Core Era Review

John Bryja - March 26, 2024

North Atmos 2024 Kiteboard Review

John Bryja - August 19, 2023

Kiteboard Reviews

Welcome to Kitesurfing Magazine’s Ultimate Kiteboard Review Page!

Each year, we tirelessly test the latest kiteboards on the market to provide our readers with in-depth reviews and comprehensive, unbiased insights. We’ve ridden and rated everything from twin tips to strapless surf directionals and foil boards. Our 2023 selection boasts some of the most innovative designs and thrilling rides yet. Whether you’re an advanced rider looking for that perfect match or a beginner seeking advice on your first board purchase, our expert reviews are here to guide you.

The Latest

Kiteboard Reviews

Core Era Review

March 26, 2024

Sizes Available: 134x40, 136x40.5, 138x41, 142x42, 146x44, 152x48 The Core Era introduces a fresh perspective to the twintip lineup, designed to elevate the freeriding experience...

Kiteboard Reviews

North Atmos 2024 Kiteboard Review

August 19, 2023

Kitesurfing Magazine editor-in-chief, John Bryja, has a chance to check out North's full line in Portugal, at the 2024 North product launch. I was...

Kiteboard Reviews

Core Choice 5 Review

July 13, 2023

Size: 139 x 42 Bindings: Union Comfort The Choice 5 from Core is a highly evolved twintip shape that offers outstanding levels of performance. With superior...

Kiteboard Reviews

Naish Traverse Review

July 13, 2023

Size: 152 x 43.5 Bindings: Apex The Naish Traverse board is a unique Naish twintip shape, inspired by pro Rider Ewan Jaspan. Its mission is to...

Kiteboard Reviews

NorthTrace Review

July 13, 2023

Size: 145 x 45 Bindings: Flex LX The Trace is North’s light wind oriented twintip. It ensures that extra push of power and drive in less...

Kiteboard Reviews

F-One TRAX HRD Review

July 13, 2023

Size: 136 x 40 Bindings: Platinum 3 The TRAX HRD has pure freeride oriented performance that is well suited to any skill level. The solid, wood...

Kiteboard Reviews

OCEAN RODEO MAKO

July 13, 2021

Length: 140 centimetres / Width: 40 centimetresFoot Strap System: Bliss pads and straps The legendary Mako twintip is more radical than ever with improvements in...

Kiteboard Reviews

CORE RIPPER 4

July 13, 2021

Length: 5’8” / Width: 19” / Thickness: 2” 1/8” Fin set up: Thruster / Volume: 26 litres The fourth generation Ripper is Core’s high performance surfboard...

Kiteboard Reviews

OCEAN RODEO JESTER

July 13, 2021

Length: 5’1” / Width: 18” / Thickness: 2” 5/16” Fin set up: Quad or Tri / Volume: 17.6 litres The Jester is dubbed the ultimate trickster...

Kiteboard Reviews

NAISH STRAPLESS WONDER

July 13, 2021

Length: 5’3” / Width: 18” 1/4” / Thickness: 2.2”Fin set up: Thruster / Volume: 22 litres The Strapless Wonder is a new model and joins...

Kiteboard Reviews

SLINGSHOT SCI-FLY XR

July 13, 2021

Length: 5’4” / Width: 18” / Thickness: 2” 1/5” Fin set up: Thruster / Volume: 22 litres Slingshot’s got you ready for some post-pandemic surf...

Head-to-Head Kitesurfing Gear Tests

2018 SURFBOARDS TESTED!

December 10, 2018

Riding a directional surfboard continues to be one of the fastest growing disciplines of kiteboarding and the number of models continues to expand. For...

Kiteboard Reviews

CORE 720 REVIEW

December 6, 2018

Length: 5’3” / Width: 18.5” Thickness: 2.2” / Fins: Thruster FCS 2 The Core 720 is a compact, strapless surf shape that offers excellent grip...

Kiteboard Reviews

OCEAN RODEO MAKO JESTER REVIEW

August 6, 2018

Length:5’1.25” / Width: 18.125” Thickness: 2.3125” / Fins: Quad or tri The Ocean Rodeo Jester is a fun directional board that will appeal to both the...

Kiteboard Reviews

RUSTY YES THANKS REVIEW

June 6, 2018

Length: 5’8” / Width: 19.1” Thickness: 2.21” / Fins: Thruster The Rusty Yes Thanks is a real world performance surfboard built for traditional short board...

From The Mag

CABRINHA S:QUAD REVIEW

June 6, 2018

Length: 5‘9” / Width: 19.1” Thickness: 2.21” / Fins: Thruster The S:Quad model has been the higher performance short board shape of the Cabrinha lineup for...

From The Mag

Blunt Nose Surfboards Tested

March 24, 2016

The Kitesurfing Magazine Test Team were excited to have the top brands’ newest and most progressive surf shapes in a head-to-head review over two...

Kiteboard Reviews

Firewire Vader Review

March 24, 2016

DESIGN FEATURES: The Tomo Vader is the latest evolution of surfboard shaper Daniel Thomson’s early-planing hull designs. This shape is capped with a blunt nose...

Kiteboard Reviews

Firewire Vanguard Review

March 24, 2016

DESIGN FEATURES: The Tomo Vanguard is built using Firewire’s kite-specific construction technology and features Daniel Tomo Thomson’s radical, early-planing hull. These strapless-only surf shapes...

Freeride

Ocean Rodeo Mako Duke Review

March 24, 2016

DESIGN FEATURES: The Mako Duke is a directional shape with origins based on Ocean Rodeo’s popular Mako twin series. The Mako Duke adopts a similar...

Kiteboard Reviews

Liquid Force Messenger Review

March 24, 2016

DESIGN FEATURES: The Messenger is Liquid Force’s blunt nose, board with quad fin set up and channels in the nose and tail. The rocker line...

Kiteboard Reviews

Cabrinha Secret Weapon Review

March 24, 2016

DESIGN FEATURES: Cabrinha’s Secret Weapon is wide throughout, with parallel rails and a quad fin set up for multi-use flatwater freestyle but can also turn...

Kiteboard Reviews

Slingshot Screamer Review

March 24, 2016

DESIGN FEATURES: The Screamer adopts the T-Rex shape, with a blunt nose and parallel outline that amps up this board’s down-the-line performance with a pulled...

Kiteboard Reviews

Airush Cypher Tested

March 24, 2016

DESIGN FEATURES: The Airush Cypher has been completely redesigned for 2016 with shorter width and wider blunt nose shape with a parallel outline that promotes...

Kiteboard Reviews

North Whip Tested

March 24, 2016

DESIGN FEATURES: The Whip is refined from last year’s radical shape that featured its modern compact shape with blunt nose, parallel outline and bat tail....

Kiteboard Reviews

North Pro CSC Tested

March 24, 2016

DESIGN FEATURES: The new Pro CSC is a dedicated strapless freestyle shape, which means no strap inserts and the most superb lightweight construction available. The...

From The Mag

2016 Naish Skater Tested

March 23, 2016

DESIGN FEATURES: This thinner-profiled and more heavily-channelled directional freeride shape has unique feel and performance. The Skater is a playful hybrid for both waves and...

From The Mag

Naish Mutant 5’5 Tested

March 23, 2016

DESIGN FEATURES: The Mutant caters directly to small surf and lighter wind conditions. It’s quick, light and reactive underfoot when you step on the tail,...