Naish Torch Kite | Performance Freestyle & Big Air Kite

The Naish Torch is the most decorated freestyle and big air kite on the market — the only kite in the sport's history to have won King of the Air, the Freestyle World Championships, and the Kite Park League World Title. More than a decade in the lineup without losing its status as the benchmark for unhooked performance. The Torch isn't the kite for everyone, but for riders who know what they want — direct bar feel, explosive pop, clean slack, and the power to throw huge loops — it remains the reference point.

A 5-strut, 5-line delta-hybrid design, the Torch gives you the classic C-kite feel in a modern package: aggressive pull on the load, clean slack when you pop for handle passes and board-offs, and a direct connection to the kite that makes everything you do feel intentional. Browse our full range of kitesurfing kites or head straight to bars and lines to pair it correctly.

Who It's For

Advanced to expert riders focused on freestyle, unhooked tricks, kite loops, and big air. The Torch is not a beginner or freeride kite — it rewards commitment, precise timing, and the ability to fly actively. If you're regularly attempting handle passes, working on megaloop transitions, or competing at any level, the Torch is the kite that the top riders in those disciplines have been trusting for over a decade. If you're looking for relaxed freeride performance, the Naish Pivot is a better fit. If you want big air with more user-friendly depower, consider the Hunt.

Key Features

• 5-Strut + 5-Line Design — five struts give the Torch a solid, stable arc and consistent power across the window; the 5th line provides quick water relaunch and is integral to the ESP depower system
• ESP (Enhanced Steering Performance) — adjustable front-line attachment with two pigtail settings; move the front line from position 2 to 1 for greater angle of attack control and increased depower range
• Direct Attachment System (No Bridle) — rear lines attach directly to the kite; delivers the immediate, unmediated bar feedback and direct pull characteristic of C-kite geometry
• Luff Strut — fifth strut provides adaptable framework and low-end power; contributes to the kite's broad wind range and stability across the power window
• Anti-Stiction Window — leading edge feature that prevents the kite sticking to the water surface during relaunch; makes water re-launch quick and reliable
• Quad-Tex Ripstop Canopy — strong, lightweight canopy material that contributes to overall weight reduction while maintaining durability under repeated hard use
• Teijin Dacron Leading Edge — high-quality Dacron for stiffness, shape retention, and durability in the leading edge and struts
• HT Plus Seam + Diagonal Load Seam — seam reinforcement distributes tension across the kite efficiently; keeps the canopy shape consistent under load
• One-Point Inflation — inflate the entire kite (leading edge + all five struts) from a single valve; faster rigging, less time on the beach
• King of the Air, Freestyle World Championship, Kite Park League Title — the only kite in the sport to have won all three

Real-World Feel

The Torch flies with intention. You have to commit to turns, load actively for pop, and fly the kite rather than just hold the bar. The bar pressure is moderate to heavy — this isn't a light touch kite. When you load for a jump you feel it: the pull is decisive, the pop is sharp, and once you've left the water the kite stops pulling and you get clean slack for your trick. That clean slack is what makes the Torch the reference kite for handle passes and technical freestyle — it's precise enough that you know exactly what's going to happen and when. For kite loops the power is serious; the Torch loops fast and generates real momentum. In the water relaunch is confident — the 5th line and Anti-Stiction Window do their job. Bar pressure drops notably when depowered but it never becomes vague. An honest kite for riders who want honesty back from their equipment.

Setup and Fit

The Torch requires a bar with 5th-line compatibility. It pairs with the Naish Click Bar, which handles the 5-line ESP system correctly and gives you the depower range the Torch needs. Do not fly the Torch on a standard 4-line bar — the 5th line is not optional on this kite, it's part of the steering and safety system. Pump all five struts plus the leading edge via the one-point inflation valve; the Naish recommended pressure is marked on the kite. Line length: 22–24 m for most conditions; shorter lines (20 m) suit stronger winds and tighter kite loops. Bridle adjustment via the ESP system: position 1 (front pigtail closer to LE) for more depower range; position 2 (default) for more direct pull and freestyle response. Trim to preference.

Materials and Construction

Canopy: Quad-Tex Ripstop fabric. Leading edge and struts: Teijin Dacron. Seaming: HT Plus Seam thread reinforcement and Diagonal Load Seam for tension distribution. Hardware: moulded strut ends, Aramid patches at high-wear attachment points. One-point inflation system throughout. 5-strut, 5-line delta-hybrid geometry with direct rear-line attachments. The construction is refined through multiple competition seasons — Naish have made targeted improvements to the leading edge geometry and 5th-line system over the years to improve low-end power without compromising the top-end wind range that big air demands.

Size Guide

Wind ranges are approximate for a rider of approximately 75–80 kg on a performance twintip. Lighter or heavier riders should adjust up or down by one size accordingly. For UK conditions — often 15–25 knots on a good day — the 11 m and 12 m are the most-used sizes in the Torch lineup.

Pairs Well With

The Torch is the natural partner for the Naish Monarch Nvision and Monarch — both boards are built around the same big air, explosive pop discipline the Torch rewards. For freestyle and park riding, any light, stiff twintip works; the lighter the board the better the Torch feels. Run it with a Naish Click Bar for the 5-line compatibility the ESP system requires. Browse our full kite accessories range for pump, bag, and line management.

Why We Stock It

The Torch has been in the Naish lineup for over a decade and it keeps winning because it's genuinely the best kite for what it does. We stock it because our customers who ride freestyle and big air consistently come back to it — not because of the accolades, but because when you've flown it in a proper session you understand why those accolades happened. If you're at the level to ride it properly, there isn't a better freestyle and big air kite in the market.

FAQs

What type of kite is the Naish Torch?

The Naish Torch is a 5-strut, 5-line delta-hybrid kite with direct rear-line attachments — giving it the feel of a traditional C-kite (direct pull, clean slack, sharp pop) in a more modern package with improved relaunch and depower via the 5th line and ESP system. It's designed specifically for freestyle, unhooked tricks, kite loops, and big air.

Is the Naish Torch good for beginners?

No. The Torch is an advanced to expert kite. The moderate-to-heavy bar pressure, direct pull, and C-kite characteristics require active flying technique and solid kite control. Beginners should start on a more user-friendly, forgiving kite. Once you're riding confidently and starting to explore unhooked tricks and bigger air, the Torch becomes relevant — but not before.

What bar does the Naish Torch use?

The Torch requires a bar with 5th-line compatibility. The Naish Click Bar is the recommended pairing — it handles the ESP 5-line system correctly and gives you the full depower range the Torch is designed around. Do not fly the Torch on a standard 4-line bar; the 5th line is an integral part of the kite's steering and safety system, not an optional extra.

What size Naish Torch should I buy?

For most UK riders around 75–80 kg the 12 m covers the typical British wind window (15–26 knots) well. Add an 11 m if you frequently ride in stronger conditions, or a 14 m for light-wind sessions. Lighter riders (under 70 kg) may find the 10 m or 11 m more manageable in medium winds. The 9 m is for strong-wind specialists. If you're building a two-kite setup for UK conditions, the 10 m + 12 m or 11 m + 14 m are popular combinations.

Has the Naish Torch won King of the Air?

Yes — the Torch is the only kite in the sport to have won King of the Air (KOTA), the Freestyle World Championships, and the Kite Park League World Title. It's been the kite of choice for multiple KOTA champions and remains the benchmark for competitive big air and freestyle performance.

What is the difference between the Naish Torch and the Naish Pivot?

Completely different kites for different purposes. The Pivot is a user-friendly, all-round freeride kite with light bar pressure, smooth depower, and predictable handling — ideal for freeride, beginner to advanced, and general kitesurfing. The Torch is an aggressive freestyle and big air kite with direct pull, moderate-to-heavy bar pressure, and C-kite characteristics. If you ride hooked-in freeride most of the time, the Pivot is the better choice. If you ride unhooked and want to go big or compete, the Torch is the one.