Brazilian Brothers Test the North Navigator Pro Bar

Choosing the right kite is important, but how you interact with that kite can make a big difference too. The Brazilian Brothers took the North Navigator Pro bar for a spin, and it's got some features they really appreciated, but a couple they wished it had as well. Overall, is it still a bar they'd recommend, or should you keep looking?

A kiteboarder looking at his control bar while flying the kite.

Get a Grip

The brothers feel that the Navigator Pro Bar has one of the most comfortable grips on the market. When they get in the water, they're out there for hours at a time, so they really care about the grip and how nice the bar feels in their hands. The Navigator Pro is not only very comfortable, but it's super grippy as well. Even when it was wet, they had a nice, firm grip on it. When you're trying to pull a loop, you don't want your hand to slip off.

First-person view of a kiteboarder looping his kite.

The grip also has ridges running along its length which align perfectly with your knuckles. This not only improves the grip, but it also allows you to immediately feel if you've grabbed the bar the wrong way.

Close-up graphic of the North Navigator Pro bar's texture

Be Kind: Auto Unwind

Beyond the grip, another standout feature of this bar is the auto unwind. Having to unwind your bar manually each time is a massive pain, and the brothers can't imagine going back after getting used to this feature. It allows you to get your center lines untwisted after doing any rotation or loops. The auto unwind still works smoothly after several months of use, which is perfect for their needs since they're constantly looping the kite in every single session.

Graphic demonstrating the auto-unwind feature of the North Navigator Pro bar.

They're also happy with the quality of the lines that North included with this bar. It uses SK99 lines, plenty durable to let you feel comfortable kiting in strong wind. The last thing you want to be thinking about when you're out there in 35 knots is whether or not one of your lines going to pop. But these are solid lines.

A graphic showing how SK99 lines are woven

One cool thing that North has done is that they've made thinner back lines. This not only reduces the drag in the kite, but it also promotes even stretch across all four lines.

Graphic showing the thickness of each kite line

Safety Release: Still Quick, but More Forgiving

They've also come to appreciate North's quick release. As big air riders who are kiting in strong wind, their worst nightmare is for a quick release to unintentionally pop. North has increased the travel distance that it takes in order for your quick release to eject, which is good because this greatly reduces the odds that you're going to do it accidentally.

Graphic showing how the quick release works on the North Navigator Pro bar

The Suggestion Box

As much as the brothers appreciate the features of the Navigator Pro, they do have a couple suggestions for North. The bar includes 10 + 12 lines, for a total of 22m. This is perfect for kites 10m and under, but a 12m performs better with 24m lines, so 2m extensions would be a nice addition.

Line lengths could be a little longer for larger kites.

A bit of Velcro to secure the depower rope would also be appreciated. It can get a bit annoying having it dangling and flapping around in overpowered conditions, and there are bars that have this small but useful convenience.

The depower rope can dangle annoyingly.

Purchase or Pass?

Would the brothers recommend the North Navigator Pro? The comfy grip, auto-unwind system, and stronger lines have made this one of their favorite bars on the market, and they do highly recommend it. It brings some much-needed convenience and comfort to long sessions, and it'd be hard for them to give these up now that they've come to appreciate them.

A kiteboarder heading out into the water with his kite and board.