Dakine Speed seat ??

[jhn.holgate]

I've seen a couple of pics of these, but only from the rear. Can anyone tell me what they're like compared to the normal snowkiting/rock climbing type harness?? I use a tree surgeon's harness which has a waist and bum strap - which is great for hanging around in and pretty good in the buggy although the bum strap can ride up at times and occasionally work it's way a little too low in the buggy. My tree surgeons harness is also pretty good for the occasional small jumping session, although I often have to nudge the bum strap back down a bit. How does the dakine harness compare?

Thanks

John

[trippnu]

Havent used the dakine seat but a proper harness makes a heap of difference used to use the pro limit seat harness untill i dropped it on the beach somewhere and that was pretty comfy

Simon

[SoutherlyBuster]

John,

My son has the Dakine Seat harness and loves it. He does not suffer from the uni-tensional wedgies. If you are using a snap shackle + handles then you will need to add a sock to the hook, see the thread on riding toe side, I've explained it there. Zachary uses it for both landboarding and now for the water action. It's a well made unit. I suspect it will last longer without repairs than my Peter Lynn Seat Harness.

Norman

[jhn.holgate]

see the thread on riding toe side,

hmm, can't seem to find that, Norman. edit: scratch that last, I found it! Thanks.

[Jon]

I have used a Speed seat for 6+ years I think and was massively upset a year or two a go when Troy made me leave it on the beach after kiting accros river mouth at The Entrance with my Manta! I waw however very happy to find that Dakine were still making them and the design had not changed a bit. Utter pants for kiitesurfing but a joy to buggy in.

Only problem is i don't think they are being brought in to Oz anymore and I only have a small left in the shop. Good luck

[Oooo]

just be careful john as some kitesurfing harness are no good in the bug as they make you sit higher as they have back padding and are made or shaped for not actual sitting position but where as a proper buggy harness is just that and are made to be sat in i run the liber deluxe and is comfy even on long runs and there is a newish one by ION seat that i tryed at briskites and it was pretty good too but thats it you need to try them on but if you going to just use it for the bug then look more at buggy ones ,ozone do one too cant rember what they called tho

regards mike

[jhn.holgate]

Thanks Jon & Mike. Next time I'm cruising past Kitepower in Geelong I'll call in and have a closer look. I'll have to have a better look at Zac's harness next time too.

[nigel]

I've got an old Dakine Fusion seat harness John.

Had it for over 6 years, and after a little home moddification (stupid giant silly hook), is great.

Come have a look next time were out.

[jabroni]

I like my waist harness now. I use a Mystic Warrior, it's got a strap under the spreader bar to stop it pivoting up. It's all about getting that strap to the right tension: too loose and it becomes a tit harness, too tight and it digs into the hips.

Gives good back support (although sometimes a bit twisted on hard upwind runs), zero padding on bum so you sit low, and no "nad" strap.

Don't think i've seen anyone else buggying with a waist though...

[Jason]

That's because using a waist in a buggy sux when your powered up for long periods. It pulls your torso toward the kite side of the buggy.

I look for a harness with the least bulk below the hips and minimal padding so I can feel the seat.

[JKS]

I dislike the 'feel' of using a waist harness .... mainly cause it raises your center of gravity making it a little harder to keep power to the wheels and I always feel a little more prone to tipping. I use a Pro Limit seat harness .. super comfy and never had a ball problem. Haven't tried the Dakine speed seat ... I have a Dakine waist and it is very well made.

[sluggo]

I have a Dakine seat harness and it is comfortable but unlike Marty i do sometimes have a " ball " problem . But then again mine are bigger than his

But i do have extra padding on the spreader bar as i have no meat on my hips and it can dig in like a biatch .

[jabroni]

But then again mine are bigger than his

That probably lowers your centre of gravity too...

[sluggo]

Just look at the difference in our avatars . Me weighed down with those big balls and Marty getting almost tipped out due to no ball weight . ..... Pictures don't lie

[JKS]

*trying REALLY hard not to join the off topicness*

[Steve]

I have used a Speed seat for 6+ years I think and was massively upset a year or two a go when Troy made me leave it on the beach after kiting accros river mouth at The Entrance with my Manta! I waw however very happy to find that Dakine were still making them and the design had not changed a bit. Utter pants for kiitesurfing but a joy to buggy in.

Only problem is i don't think they are being brought in to Oz anymore and I only have a small left in the shop. Good luck

I've just explained to John in a PM that the Speed seat has a sliding spreader bar (fixed hook, standard bar) or the bar can be removed completely and a large carabiner can be fitted over the 50mm webbing. Its a comfy seat harness, it adjustable leg straps. It does not have too much padding which is why its good for a buggyer.

We still have a S/M/L/XL left here in Sydney. They sell for $110 so pretty good value too.

http://www.kitepower.com.au/catalog/pro ... t_332.html

I'm sure there will be a similar replacement in the 2010 Dakine range which will become available later in March.

[jhn.holgate]

Speed seat turned up today (yes, I thought I'd give one a whirl) but I'm a little bemused 'cos there's no instructions on how best to wear or adjust it. And no sign of a spreader bar. So here's some pics - have I got this right? Leg loops seem obvious, but I'm not sure about the strap above them - does it go through the crab/chickenloop as well as the main strap or not? And how reliable are those plastic cam lock buckles?

Seems to fit well and feels pretty comfy. Haven't used it in anger yet.

[Steve]

Hi John

The mystery strap normally goes through the spreader back so in order for the harness to work with a carabiner put it through the biner as you have in the second/third pics.

No harness I know of comes with instructions, but you should have received a spreader bar, which shop did you purchase it from?

If it came from Kitepower, just let me know which one and I'll get one sent to you asap.

[jhn.holgate]

So that's what that straps for! Harness came from the Sydney shop, Steve. (O ID 160280)

edit: I've sorted out the straps

[imjimbo]

it a very flattering harness ......

im in two minds as witch to get...

[jhn.holgate]

Think I've got it sorted out! There's a photo on RaceKites in a review and it looks like the main strap threads through the spreader bar and the smaller strap goes up and over the strap behind the bar. Had a bit of a fly tonight with the Apex 7.5 in very light winds and found the speed seat pretty comfy actually. Spreads the load well. No high pitched voices! Not bulky in the buggy. The chicken loop tends to suddenly slip from one side to the other when changing directions but it's no big deal. Feels like it will be fine for some small jumps. Comfy to walk around in too - more so than my tree surgeons harness. Probably get a bit sweaty over long periods when it's hot but that's a small price to pay for something that doesn't ride up or down and doesn't dig in anywhere.

Being used to tree surgeon's and rock climbing harnesses - which are rated to 3000kg or thereabouts - the plastic buckles tend to make me raise my eyebrows a bit. But I guess we don't leave the ground very often! and when we do, we don't go far. Well, not deliberately anyway!

I think it's gonna be a winner.

[Steve]

Pic 3 is the right way John, and by the looks of it all the straps need to be tightened quite a bit.

[Denver1229]

I use the Ozone harness for buggying with leg and waist harness as one, how does this compare/what are other options available? I haven't seen a great deal.

It rides up when you don't wear long shorts, other than that holds the kite very well.

Evan

[jhn.holgate]

Hi Evan, I've had the chance to have a good buggy and fly with the Dakine Speed Seat and I have to admit it is more comfortable than the waiste/leg loop type harnesses that I've used for rock climbing in the past. Leg loops in general always seem to have a habit of riding up where you don't want them. The Dakine spreads the load well with no noticeable pressure points. The spreader bar seems good to use to - particularly with the chicken loops on my turbo bar/depower kites. you could probably attach a pulley to a chickenloop too for using handles if you wanted. You'll get a bit hotter in one of these compared to the Ozone! I think the Speed Seat is only designed for buggy/landboard and static flying. I wouldn't trust the plastic buckles for any aerial work. And the way the spreader bar is attached is no where near as good as some of the other (more expensive!!) harnesses I've seen. But you obviously pay more for those. It's more comfy than my tree surgeons harness which has a waist and bum strap - the bum strap can get too low under your legs at times in the buggy and it can get up too high if your jumping. Mind you, it was three times the cost and it's rated to a few thousand kilograms!!

Overall the Speed Seat is comfy and good value but if you're thinking of going that way, check out the Cahbrina, Ion and more expensive Dakine models as well. Some of the kiteboarding/windsurfing models have a handle on the back which could get in the way when seated and other models are made with too much stiffness/support for use in the buggy. The Ion Radar looks pretty impressive - at nearly twice the price mind you.

here's some pics with the spreader bar. (which I've found works really well for me)