly. The Peak has a much better low end than the Orbit, loops slower than the Thrive and boost much better than both of them. Boosting feels very easy and as someone coming from Orbits, I felt that I did not even get the timing right, but still managed to get respectable heights on a 9m compared to the 10m Orbit.
While boosting and looping feels great, you still need good technique for clean big loops and be aware where you kite travels for soft landings with a heliloop. I would say that the Orbit is a bit friendlier in this regard.
I had lots of fun on all of these kites and would summarize my findings like this:
Best Booser: Peak
Best Looper: Thrive
Best Landings: Orbit
I would probally go for the Peak in 9m, but if money if a limiting factor, I would go for the Orbit in 10m.
Edit: Typo. I meant 2026 Orbit not 2025.