Harlem Brand Review: Dutch Kites and Your Own Colourway to Order

Twelve catalogue positions, prices from 515 € to 2 794 €, and the option to order a kite in your own colours. Here is the small Dutch brand.

What is in the range

• Kites: 5 models — THRIVE, Flow, HADLOW PRO, PEAK, Thrive LiteX.
• Kiteboards: 4 — LAUNCH, Rise, ASCENT, DESCENT.
• Bars: 2 — the LEAD BAR and the HADLOW PRO BAR.
• Wing: the PACE — 1 094 €.

Kites: five models, five characters

THRIVE — 1 338 €, sizes 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17 m. The all-rounder, reviewed separately.

Flow — 1 784 €, sizes 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 m.

HADLOW PRO — 1 994 €, sizes 9, 11, 13 m.

PEAK — 2 144 €, sizes 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 m.

Thrive LiteX — 2 794 €, sizes 15 and 17 m.

What sits behind each model and how to choose: our Harlem kites guide.

What the size ladders say

A method we apply to every brand, and here it is unusually clear.

THRIVE: 10 to 17 m. Nothing below ten metres, so it is a kite for medium and light wind rather than a full all-rounder.

Flow: 5 to 10 m. Exactly the opposite — the upper end of the wind range.

PEAK: 6 to 12 m. The widest ladder, closest to an all-rounder.

HADLOW PRO: 9, 11, 13. Three sizes in two-metre steps — specialised equipment rather than a range for all occasions.

Thrive LiteX: 15 and 17. Light wind only.

The practical conclusion: Harlem has no single "do everything" model. A THRIVE plus a Flow covers the range honestly, and that belongs in your budget from the start.

Custom colourways — the defining feature

Something big brands almost never offer.

Harlem lets you order a kite in your own colour combination. We covered it separately — options, prices and lead times here.

Why a small brand can do this and a large one cannot: big production runs batches of hundreds of canopies in one colourway. A small factory sews to order, so adding an individual colour set is technologically easier.

An honest caveat: custom means time. A made-to-order kite ships later than stock, so it cannot be planned a week before a trip.

Boards: four models

LAUNCH — 515 €, sizes 132×40.5, 135×41, 138×41.5, 141×42 cm. The brand's most affordable item.

Rise — 774 €, 156×46 cm. One size, and a large one — that is light wind.

ASCENT — 1 094 €, 135×40 and 138×40.5.

DESCENT — 1 094 €, 141×40.5.

Note the LAUNCH: four sizes in fine steps means a board matched precisely to weight. The guide: our Harlem boards article.

Bars

LEAD BAR — 684 €, 24 m lines (22 + 2).

HADLOW PRO BAR — 734 €, 22 m, five-line layout.

On line length: 24 metres is above the standard 22, which buys more time and amplitude in a jump but demands more room at the spot.

On the fifth line we wrote separately — in short, it concerns safety and relaunch.

Who it suits

Anyone wanting their own colourway. A rarity, and Harlem has it.

Anyone with light wind. THRIVE to 17 m, LiteX at 15 and 17, and the 156 cm Rise board.

Anyone looking beyond the mainstream. A small, recognisable brand.

Freestylers. The HADLOW PRO is named after a rider known precisely for freestyle.

Who it does not suit

Anyone on a budget. Kites from 1 338 € sit above our catalogue average.

Anyone wanting one kite for everything. The ladders are separated and there is no true all-rounder.

Foilers and wingers. One wing and no foils.

Common questions

How many kites does Harlem make?

Five models: THRIVE, Flow, HADLOW PRO, PEAK and Thrive LiteX, from 1 338 € to 2 794 €.

Can I really order my own colourway?

Yes, it is the brand's signature. A small factory adds an individual colour set more easily than a large one. But lead times are longer.

Is there a do-everything Harlem kite?

No. The ladders are separated: THRIVE 10 to 17 m for light wind, Flow 5 to 10 for strong. The PEAK comes closest to an all-rounder.

Which board is the cheapest?

The LAUNCH at 515 €, in four closely spaced sizes.

Why 24-metre lines?

More time and amplitude in a jump. But you need more room at the spot.

Where to look

The range is on the Harlem page. Sections: kites and kiteboards.