North Pulse Review

It's been a few months since I filmed this review and my take has not changed all that much. I admit the North Pulse has grown on me quite a bit more. I had the chance to get a few more freestyle and wave sessions in on this kite. I don't know if I will do another review on the Pulse as, sadly, any kite associated with freestyle takes a back seat to beginner-oriented kites. Much of this comes down to other beginners advising new riders on forums and in Facebook groups. Granted, not everyone should choose a high performance kite and often the advice is correct. The Pulse is an excellent choice for a rider who demands all-out performance in loops and hooked or unhooked freestyle while trading off loft. If you do find reviews on advanced gear helpful, be sure to let us know in the video comments!

What is the North Pulse

The Pulse is a crossover kite. It's akin to the Cabrinha FX, the Duotone Dice and the Naish Dash. That's not to say this kite doesn't have its own personality and strengths. Each of these kites focuses on different crossover disciplines to various degrees. For example, the Duotone Dice is a freestyle kite with a heavy focus on wave riding. It loops well and is often used by advanced big air riders. The FX is simply an amazing freestyle and looping kite. It's not all that great in the waves, but it has an advantage for unhooked freestyle. The Pulse sits between these two kites, in my opinion. It's an amazing freestyle kite, hooked or unhooked. It's surprisingly good in the waves, hooked or unhooked. It's simply epic when it comes to kiteloops.

Review of the North Pulse

When kites cross disciplines, you get an interesting blend of characteristics and, more often than not, they are simply do-it-all kites that excel in one or two categories. Sometimes the disciplines require traits that are at odds with each other. For example, the Pulse is exceptional at freestyle and kiteloops. Now, a good freestyle kite typically has moderate bar pressure so you have feedback for handle passes. It will also not be excessively fast, as you want control while doing advanced tricks. Now, with a big air kite or a looping kite, you want something light and fast. The Pulse has light bar pressure and is mentally fast. Even using the smallest bar possible in an attempt to slow it down, I found it to be very fast.

This did not impact the explosive pop and intuitive freestyle performance. It did, however, make accidental kiteloops much easier. Even on the 12m during my first couple weeks using the Pulse I had a few unintentional kiteloops. On to that point, in some ways the Pulse is more of a big air kite than anything. Not in the sense of being lofty, more so that the kiteloops are something else. The 12 feels similar to my 10m RPM. The 9 just loops so easily. It really inspires trust that the kite will catch you. I should point out that I've been looping with the smallest bar! I can't imagine how good it would be on a large bar, making the kite faster. If you are a freestyle rider, I highly recommend using a smaller bar. Some bars can impact bar pressure too. I've used an Airush bar and a Slingshot bar on this kite. It seems to add a bit more feedback and feel to the kite. For comparison, it's about as good as bridle kites get. It won't have the same pop and slack as something like the Airush Razor, but for someone who wants a good big air kite and freestyle performance, it's a pretty amazing choice.

Waves and Hydrofoiling

Normally, I don't care for crossover kites in the waves. Even with the Duotone Dice, I prefer the Neo. I had the chance to try out the Pulse in Cocoa Beach on some waist-high, slow-moving waves in cross-onshore conditions. The kite is so light and nimble that it works surprisingly well. I found it easier to keep line tension and control in the waves than with other crossovers. It's not much of a drifting kite, but you can position it easily where you need it. I tested it hooked and unhooked. The kite is difficult to back stall so it works very well. The same concepts apply to foiling. It's light, it's fast and it's not particularly grunty. It's no wave kite, but I do enjoy it. Personally, I almost always opt for wave kites like the Cabrinha Drifter--legendary kite--or the Airush Session, my current 2021 shop quiver!

Summary

The Pulse is an underrated performance kite for extreme kiteboarders who still want to do extreme things. If you are someone who truly wants to push your limits in freestyle and kiteloops, yet doesn't want to commit to a true specially kite, the North Pulse second generation is an awesome choice. It's a kite that has grown on me and it's the kite my girlfriend, Kristen Cooper, is riding, so it's one of my go-to kites as of late.

Ryan (Rygo) Goloversic

Many people dream of quitting their job, traveling the world and pursuing their passions. Rygo is one of those people who pulled the trigger. A few years into his career, he decided to change everything and travel as a kiteboarder, freelance videographer & writer. His mission is to share the stoke & help people put the boarding into their kiteboarding. Get outside and kite!

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Producer of: Ride with Blake I Sessions I Versus I Destinations I Foil Fridays