North Fuse (2010)

The Fuse feels and looks like a Naish Cult, but faster and with more grunt and more range.

I tried the 10m with the Evo 10m side by side. The Evo seemed faster, easier and let me put the kite where I wanted it. I wasn't impressed with the Fuse and preferred surfing sloppy local waves with the Evo. The kite felt slow and it "sticks" to a certain air zone

But....next try, with perfect side on winds I was blown away! The Fuse sits well into the wind window and powers you up (or not) enough for you to rip away happily without having to orientate the kite as much as you would with an Evo. Park and ride? I think not, more like park and rip! Turns are constant and gust handling is excellent. Power range for a 10m takes you from 2009 standard kite 12m power to mid 7m range - and feels safe at this top end. I don't like the North depower system - preferring a Naish/Slingshot type in the gusty winds we get here, but it works. I take the 7m Fuse out when it's powered up for normal 9m sizes. Lots of grunt and it turns pretty quick. There's so much power any lack of turning speed when compared to the Evo is compensated by 2m less kite size. The 7m Fuse is narrow and flips easily on crashes. It also flips back pretty easily. Bar feel is excellent. Jumps are way bigger than expected. This kite generates adrenalin! Upwind ability is excellent and the kite is fast - great for racing I'm told. My opinion is, if you have to work your kite fast and hard at your local surfspot and want more freestyle versatility then get an Evo. But the decision is tough. If you have sideshore conditions, like boosting big airs and/or racing then the Fuse beats the Evo as you can use less kite for the same wind force. Build quality is good and no dumb graphics on the kite.

AT A GLANCE

It has been a while since North have released a totally new kite onto the market. This year sees the end of the Rhino from the line up and the Fuse is there to make up the numbers. It is totally unrelated to the Rhino however, sharing features more akin to the Rebel than any of the other kites in the range. As usual the build quality and attention to detail is right up there, the one-pump is excellent and there are plenty of reinforcements in the right areas. Unlike some new kites though it isn’t made up of tons of dacron, instead it uses a new D2 material from Techno Force, which is far more durable than traditional material The kite is also one of the first dedicated 4 line kites from North, yes the Evo can be flown on 4 or 5 lines and arguably you can add a 5th line for added safety to the Fuse. But the Attack Force bridle has been specifically developed for this kite to ensure it flies at its best on 4 lines.

THE BAR

Named the Trust Bar the Fuse is shipped with the quad control 4 line version as opposed to the now infamous 5th element bar. The iron heart has been reworked to make it lighter, slimmer and more efficient at releasing when you need to. It uses a reverse pin release mechanism, which is the first of its kind on the market. There is also a false 5th Line, which you can attach your leash to so the kite wilt flag out onto the front line of the kite and sit in the launch position awaiting your input. The bar floats slide up to allow you to trim the lines and the warrior cleat enables you to trim the kite to your desired style. The rear lines can be adjusted so you get two bar lengths in one and when you unhook the chicken loop sits perfectly waiting for you to hook back in again.

IN THE AIR

The Fuse is aimed at the freeride/wave market but like the Rebel it can also be used for racing. In the air the kite feels really solid, the new AC bridle helps to maintain the kites shape and form as well as the stiff framework. Even in gusty conditions the kite is solid and this helps it to give a smooth power delivery. The kite gives the rider plenty of feedback at the bar, yet the bar pressure isn’t too hard on the arms. Upwind is where the Fuse really flies, possibly slightly better than the Rebel, we found that pointing ability was really great with this kite. This means that getting back upwind after wave rides and big airs will be really easy. The low end of the 10m is realty impressive too, coupled with a surfboard you’ll be up and riding when most people are on 12m kites. Yet the top end is still there, with plenty of depower available when you need it. The 10m really could be a one kite quiver for people who don’t often have crazy winds. Jumping is great fun, the canopy is fast and responsive and when you send it back through the window it really lifts you off the water with some vigour. It is an easy kite to fly and one we enjoyed riding especially with the simple 4-line set up. Beginners may well be better suited to the Evo, but you could easily learn with this kite. In the waves the performance was effortless, the kite really flies itself with very little input needed from the rider.

FOR
The Fuse is a fantastic new offering from North, very similar to the Rebel but in a 4 line guise. Great upwind, jumping and wave riding characteristics.

AGAINST
The canopy layout is very simple, and compared to some of North’s kites. A little plain perhaps, if you like white, you’ll Like this.

OVERALL
We have been waiting for a pure 4-line kite from North for a white, and here it is at last. It rides superbly and offers excellent performance across the board. If you love 5-lines stick with the Rebel, but if you want something a little different light up a Fuse.

Flew the 12m in winds at or around it's published minimum (10-15 kts). I weigh about 160 lbs. and used a light wind specific board with some performance capabilities and found the kite had loads of low-end power and good upwind ability. Very high, floaty jumps and great manufacturing quality. Seems a little over engineered in some ways but the extra weight in materials (ex. collars on the attachment points to the strut bladder for the one pump hoses, or the addition of bungee at the tips to keep the lines from wrapping around the top or getting caught on the tips, battens etc.) didn't seem to be an issue at least where pulling power is concerned.

I don't actually know where this kite falls as far as weight compared to other kites but is seems pretty… "stout".? I rolled it around in the surf a couple of times and all these features may have been quite useful in that situation. However, it does take a good amount of input to get a good, tight turn out of it so I would not consider this a nimble kite by any means and as a result I thought this worked well as a kind of a "park and ride" type kite. I think that North seems to understand this by marketing it in the freeride/wave category. Smaller sizes may not be too much of an issue. I have an “old school” sort of jumpy style though so it fit me nicely. Relaunch was very easy as the tips are swept pretty far and give it an “automatic” kind of capability for getting it back in the air.

Bar is nicely equipped with featured that make sense and it's hearty to say the least. Bar pressure is heavier than I expected but not heavy like older bow style kites. The Fuse offers depower comparable to any kite I've flown (rev, sonic, flexifoil, switchblade, crossbow among others) and the safety system worked as advertised. It was easy to reset and offered a nice sense of confidence. I didn't like the mini 5th line hanging slack and blowing about but it never tangled and works as it should every time. Bag has plenty of room and is quality made.

Over all, it's a smooth well-made product, well thought out and had no quirks or surprises. It's a darn sharp looker as well. Glad to see that North didn't go crazy with heavy graphics (sometimes less is more) and they look bright and clean.

Fuse is the light! I used 12m at 12 to 16 knots light wind today. Very good high vertical boosty jumps, awesome hang time floating long flights, amazing turning speed for a 12m, smooth constant stream of power, no back stalling, perfectly balanced bar pressure not too much not to little, eye vitamin sexy look - all eyes on me, ohh yeahh almost forgot to say that when everyone was blown some place downwind I was very comfortable with perfect upwind ability. I am getting my 9m in orange very soon. If you are thinking of getting it do not think twice you will love this kite. It is simply awsome jumping machine!

Board used 132x41 Crazy Fly Rapror Pro 2010 (Bentley of all the boards)