Dundee Posted March 4, 2011 Report Posted March 4, 2011 Hey, I Am reasonably new to kitesurfing. I have been looking through Mags to see what people use in the way of harnesses. Ive noticed that lots of people go for the waist style even beginners. I had my lessons in a Seating harness and found it very compfy. I've also noticed a new style of harness which Dakine have bought out called the nitrous HD. It's a harness built into Shorts. Which I'm sure you are all aware of. So what Ya think. Waist or seating. Thank you Mick. Quote
Oooo Posted March 4, 2011 Report Posted March 4, 2011 hey mick and welcome first to EK now as for your question harness is like a pair of shoes you have to try them to find a nice comfy fit now !!! next what do you want to do as far as kiting goes ??? BIG question eh now with a seat harness it can a dose stop some movement of your hips so can make it hard if you want to get into freestyle ( jumps big air spins ect ) whereas a waist harness is much more suited for this also your !! body size shape if your like me ( 120 kg) then a waist dose not work well at all so i use a seat (altho i do mainly land kiting i do have and have tryed surfkiting and use a seat for that too ) so there is some ammo for you to think about the hard bit will be trying on some if you dont have a dealer near you hope some of this helps regards mick Quote
.Joel Posted March 4, 2011 Report Posted March 4, 2011 Hi Dundee, Seat harness pulls you from the hips, learning initially you may find this easier as it puts the power straight in to the board. Later a Waist harness if you want more freedom in your hips, and more control over the board when riding powered up. Regards, .Joel Quote
SoutherlyBuster Posted March 4, 2011 Report Posted March 4, 2011 I was going through these thoughts when my old Peter Lynn Seat harness was due for replacement. So what to get? A new seat harness or a new waist harness. Horses for courses, depends on the induvidual, but here is what made my mind up. I had a talk with one of the local kiters who recently swapped over to a waist harness, he said he gets a sore back after 2hrs using the waist harness. 1 point to the seat harness. At the moment I have a bit of a back problem. Second my Peter Lynn Seat Harness was getting really sore, which was the main reason to get a new one. I have heard the seat harness is better for people with a back problem. 1 point to add to the seat harness. I also like to go for some speed runs, putting pleanty of power into the kite and have heard the speed guys prefer the seat harness putting the power lower down towards your board. 1 point to add to the seat harness. Well from the above my mind was made up, a new seat harness. I went off to Kite Power in Geelong to try out the Dakine Storm Harness. This is important, you need to try them out. Well it was compfy and the price was right, so I bought it. Very comfortable. I also use a Dyna Bar sliding spreader bar because I do some toe side riding. This combination has turned out to be best for me considering the way I use my kites/kiteboards/landboards. I know some will say you get more freedome with the waist harness, never personally tried one, but the seat harness has worked best for me. Hope this helps. Regards, Norman. Quote
.Joel Posted March 5, 2011 Report Posted March 5, 2011 At the moment I have a bit of a back problem. Second my Peter Lynn Seat Harness was getting really sore, which was the main reason to get a new one. I have heard the seat harness is better for people with a back problem. 1 point to add to the seat harness. Gav has back problems, needs to use a fitness ball at work to sit on, then an ergonomic chair. Sitting on the floor legs out is the worst position for his back. His doctor recommended he goes to a waist harness for kiteboarding, as it lifts from the waist reducing the upward push on the spine you get through the bottom of your cocksic (sp?) in a seat harness. Quote
SoutherlyBuster Posted March 5, 2011 Report Posted March 5, 2011 Interesting Joel, well every one is different. Almost a case of a need to demo the harness with the kite not just see how it fits in the store then. Quote
Kamikuza Posted March 7, 2011 Report Posted March 7, 2011 Have a Dakine Fusion ... doesn't really pull from the tailbone though - the leg straps are mainly to stop the harness riding up (although they go sperlunking on occasion) and so keeps the pull of the kite down near the hips. I had back surgery 4 years ago on a broken disc ... went for the seat harness to keep the pull low and stop bowing of the spine - mostly, it feels like it a pull from my hip bones; I tighten it down real tight on the lower straps. Quote
koma Posted March 7, 2011 Report Posted March 7, 2011 Another point to consider is that if you spend any significant time with the kite above you, the seat harness is probably going to be more comfortable than a waist harness that might end up being pulled up. After talking with Southerly Buster the other day about his new seat harness purchase, i realised that it probably has a lot to do with him using ARC's which auto-zenith. Whilst know the FS Speed 3 doesn't auto-zenith it's probably a habit to keep the kite at or near zenith, where as someone who flies inflato's tends to keep the kite parked at ~45 degrees. If your ever going to be unhooking i'd recommend going with the waist harness. The position of the hook makes it far easier to pull the bar in then push down to unhook. Last time i borrowed a seat harness after spending the last few years using a waist, i found that unhooking felt like i had to lean way forwards and unhook the bar from around my knees! The Dakine Nitrous harness shorts or the Liquid Force ones have received some pretty positive reviews from the people i know that use them, but personally after realising the advantages of a waist harness you'll probably never want to go back to a seat. Quote
Kamikuza Posted March 7, 2011 Report Posted March 7, 2011 Another point to consider is that if you spend any significant time with the kite above you, the seat harness is probably going to be more comfortable than a waist harness that might end up being pulled up. Oh for sure, so long as you don't mind the leg straps going off and exploring your cavity ... sperlunking, yes. Quote
SoutherlyBuster Posted March 7, 2011 Report Posted March 7, 2011 The only time I had troubles with the leg straps was when I was still using the Peter Lynn harness and had no wet suit on, just boardies, was like having wedgies at all the wrong times. Haven't tried the Dakine Seat harness with just boardies yet, hasn't really been warm enough to try it out. Quote
Kamikuza Posted March 8, 2011 Report Posted March 8, 2011 Boardies is all I have although a cheap Hyperflex wetsuit is in the post ... Quote
Dundee Posted March 8, 2011 Author Report Posted March 8, 2011 Thanks guys for your comments. I do actually have a torn disc in my lower back Which can causes alot of pain from time to time. I never actually thought about that. Thanks. So for now untill I become more advanced I will stick to the seat. Thanks again Mick. Quote
Kamikuza Posted March 9, 2011 Report Posted March 9, 2011 Peter Lynn Kites has a bunch of new harnesses out ... I think they're suitable for water but don't quote me on that. ... I find my back etc hurts more driving to the beach than actually riding - but I'm not doing anything that extreme yet. Quote
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