2018 North Rebel vs 2017 North Evo Review

[geron]

"If you change the wingtip line attachment on an evo to Soft setting, the kite can turn in place on a dime. This makes it quick to change direction and redirect the kite.
For directional riding in waves go Neo, then Dice, then Evo. Avoid the Rebel.
For Old School tricks go Rebel. Old school freeride is really the only sector the Rebel has over the Evo imo. It is what most twin tip riders do though."

Thanks, I will try the soft setting (I have never played with this).
I ride old school so that is why I liked the Rebel; the thing is, I want to experiment doing different things and it sounds like you can do more things with the Evo.
I like doing downwind runs moving the kite alot and it seems that, with the Evo, I could have more tools to work with.

Then again, the rebel is so smooth.

[Teabageppo]

Be interesting to see where the 2018 evo goes into the mix in all of this with 3 struts then.

The 2018 rebel is obviously not a replacement for the 5 strut 2017 evo, or more to the point doesn't have enough of the evo characteristics for current evo riders to go...hey why not a rebel now (which is where 3 of guys on evos I ride with are considering).

I will get a 2018 rebel, and ride it back to back with my 2017 rebels...alongside the lads on evos. Soon. That will be a useful comparison; to see how different this new rebel actually is.

[Chicken-loop]

Sounds like to me you have no idea at all about the rebel nor loaded fifths, hence I also doubt your ability to compare kites...to be completely frank.

Jebus Eppo... That's a bit harsh Bloke..especially when he was was only comparing a 2017 Evo against 2018 Rebel and stated that doesn't have experience with the 2017 Rebel. Been hitting the syrup after a stressful and long term?

Dracop... Thanks for the feedback and not all Ozzies are bad attitude and backwater....

[Miltsface]

To the OP and others who have tried the 2018 Rebel, have you ever flown the Fuse, and would you say new Rebel is similar to that kite?

[TahoeGator]

Since North is going to be changing the EVO so drastically, it brings up the question of whether the 2018 Rebel is a replacement for the Evo.

Anyone know what North if planning to change in 2018 Evos?

[maffhieu]

Since North is going to be changing the EVO so drastically, it brings up the question of whether the 2018 Rebel is a replacement for the Evo.

Anyone know what North if planning to change in 2018 Evos?

The EVO is going to have 3 struts instead of 5

[TahoeGator]

Hmmm...and 3 will be better ?

[dracop]

Impossible to say altho in my case I have become a fan of five strut kites. I really wish North would just do a color change instead of reincenting the wherl; the 2017 Evo is awesome.

[kateba]

I’ve been using 2017 Evos and like them very much and recently got an 8m 2018 Rebel. I am still not sure how I feel about it, great hang time but feels less smooth overall in terms of power delivery. But what I am most concerned about is that if I don’t sheet out while coming down by quite a bit the kite stalls or something and I crash (bad landing nothing traumatic). I normally rarely crash and also am not tall so sheeting our while in the air and especially when landing feels awkward. Is this normal for Rebels? Or is it the 8m size? Strangely I have an 8m SB with the same sheeting out thing which is part of why I got an 8 Rebel. My 10 and 12 Evos never need to be sheeted our when in air or landing. I can make it work but feels weird and I think it implies it is backstalling in air. This is in powered conditions 22kn I weigh 54k. I understand kites especially Rebel backstalling when edging hard but that hasn’t been my problem which is occurring in the air and I obviously got this kite for big air not lawn mowing. By the way when sheeting out the Rebel the landing is feather soft and massive hangtime but just don’t like having to do that. Do other Rebel flyers have to do this especially on smaller ones? Do other kites do this too? I’m using same 2017 quad bar on Evos and Rebels. Also does anyone fly 2017 Evos in sub-10 sizes and if so are they stable and give good hangtime like bigger ones? My SBs are twitchy in 6 and 8 so thought Rebels would be better and that is true but wondering if I should have bought Evos. Also torn because Evo is supposed to change a lot? So I don’t want to become “dependent” on 2017 Evos if it’s not going to be a good big air kite anymore.

[mkNY]

I’ve been using 2017 Evos and like them very much and recently got an 8m 2018 Rebel. I am still not sure how I feel about it, great hang time but feels less smooth overall in terms of power delivery. But what I am most concerned about is that if I don’t sheet out while coming down by quite a bit the kite stalls or something and I crash (bad landing nothing traumatic). I normally rarely crash and also am not tall so sheeting our while in the air and especially when landing feels awkward. Is this normal for Rebels? Or is it the 8m size? Strangely I have an 8m SB with the same sheeting out thing which is part of why I got an 8 Rebel. My 10 and 12 Evos never need to be sheeted our when in air or landing. I can make it work but feels weird and I think it implies it is backstalling in air. This is in powered conditions 22kn I weigh 54k. I understand kites especially Rebel backstalling when edging hard but that hasn’t been my problem which is occurring in the air and I obviously got this kite for big air not lawn mowing. By the way when sheeting out the Rebel the landing is feather soft and massive hangtime but just don’t like having to do that. Do other Rebel flyers have to do this especially on smaller ones? Do other kites do this too? I’m using same 2017 quad bar on Evos and Rebels. Also does anyone fly 2017 Evos in sub-10 sizes and if so are they stable and give good hangtime like bigger ones? My SBs are twitchy in 6 and 8 so thought Rebels would be better and that is true but wondering if I should have bought Evos. Also torn because Evo is supposed to change a lot? So I don’t want to become “dependent” on 2017 Evos if it’s not going to be a good big air kite anymore.

Interesting. I have 7/9/12 2017 EVOs and the smaller sizes jump just as great as the larger. Can keep them sheeted in on big boosts no problem. I will sheet out sometimes to slow down the kite down on rotations, but as long as you redirect properly no need.

I would rate hangtime at 8/10 and am really curious how the new Rebel improves on this. My biggest concern is the loss of all around abilities going from EVO to new Rebel. For an all around kite EVOs have great turning speed for occasional loops and ok drift. Drift is especially nice when you make a mistake during boosts or rotational maneuvers as the kite doesn’t stall and fall out of the sky. I have a feeling the new Rebel will be less forgiving due to higher aspect.

The new 2018 EVO is really the joker here. If they can keep the same EVO characteristics and potentially add a bit to hangtime I would be sold as the 2017s are really hard to beat for all around fun.