North Reach 2026 Review: The All-Rounder That Covers a Season

Flagships get the attention; all-rounders get bought. At North the all-rounder is the Reach, and it carries 26 options in our catalogue, more than any other model from the brand.

The short version

• Model: Reach Kite, 2026 season.
• Options: 26 positions counting sizes and colourways.
• Colours: Deep Purple, Orange, Turquoise.
• Purpose: freeride, progression, a bit of everything.
• Price: from 1 499 €; the 10 m is 1 889 €.

Why an all-rounder is often the right choice

Worth stating plainly, because marketing pushes the other way.

A specialised kite is tuned for one job and sacrifices the rest. The Orbit delivers lift but demands confident control of takeoff. The Carve drifts beautifully but jumps modestly. The Pulse is sharp but nervous at the low end.

The Reach wins none of those disciplines — which is exactly why it covers a whole season.

The test is simple. Count how many different jobs a month of riding contains: teaching a friend, light wind on Wednesday, jumping on Saturday, a trip to a wave spot. A specialised kite works on a third of those days. An all-rounder works on all of them.

Reach against Orbit: price and character

A 10 m Reach 2026 costs 1 889 €, a 10 m Orbit 1 949 €. Just 60 € apart, so the choice here is not about money.

It is about what you want from a kite.

The Orbit lifts and holds. It is built to put you in the air.

The Reach pulls evenly and predictably. It is built to keep you riding.

If you cannot say with confidence that jumping is the main reason you go out, your kite is the Reach.

Twenty-six options: how not to drown

As with the Orbit, the multiplier is colour: every size comes in three. There are around nine actual sizes, from 5 to 14 m².

Advice that saves time: settle the size by weight and wind first, and only then look at colour. Doing it the other way round is the most common route to the wrong kite, because "that colour only came in a 12".

The working pair for a 75 to 85 kg rider is 9 and 12. For a light rider under 65 kg, 7 and 10. For a heavy rider over 95, 11 and 14.

A note on the USA version

The catalogue also holds the North Reach Kite USA — 31 options, from 1 072 €. The same kite in its American-market delivery.

For the buyer there is no constructional difference, and the price is markedly lower because of the batch and season. If the size and colour line up, that is the best price on a Reach anywhere in the catalogue.

Who it suits

A first personal kite after lessons. The main scenario, and what the Reach is built for.

Anyone running one kite per season. Even pull and a wide range.

Anyone riding varied conditions. Travel, changing spots, changing wind.

Schools. Predictability matters more than performance when the kite is in someone else's hands.

Who it does not suit

Riders chasing height. That is the Orbit, and the difference is honest.

Wave riders. You want drift — the Carve.

Freestylers. You want slack and sharp pop — the Pulse.

Previous Reach seasons

The Reach holds the catalogue record for depth: 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025, 2026 plus the USA version.

The 2024 starts at 877 €, the 2025 at 1 099 €, the 2026 at 1 499 €. Roughly 300 € per season.

For an all-round kite, last season makes particular sense: what you value in an all-rounder is predictability, and that does not change from year to year. Covered separately.

Common questions

Reach or Orbit for a first kite?

The Reach. The Orbit is a specialised big-air kite with plenty of lift, which is surplus at the start.

Which two sizes should I buy?

For 75 to 85 kg, 9 and 12 m². That pair covers roughly 14 to 30 knots.

How does the USA version differ?

It is the American-market delivery. Constructionally the same kite, at a noticeably lower price.

Is the Reach any good in waves?

In soft waves, yes. Serious wave riding wants drift, and that is the Carve.

Should I take a 2024 Reach instead of a 2026?

Almost half the price, and the changes between seasons are evolutionary. For an all-round kite, last season is a sound choice.

Where to buy

North Reach 2026 from 1 499 € and the Reach USA from 1 072 €. The range is on the North page.