North is a brand synonymous with quality and even though the Evo is their budget kitesurfing kite, it is still head and shoulders above the smaller brands in terms of build quality.
Last year the Evo was launched and it was a grunty powerhouse that needed a little care and attention when it came to the set up. This year the kite has been tweaked some more to improve it even further. The bridle has been made much simpler and shorter, the strut connections are even beefier, and easily the most solid connection we have ever seen for a strut. And the kite has been made 5th line compatible meaning you can chose between a standard 4 line set up, or opt for the added safety of a 5th line set up.
The graphics look really good on the Evo and there are some nice attentions to detail in regard to the reinforcement. The kite has been very well made and any stress points have been over-engineered to ensure a long life for the kite.
The Bar
You can choose between the standard 5th Element bar, which has been a favourite of North riders for years now, or opt for the 4-line Scepter bar. Going for the 5th line option adds the extra safety, makes the leading edge even more stable and also gives the kite a slightly more direct feel. In 4 line mode on the Scepter bar the kite has a softer easier feel to it. There is a new front line safety system on the 4 line set up so if it does all go wrong you can easily get the kite to flag out and completely depower. After trying the kite in both set-ups we preferred the 4 line setting purely for ease of use. We often feel that having a bridle and a 5th line is just extra hassle. One of the biggest complaints riders have about hybrid kits is the bridle, so why over complicate by adding a 5th line to it too? We didn’t notice any real performance advantages and with the front line safety system in place on the 4 line set up we felt it perfectly adequate. But it is personal preference of course!In the Air
Last year we grumbled that the North Evo took a bit of setting up to get it flying right straight out of the bag. We are pleased to report that this year the kite works on the standard Scepter bar right from the word go. No need to play around with the cleat to get the line lengths just right. The 2009 Evo is set up perfectly at the factory.
The Evo is often overlooked as a performance kite. In a range that includes the Rebel, Rhino and the Vegas it sometimes doesn’t appear on a rider’s radar. And that is a shame. Because the Evo is an awesome freeride kite, in fact it is pretty amazing at just about everything you throw at it. The kite has lots of low-end power, which means you can get away with using a smaller size, and a smaller size means you get a faster kite that you can throw around the window much quicker. A faster kite means the kite will move quicker through the air and this leads to some epic jumping capabilities. But whilst the kite is very quick it is also very stable and will happily track along in a straight line when left to its own devices.
Of course while the Evo packs a great performance punch it is also a very easy kite to fly. It is stable and forgiving, which means the beginners out there shouldn’t overlook it. You could quite easily learn with this kite, especially as it is so easy to relaunch. And yet once you had mastered the art of getting up on the board you could keep on using this kite for a few seasons to come and never really grow out of it. Of course the fantastic workmanship in the build will also ensure that it lasts that long too! Unhooked the kite works well and as a freestyle machine it excels again, giving the rider a c kite feel, especially when rigged in the 5th line mode. If you want to freeride and go big, stick with the 4 line set up, but if you want something with Vegas like qualities, with the added bonus of a super easy relaunch then the Evo in 5th line mode should do the trick.
Pros
Fantastic build quality, very stable and easy to fly with a simple relaunch. The Evo also has a bucket load of performance just waiting to be unleashed.
Cons
The Evo still doesn’t have one pump, which is a shame as although it is a budget kite, there are far cheaper kitesurfing kites that come with one pump as standard. Yes it is very well made, but one pump would turn this into a package that we wouldn’t be able to find fault with.
Overall
Perhaps the perfect all round kite, from beginner to expert the North Evo has something to offer. You won’t find quality like this on many other kites, the bar is excellent and the whole package is perfectly finished off.
For more info visit www.S2AS.com or www.northkites.com