Naish Psycho Dacron vs. North Orbit Pro: Which Big Air Kite Should You Choose?
If you’re shopping for a Big Air kite in 2025, the Naish Psycho Dacron and the North Orbit Pro are two of the biggest contenders. Both are designed to send you higher, loop harder, and stick your landings in powered conditions. We’ve had them in the water here in St. Petersburg, running them back-to-back in steady Gulf Coast sea breeze to see exactly how they stack up.
These are real test impressions from our riders who push their gear. By the end, you’ll know which kite matches your style, your skill level, and your goals for Big Air progression. Check out the kites we offer here.
What’s the difference between the Naish Psycho Dacron and the North Orbit Pro?
The Naish Psycho Dacron is a five-strut Big Air kite built with a full Dacron frame. It’s stiff enough to hold shape in heavy wind, but the way it delivers power is smooth and predictable. It feels steady in the climb and gives you time to set your body before you peak.
The North Orbit Pro is sharper and quicker. It uses lighter, high-modulus materials to shed weight and tighten canopy tension. That makes it react faster to bar input and accelerate through the window. The Orbit Pro feels alive in your hands, perfect if you’re chasing high-intensity loops and maximum vertical gain, but less forgiving if you’re still refining your timing.
How does each kite perform in Big Air conditions?
In 18 to 25 knots of St. Pete sea breeze, the Psycho Dacron builds speed into the jump in a steady, predictable way. You feel the pull ramp up, giving you time to lock in your edge and load without getting yanked off balance. It’s the kind of lift that lets you commit harder because you know exactly when the kite is going to send you.
The Orbit Pro hits faster. When you send it, the acceleration kicks in earlier and climbs more aggressively. That means more raw height potential for advanced riders who can control it, but it also means your timing has to be dialed. If you send too late or ease up on the edge, you’ll feel it in your takeoff. For more big air tips, check out our blog.
Which kite offers better hang time and soft landings?
The Psycho Dacron has the float. Once you’re airborne, it holds you up forever, giving you room to tweak a grab, reset your body, and spot your landing. That steady pull through the descent makes landings softer and easier to control, even if you come down slightly off balance.
The Orbit Pro will keep you up there, but it’s tuned more for speed and loop recovery than pure glide. Our high end riders can match the loft because they are riding this kite powered. If you're not riding this kite fully powered, it's going to have the forgiving loops but you'll learn how to get the loft. When you time it right, you’ll still land smooth, but it can less forgiving if you misjudge your redirect. Remember this is a competition level kite. North has made changes so its much easier than older iterations. Advanced riders can milk the hang time, but intermediates might feel the drop sooner.
How does relaunch compare?
Relaunch is a topic new kiters always ask about. The truth is after a season or two you would never ask this question. With a hint of skill you'll be able to launch any kite. That said, we find for first year riders its something worth considering.
When you drop the Psycho Dacron in the water, it’s quick to come back up. The Dacron frame keeps its shape even when a gust hits or the canopy gets slapped by chop. In side-onshore Gulf Coast wind, you can usually roll it up and relaunch with minimal swimming.
The Orbit Pro relaunches fine in powered conditions, but when the wind backs off, you’ll need a bit more finesse. Its lighter frame can sit deeper in the water if you let it. Drift isn’t a huge factor for Big Air, but the Psycho tends to stay parked better if you slack the lines during a trick or setup. Again this is not a flaw. This is a pro level kite made for pro level riders. You get a lot of high end benefits and for a seasoned rider the difference is going to be negligible. We cant emphasis that enough.
Which kite is more forgiving for intermediate riders?
The Psycho Dacron is the safer bet if you’re still sharpening your Big Air skills. It gives you time to correct mistakes in the air and won’t punish small errors in timing or edging. If you send too late, oversteer, or get pulled slightly off axis, it stays composed enough for you to recover and land on your feet.
The Orbit Pro is less forgiving. Its speed and responsiveness mean every movement on the bar shows up instantly in the kite. For an experienced rider, that’s exactly what you want. For someone still learning loop timing or working on consistent takeoffs, it can make mistakes feel bigger than they are. We love this kite for our performance team riders.
How is the bar pressure and handling back to back?
The Psycho Dacron runs a comfortable medium bar pressure. You always know where the kite is without feeling like you’re wrestling it. Steering is smooth and progressive, so you can make small adjustments without upsetting your edge. Long sessions feel manageable because your arms aren’t fighting the kite.
The Orbit Pro is lighter on the bar and quicker to respond. Even a small pull on one side snaps the kite into a turn. That instant reaction is perfect for powered loops and tight kite control, but for riders who prefer a steadier feel, it can come across as twitchy until you adapt.
Which kite loops more confidently and predictably?
The Orbit Pro is the loop specialist. It whips through the bottom of the window fast and climbs back up with plenty of time to catch you. In the hands of an experienced rider, the loop feels tight, clean, and consistent, even in heavier wind.
The Psycho Dacron loops in a slower, more open arc. It’s not going to snap back as quickly as the Orbit Pro, but that’s what makes it friendlier for learning. You can practice your timing and get comfortable with the pull without worrying about being ripped off axis or dropped out of the sky.
Durability and build quality: Dacron vs. updated materials
Dacron has been the backbone of kite construction for years because it lasts. The Psycho Dacron’s frame takes heavy load, hard crashes, and gusty conditions without deforming. If you’re riding a lot in St. Pete chop or crashing in shallow spots, that extra toughness is worth it.
The Orbit Pro’s lighter materials give it a snappier feel and faster recovery, but they’re newer to the market. They hold up well under normal use, yet don’t have the decades of proven longevity that Dacron does. If you treat it right, it’ll serve you for seasons, but if you’re especially hard on gear, Dacron is still the safer bet.
Who should choose the Naish Psycho Dacron over the Orbit Pro?
If you’re stepping into Big Air and want a kite that builds your confidence instead of punishing you, the Psycho Dacron is going to feel right at home. It’s the one that gives you more hang time to work on grabs, spins, or just getting comfortable high above the water. We recommend new big air riders opt for something like this. Unless you're up to the challenge of growing into something built for king of the air specifically. Hint its not as bad as you think adjusting to a pro level kite! The orbit pro is the choice of our team riders but we love riding on both. You should test these kites with us to find out the best fit for you.
They handle gusty Gulf Coast wind without twitching and will let you recover from a late send or a sloppy redirect. You can ride hard, crash, and trust that the frames will still be holding strong.
Who should choose the North Orbit Pro over the Psycho Dacron?
If you’re already confident in your Big Air game and want a kite that reacts the instant you touch the bar, the Orbit Pro is where you’ll feel at home. It’s built for riders who live for tight, fast loops and want that snap-and-catch feeling every time.
You’ll notice the lighter bar pressure right away, and you’ll feel how quickly it climbs back up after a loop. In the right hands, it squeezes out more height and gives you the control to push harder in competition-level conditions. This is the kite for riders who don’t just want to go big, they want to go bigger, faster, and with precision.
Can you test these kites before buying in Florida?
Absolutely. The best way to know which kite feels right is to ride them back-to-back. At Elite Watersports in St. Petersburg, you can demo both the Naish Psycho Dacron and the North Orbit Pro in the same session. We run kiteboarding events and demo days throughout the season, so you can feel the difference for yourself in real Gulf Coast wind.
If you want to take it a step further, book kiteboarding lessons in St. Petersburg with a focus on Big Air technique. We’ll set you up on both kites, coach you on timing, and help you figure out which one fits your style best. Call or text 727-800-2202 to lock in your spot and get on the water.
FAQ on the Orbit Pro Vs Naish Psycho
Is the Naish Psycho Dacron good for learning Big Air?
Yes. It’s stable, predictable, and gives you time to correct mistakes mid-flight. That makes it easier to build height without feeling out of control, which is why it’s a go-to for riders moving up from freeride to Big Air.
Is the North Orbit Pro worth the upgrade from the standard Orbit?
If you’re chasing more speed, faster loops, and lighter bar pressure, yes. Advanced riders will feel the difference in responsiveness and loop recovery immediately. If you’re still building consistency, the upgrade might feel too quick too soon.
Which kite is better for Florida Gulf Coast conditions?
Both deliver in 18–25 knots, but the match depends on your style. The Psycho Dacron handles gusty sea breeze and choppy water with more stability. The Orbit Pro thrives in clean, powered wind when you’re ready to ride aggressively.
If you want to know for sure which kite is right for you, get them both in the air. Call or text 727-800-2202 to set up a demo with Elite Watersports in St. Petersburg. We’ll put the Naish Psycho Dacron and the North Orbit Pro in your hands, back-to-back, so you can feel exactly how each one jumps, loops, and lands.
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Ryan "Rygo" Goloversic
Rygo is a globally recognized kiteboarder, digital marketing expert, and Airush team rider and an advocate for wakestyle kiteboarding. When he's not writing articles or producing kite videos you can catch him competing on the KPLxGKA world tour or grinding it out in the gym.
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