North Orbit vs Ozone Edge VT: Big Air From Two Schools

Anyone who jumps seriously ends up facing this choice. Both kites are benchmarks in their category and both cost around two thousand. Here is what actually separates them.

The numbers

• North Orbit 2026: sizes 5 to 15 m², the 10 m at 1 949 €. Plus the Orbit Ultra with its fractional 5.9 / 6.6 / 7.3 / 8.1 / 9 range.
• Ozone Edge VT: sizes 6 to 18 m², flat aspect ratio 5.41, projected 3.04, 10 m weight 3.1 kg. From 1 889 €.
• Ozone Edge VT Ultra-X: same sizes, 10 m weight 2.7 kg. From 2 819 €.

The base versions are priced comparably. So the choice is not about money.

Difference one: the size range

The most honest indicator of purpose, and where we always start.

The Edge climbs to 18 metres. Eighteen is light wind and upwind performance. A kite with a racing past, and the range confirms it.

The Orbit drops to 5 metres. A five is a great deal of wind — the top of the range.

The ends of a range reveal priorities: the Edge leans towards light wind and distance, the Orbit towards strong wind and height. And both are honestly called big-air kites.

Difference two: how each brand structures its range

Here it gets interesting.

Ozone uses round sizes and separates characters by model: the Edge for height and upwind, the Vortex for loops, the Reo for waves. Want a different character, buy a different model.

North uses fractional sizes in the Ultra version and separates characters by build: standard, Pro, Ultra. One model, three variations.

The practical conclusion: Ozone is easier if you know your discipline precisely. North is easier if you are building a quiver and want exact sizes.

Difference three: what we know about weight

Care is needed here, because the data is asymmetric.

For the Edge VT we have the manufacturer's full table: the 10 m weighs 3.1 kg, the Ultra-X 2.7 kg. For the Orbit the manufacturer does not publish detailed weights in our catalogue.

What can be said honestly: both brands run a lightweight line (Ultra-X at Ozone, Ultra at North), and the logic is identical — less weight, earlier lift, longer hangtime.

The pricing of those lines is opposite. Ozone's Ultra-X costs 930 € more than the base. North's Orbit Ultra currently costs about the same as the base, because it belongs to the previous season. That makes the North Ultra markedly better value for the same idea.

Difference four: catalogue depth by season

A non-obvious point that decides it for many people.

North has four Orbit seasons in the catalogue: 2022, 2024, 2025, 2026, spanning 750 € to 1 729 €.

Ozone's Edge VT is essentially the current line plus the Ultra-X.

So: if you will take last season, North gives you a big-air kite at half the price. If you want the current model, the brands converge.

Choosing in under a minute

Light-wind spot, upwind matters → the Edge, for the 18 m.

Strong-wind spot, stormy sessions → the Orbit, for the 5 m.

Building a three- or four-kite quiver → the Orbit Ultra, for even steps in power.

Limited budget → a previous-season Orbit; the saving is twofold.

Already on Ozone → the Edge; your bar and habits carry over.

Want a light kite without paying extra → the Orbit Ultra: a lightweight build at base-model money.

What this difference does not decide

Honestly: both kites jump higher than the overwhelming majority of riders can use.

If you are not consistently clearing five metres, the gap between the Orbit and the Edge matters far less than the gap between your technique now and a season from now. In that case the money belongs in lessons rather than in a kite.

Common questions

Which one jumps higher?

There is no honest answer separate from the rider and the conditions. Both sit in the category's top three, and the gap between them is smaller than the spread between riders.

What matters more, kite weight or area?

Area decides takeoff; weight and aspect ratio decide hangtime. Which is why both brands offer lightweight versions.

Can I use one bar for both?

Formally yes, if both are four-line. But factory trim differs between brands — see our bar comparison.

Should a big-air kite be my first?

No. Plenty of lift where you cannot yet control takeoff is a poor combination. Buy an all-rounder.

Which is better value?

A previous-season North: four years of Orbit in the catalogue with a twofold price spread.

Where to look

North Orbit 2026, Orbit Ultra, Ozone Edge VT and the Edge VT Ultra-X. Full reviews: Orbit, Edge VT Ultra-X.