Hi all.

Any advice on bars. I have a north 2016 bar and hate it. Love the kite, 2016 dice, but the bar really detracts from the whole kit. Know the new bar is just the best thing in the world! Blah blah blah, but I'm a little jaded by Norths quality. Think my kit is about 11 mths old, board and bar are looking very shabby already. So the question is. What's the best bar out there? As I'm contemplating cutting my loses with North and changing brands starting with the bar. Ps I'm very hard on gear so durability is high on the list.

Cheers.

Hi mate, I went through a time when I was burning through gear but when i actually counted it all up, I was kiting twice as much as all the other kiters I knew, so that equated to twice as much wear. I have a 2015 north bar which is pretty much the same as yours and its holding up really well to my surprise, however I'm really strict in washing my bar and lines after every session. The other thing I do is make sure there is no sand on my bar during my session I will dip it in water to wash all the sand off right after launching. Sand is highly abrasive and will definitely cause early wear if you leave it on there while you're kiting

Hi mate. I'm definitely a sand slob, I kite in the bay in Brisbane and it gets in everything. Is your bar tight to unwind? That's my main issue but I'm finding the pig tails and depower are fluffing up very fast. Iv actually only used this kit at most 30 times this year?? To be honest I can't see the direction of wined due to the high V and possibly the 40ish eyes. It's frustrating as I'm working on my kiteloops recently.

Cheers for the reply.

I've tried out quite a few brands (although get most gear second hand) but reckon my old ozone bar held up to a real beating and is still in usable knick (the kite died before the bar) and I also thought my old cabrinha bars used to be pretty reliable. Not sure what the modern incarnations are like though....Anything with a PU sleeve over the centre line is good in my books hah.
My switch bar has lasted the last 2 seasons of pretty regular use and still looks the goods, no PU sleeve though :( In saying that, any spare parts you need are available for cost price off the website. Might be a bit heavy if you like a light bar, and don't even think about lying that magnetic depower cleat on a beach thats got iron ore in it!

I did have a North bar that just recently gave up the ghost from 2010 - snapped the fifth during a kiteloop, the grip had all peeled off and it looked like something I had dragged out of a dumpster, still did the job though

airush and ozone have nice simple bars, slingshot also do some good things

The lines are a little harder to unwind as they tangle easy and I find the larks heads on the ends get tangled right towards the end when your walking your lines out, so takes a few second longer to fluff them out. As for unwinding your lines after a loop you get to know which way to turn after a while haha . I guess the depower straps will probably also outlast the depower rope but usually a little glitchy and not as smooth To use when depowering your lines

Airush bar (2013) been reliable only the one bar for two kites. lines still good, grip ok. web strap depower (not a fan) works fine but with age and wear sometimes slips.
Always hose clean and soak now and then.

I've been using the BRM CCS and love it for its for simplicity (needs to be paired with a low Y kite). I've yet to miss any of the clutter that has been removed, e.g. chicken loop, bar ends or depower (longer through works just as well).

Alternatively, the BWS undertow if you want more traditional options (e.g. swivel, chicken loop, depower strap, bar ends)

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dowls said..
Airush bar (2013) been reliable only the one bar for two kites. lines still good, grip ok. web strap depower (not a fan) works fine but with age and wear sometimes slips.
Always hose clean and soak now and then.

Airush offer a cleat upgrade option, or at least they used to.
I bought one for my smart bar, way better than the straps imo.

I'm rocking a CCS inspired Frankin bar these days,
keep it simple.