Short answer: the North Astra is the board to buy if you weigh under about 70 kg (154 lb) and want what the Atmos does. North gives it the same dials as the Atmos, 4/5 for pop, edge grip, carving and comfort in chop, but tunes the flex for less rider weight, sets the stance 20 mm narrower in every size, and runs the sizes from 127 cm up to 139. North calls it the Freeride and Big Air board for the light rider. As of this post it is $674, down from $899, in all four sizes.
Why a separate board
A twintip is a spring. The Atmos's layup is tuned to load and release under a 55 to 120 kg rider; a 55 kg rider on the stiff end of that range cannot bend it enough to get the pop back, and the stance on a 136 is set for longer legs. The Astra fixes both without changing the shape: biaxial hybrid carbon over a paulownia core with 3DY unidirectional carbon along the load paths, a double concave into a deep-V spine for landings, quad channel tips for upwind tracking, and inserts 20 mm closer together. The result is a board that rides like an Atmos for a rider the Atmos was not built around.
| Dial (out of 5) | Astra | Atmos |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort in chop | 4 | 4 |
| Pop | 4 | 4 |
| Edge grip | 4 | 4 |
| Light wind | 3 | 3 |
| Carving | 4 | 4 |
| Construction | Biaxial Hybrid Carbon, flex tuned for lighter riders | Triaxial Hybrid Carbon |
| Stance | 20 mm narrower than the Atmos | Standard |
| Sizes | 127, 132, 135, 139 cm | 136, 138, 141, 144 cm |
| As of this post | $674 (from $899) | $712 (from $949) |
Which size: North's rider-weight chart
| Size (cm) | Rider weight | Fins |
|---|---|---|
| 127 x 37 | under 50 kg (under 110 lb) | 40 mm |
| 132 x 38 | 40–60 kg (88–132 lb) | 40 mm |
| 135 x 39 | 50–70 kg (110–154 lb) | 40 mm |
| 139 x 40 | 60–90 kg (132–198 lb) | 40 mm |
The 127 and 132 are the sizes nothing else in North's range covers: a 45 kg (99 lb) rider has one North board, and this is it. The 135 is the heart of the line, for the 50–70 kg rider who would otherwise be at the very bottom of the Atmos 136's band. The 139 overlaps the Atmos 136 and 138; a 65 kg rider choosing between the Astra 139 and the Atmos 136 is choosing between a narrower stance and softer flex, or the standard stance and more board under foot in light wind. The forum rule that a 135x39 suits riders up to about 75 kg agrees with North's chart within a few kilos.
What is in the box, and what is not
Board, TT Accessory Kit and 40 mm fins, with North's standard M6 stainless hardware. Bindings are sold separately on every North twintip; the Flex bindings come in S/M and L/XL at $169, and the S/M is the pair for the feet this board is built for. The Astra 2027 keeps the same four sizes and the same chart; the 2026 at $674 is the one in stock.
Honest limit: the Astra has no independent reviews in our data; this is North's spec and North's chart, cross-checked against the general twintip sizing riders agree on. It is also not a children's board in the sense of being softened or slowed down: it carries the Atmos's 4/5 pop and grip, so a very light beginner who wants a board that forgives rather than rewards should look at the Prime, 5/5 for comfort in chop at $699, in 136. And like every North twintip, the paint chips; the complaint across the line is cosmetic, not structural. For the kite that goes with it, a lighter rider reads North's wind tables one size down, which the kite size page and the gear advisor will do from your weight.
FAQ
Astra or Atmos for 65 kg?
Both fit by North's chart (Astra 139: 60–90 kg; Atmos 136: 55–80 kg). Take the Astra if you are shorter or want more pop from less load; take the Atmos if you want the extra width for light wind.
Is the Astra a women's board?
North specifies it by rider weight, not gender: under 50 to 90 kg across four sizes, with a narrower stance. Anyone in that weight range is the target rider.
Does it come with bindings?
No. Board, accessory kit and 40 mm fins. Flex bindings are $169; the S/M size matches this board's rider.