Hi,

Is there anyone out there who has used both the Ozone Edge and North Rebel?
I know a bit about their capabilities but which of them is actually easier to use and which of them is better in handling gusts? Also, how is the comparison with regards to the windrange?

Thanks.

Both are excellent free ride kites with impressive boost and float. I found the Rebel had better bottom end but that was last years kites. I personally prefer the Ozone, but as this is your first post you may want to consider the 5th line safety of the North system. You really can't go wrong on either choice.

all depends what you want from your kite and your style of riding, ive had some long sessions on the rebels to see what all the hype is about and although its a nice kite but it feels unrefined compared to the edges and had the same response from the rebels owner whos remarked how smooth and solid it felt in comparison, the last session we swapped was at the upper limits of the kites high 20s to low 30s 8mtr rebel 9mtr edge 2012s, not only flying but observing from the beach the edge looked a lot more stable in flight no surging at all and this relates back to you when riding, the boost on the rebel is more gut wrenching and requires a bit more movement of the kite the edge is a much more gradual climb and grunty boost and the hangtime lasts a lot longer due to its shape of wind , in the turns the rebel is faster for sure but had this bit of lag especially during fast carves and big jumping transitions, on the water speed the edge has it, as depower goes the rebel is better and this will relate to wave riding, the edge never really depowers fully and to ride on the waves needs a lot more board control ie edging or step down a size,at the bar the feel of the edges are a more connected feel which some people love or hate the rebel required a lot more bar control when flying your kite, the edge looks and are superbly made but the rebel has a lot more reinforcements especially in high wear areas this would be important if you self launch your kite a lot , the inflate deflate valve on the edges are imo much better giving you a much quicker inflate might not sound a big deal but i wouldnt go back to the smaller valves , bar and lines both very nice bits of kit i prefer the feel of the slightly thicker ozone bar with the finger moulds compared to the north bar, remember the ozone safety is a pull not push system which is more widely used,line quality not sure on the norths but ozone use the same zero stretch dyneema as on their paraglyders, rebels are on 5 lines compared to 4 which imo is a better safety system, but have heard of the 5th getting bar wrapped, hope ive covered a few things here to help , id also say your body weight comes into it for riding the edges and a good edging board will only make it more enjoyable, ivve had a couple of hours on the new rebel but prefered the latter model, i gave a good few kites a solid run last year but if all the kites were set up on the beach itd be the edge that id hook on to ,get a demo and spend a good few hours on each in the same conditions its the only way to truly make your mind up

i have flown both, both very good but DEFINATELY different......
Your riding style and ability both come in to question, the only true way to find which is for you is to demo them both, if your in perth, Darren & Todd at AKS stock both and are the guys to talk to.

They are 2 different types of kites , a better comparison to the edge would be a fuse or even a dyno. these kites are higher aspect like the edge , 4 line , and my opinion bigger boosting than the rebel .
I have a rebel and a fuse and the rebel is tame against the fuse.

Thanks so much for this guys, This is really helpful. One more question though; Is the edge easy to self land (without using the flag out safety)?
cheers!

yeh its easy as but i dont trust self landing when its truly stonking, better to pull the safety imo

Rebels are gay beginners kites.. You have to ask yourself, are you a gay beginner?

Well I would say I'm very qualified to answer this (I hear the groans in the gallery already) lol.

Rode rebels last year and only switched to edges this year. But my brother got my 2012 rebel and has only recently swapped it for an edge...might something in that.

Both are outstanding free ride kites, period. Both handle gusts really well, very stable canopies.

But they have a very very different feel, the edge turns the gusts into apparent wind and speed. The depower on the rebel is more instantaneous. That being said the rebel flies forward initially then sits back a little in the window giving you some serious grunt. The edge translates the gusts into forward hunting speed to the edge of the window, hence the grunt can be much easily converted into speed and hence upwind ability. It does this with such smooth grace in the right hands it is something to experience. To have so much power and speed and yet to be able to harness this is something quite special. The translation of this edge of the window hunting prowess gives a much smoother and controlled ride which ultimately conserves energy and ankles.

As my brother said this kite is farqin effortless. I'm not tired after a two hour session, on the rebel I am. He keeps it simple my bro, but he's so right.

And believe it or not, the edge when looping is very controlled. You have great control over the speed and intensity of the loop even half way through. The rebel not so, in my experience. You come out fast and hard no matter what you try.

On a SB the rebel is better in the waves, but ultimately its marketing direction as a freeride wave kite is absolute bullsh1t. I've ridden a dozen of kites that comparatively make me wonder why they say rebel and waves in the same sentence. But there are those that love them in the waves, but sometimes I wonder how many real wave kites these guys have tried.

But the edge is no genius in the surf either, but I tell you what, it is better than average on a TT or a mutant. It pulls you through section but you have to keep the kite active and you need to depower it when it stalls. It will find its own way through its inherent need to kiss the edge of the window. You gotta let the edge breathe when wave riding and jumping for that matter.

The rebel wants you to rip it across the window, the edge doesn't like this. Took myself a while to nail this but when I did I'm going much higher and much much longer on the edge. And the landings cannot be compared when you find yourself travelling another 10 to 15 metres horizontally across the water before you land. Only edge riders will understand what I'm saying here.

Either kite though is awesome and for those old school riders that know how to edge properly and need I say it fly kites well, you would get on well with either.

But the edge for me is a clear winner, actually by a farq1n country mile.

I'm a noob out on my new 13m edge tonight
What a kite best upwind I have ever done having a ball
Grrrrrreeeeeeat kites.