Northern Spin Co. Quantum
Reviewed by Chris Rhoads
July 14, 2013

Introduction

Northern Spin, based out of Canada, is one of those boutique companies that do not get a great deal of exposure. It is a shame because their previous two yo-yos were excellent performers. I have been covering the company for quite some time, ever since our accidental introduction. We met through Big Brother YoYos when I picked up a prototype from Doug that just so happened to be one of Manny’s designs. Manny and I started talking about future products… one thing lead to another and we lost touch when all of a sudden Northern Spin pops up at the debut of the new Canadian Nationals contest a few years later. Now Northern Spin Co. is back with their third release, the Quantum. Each release from Northern Spin has some unique feature to it. The Aurora was made from titanium, the Helix was an aluminum and steel hybrid, and now we have the Quantum with its own feature set to set it apart from the pack. Lets see how Northern spin fairs using just aluminum in their latest design.

Specs

• Diameter: 60 mm
• Width: 45 mm
• Gap: 4.5 mm
• Weight: 67 grams
• Bearing: C-Size CORE bearing
• Response: Poured Flowable Silicone

Construction

So far all of Northern Spin’s yo-yos have used the same shape in their designs, employing a similar strategy that YYR uses with their line. Their yo-yos are all organic butterfly shapes with flattened rims and an angled cut separating the rim from the catch zone. The cup has a rounded lip the curved into the underside of the rim giving the Quantum a deep IRG. Following the wall down to the floor, you can see a slightly raised platform with a small, sharp spiked hub in the center. As I mentioned in the intro, each Northern Spin Co. design has one unique feature that sets it apart from the pack. In the Quantum’s case it is the sheer size of this beast. The Quantum has a 60 mm diameter, which is pretty much the largest yo-yo I have ever reviewed. It feels enormous in my hand, which says a lot considering I have larger than normal hands. Petite hands may find the Quantum to be a little unwieldy. Size aside, Northern Spin has taken great steps to make sure Quantum provides a high level of comfort during play. The rounded design feels great while holding it and there are no rough edges to cause pain during returns. The finish is smooth to the touch and is similar to the fine blast medium used in a soda finish. I am a fan of the overall design of the Quantum even with its gargantuan frame. It may not be for everyone but it is a nice shift from the norm for me.

Weight

A big yo-yo brings more weight; the Quantum is no exception. The Quantum tips the scales at 67 grams but it is spread out over that large body so it never feels chunky or brackish on the string. It does have strong spin times and Northern Spin has definitely perfected the weight distribution for their default shape because it feels rock solid stable during play.

Response and Bearing

The response is a hand poured flowable silicone. It was installed quite well with just a hint of a recess to it allowing for completely unresponsive play and tight binds.

The bearing is Northern Spin’s hybrid ceramic/steel CORE bearing. The balls are fully ceramic while the ribbon cage and races are all steel. I found the bearing to be impressively silent and smooth. It does have a slight break in time but after about a day of playing, it became dead unresponsive. The only thing I worry about is one of the balls breaking during a heavy impact, but I have worried about that with other ceramics I have used in the past. I am not easily impressed by specialty bearings but this is one to keep an eye on. I would love to try it out in some of my other throws.

Playability

I have found that the Quantum is not a fast yo-yo and feels a little clumsy when you try pushing it onto overdrive. The Quantum seems to play best with a relaxed play style where you allow it to flow from trick to trick. There is quite a bit of weight shoved to the rims so it has the spin times to go along with a chilled out play session, you never feel rushed to land the trick before time runs out. Even though it is an organic butterfly shape the catch zone is wide and easy to hit during whips and slacks with only the sloppiest of play causing the string to reject off the walls. There is one quirk with the Quantum that is only noticeable during front style play. There is a high level of kickback when you throw a sleeper. Normally I don’t comment on kickback but this one made me keenly aware of where my shins were in relation to the yo-yo. It is by no means a deal breaker but you will want to compensate so you don’t bruise your legs. Grinds are smooth and easy to perform on the arm, finger, and palm. Thumb grinds are a snap to catch on the pop up thanks to the spacious cup. If you are into matador play you may have problems with the spikes. They are sharp but not quite long enough. Again the petite-handed players will notice this issue more than anyone else. I was able to catch it in the air and do the occasional ripcord start. The overall play is solid and impressive for such a large throw. Since I gravitate towards a more relaxed style of play I found that this is a yo-yo that would fit perfectly in my collection.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, I like the Quantum. It is quirky and large but it has a unique feel that I look for. That being said I can see it being a yo-yo that some will definitely want to try before they buy. It is big… big enough that it could almost double as a 4A yo-yo if you used a thick lubed, slim line bearing; something that I would love to try if I didn’t have to send this back. I love that Northern Spin is willing to eschew conventional designs, bringing crazier yo-yos to the market. I look forward to seeing what they bring next; I hear it is titanium.