seat harness vs waist harness

[yugga]

I am a kitesurfer of about 2 years. Doing ok (upwind,jumping toeside etc). trying to backroll now but with no success.

 

I use a dakine fusion seat harness. Thought trying a waist harness may help with the backroll and riding position (am sometimes a bit squat if im not concentrating on leaning back and staying straight).

 

Anyway tried my friend's naish waist harness. medium. Im a 34 waist so should be ok. It was blowing up to 30mph and i was on a 9m. It was the most uncomfortable experience of my life. felt constantly overpowered and suffocated! didnt bother trying as backroll. Went bak to the seat harness and had a great session!

 

Any thoughts? Would a waist harness make much difference to riding position, ability to rotate, and ability to hold down power? maybe this one was just bad fitting. Any views on good harnesses or the hybrid seat/waist harnesses?

 

Current view is to save the cash and use what works ok for me at the moment!

[Andy-j]

Find one that fits and get used to it... It will help your riding posture loads.!

[w1nd]

Yeah thats right, you tend to squat when the power comes through in a seat harness but with a waist harness you tend to straighten your body and hold the power with the edge of the board.

 

... well I did anyway when I used a seat harness.

[yugga]

thanks guys. any thoughts on the waist style harnesses with detachable leg loops?

[-Jonno-]

Please spare a thought for other beach users and get a waist harness. We don't want to see the family jewels crushed no more!

[OceanRodeo]

If by detachable leg straps you mean the Ocean Rodeo Session 2 harness. It is a fantastic bit of kit. Built stronger than most with superb back support.

The leg straps are a real boom if you body shape is not perfect for waist harnesses ( To many pies) preventing the harness riding up under your ribs whilst still allowing all the freedom of a waist harness..

If you are lucky and have the right shape ,take the leg-straps off ( 2 clips)and have a a well engineered waist harness.

[yugga]

i see there are a few other hybrids about. North Transformer and mystic warrior and dragonshields also come in convertible form.

 

Any thoughts?

[badgb21]

Hi,

I use both from time to time as I can get lower back pain – not kite related.

When you very first try a waist harness you feel very upright, almost like you are going over the front at times. Your abs will ache and it can be a bit strange until you get used to it. Best to only use it for and hour or so then swap back and gradually work up the time.

Putting the seat harness back on will start to feel restrictive around your legs, especially putting the board on your feet and like many, you will begin to prefer a waist harness all the time.

The more upright stance just seems to feel natural and as stated above is likely to improve your posture and edging.

As for back rolls, I think for me they are easier in a waist harness because I just feel more in control with it, that’s not to say it’s impossible in a seat harness.

If you struggle, then you need to get someone who can do them to watch you and give you a bit of feedback. Tip – practice both ways right from the start or you may be one sided for ever!

 

It can be weird changing and it makes you wonder if it doesn’t suit at first, but if you stick with it, you won’t change back (injuries aside)!

 

Kev

[muttley99]

How about this? Products

[Bigbud]

How about this? Products

 

Look good them

[Andy-j]

my mate uses them, swears by them.

 

I think they are good when it comes to waveriding because the bar is nice and low and in close to your hips.

[ClexAook]

I don't think half a session is enough to allow yourself to get used to it.

 

The main difference is having the spreader hook higher, so it will feel wierd because the pull is coming from a different part of your body.

 

Try it again and give it some time.

 

I tried some of the liquid force shorts, because i might be looking at back surgery soon. Great in terms of comfort and stuff, but i find the low spreader bar very diffcult to get on with.

[Krazy Kiter]

get one that fits. im about the same waist size, but i use a small Hadlow ProLimit 2010. get a nice tight fit. tonnes of good ones out there, spend a decent sum and get a really comfy one. Best idea is go to your local kiteshop, try lots on, and see what suits your body shape.

[HOFY9]

Just to put a different view.....

I used the Dakine Pyro shorts harness up until 3 years ago when I swapped to a Mystic Warrior waist. Three months ago I swapped back to the Dakine as I was sick of being unable to use my abs for a few days after every sess, (before you say it, I have strong abs from rowing training 4 times a week). Going back to a seat harness was Soo comfortable, but more importantly meant I was able to hold MORE poewr. Not sure why you think a seat harnes makes you squat more, as in my opinion the kite acting directly to your hips keeps them higher not lower. I know I am in the minority on this but I would say wear whatever works for you. I see loads of people on the beach where the type oy harness is not the reason they cant make the moves!! Personally i reckon I can get another 6 feet higher on jumps than I could with the waist harness, so I;m sticking with it.

Anyone want a 32" Mystic Warrior waist harness?

[Andy-j]

If your ABS were burning after kiting then thats obviously proving your ABS arent in as good shape as you think.!!?

 

Just get some protein down you within a few hours of your session and all is good.!

[kiteingcolin]

over 30 years I have bought around 5 waist harnesses, tried to like them, each one of them was sold a few weeks later, tried em, and loved the freedom of leg movement, but just could not get on with the pull/load angle/ sore ribs/weird feeling of little control, either for windsurfing or kitesurfing, love my seat harness all 5 of them, ion seat, d'kine seat- both shorts, d'kine fusion harness x3,d'kine storm harness x 1, oops that six, and 2 windsurfing seat harnesses, why?? dont windsurf any more.

(O yes! I won one of them in a raffle last year)

 

(2 windsuring harnesses for sale, as new,cheap £10 for both) no use at all for kitesurfing, you will end up in hospital on the first boost if you use on a vegas or fuel.

Edited September 20, 2010 by kiteingcolin

[HOFY9]

If your ABS were burning after kiting then thats obviously proving your ABS arent in as good shape as you think.!!?

 

Just get some protein down you within a few hours of your session and all is good.!

No, abs were fine during session, no "burning" at all, so still working aerobically and able to keep kiting for a good few hours. As said, pain was over the next few days.

Colin, glad to see someone else who agrees with me, although I'm still using my original pair of dakine shorts harness!!

[badgb21]

I do think that if you have tried and can’t get on with a waist harness, then stick with the seat, but you do need to give it a while and build up to it.

During my many years of windsurfing I too have tried in the past and couldn’t get on with it, mainly because I tried to wear it for a whole session and just ended up killing my abs. The hook position difference seems even more apparent windsurfing than kiting. You get pulled over the front very easily to start with.

(For very big w/surf sails I may still prefer my seat harness)

 

I have a kite bud who suffers with aching abs afterwards with a waist harness and he’s the most physically fit of our group (I had to be careful how I worded that!) He perseveres long after where I would give up; he just doesn’t like a seat harness???

I’m the fattest and least physically fit and generally I’m fine with it.

I guess it’s down to the individual and as said earlier what works for you.

 

We sometime have a kebab from Hunstanton town centre after a session, not sure if that qualifies as protein…………

[yugga]

good feedback guys. will keep with the fusion for now. wouldnt mind trying an OR session 2 at some point though if anybody has one going cheap!!

[w1nd]

I swapped over to a waist from a seat harness during a winter break.... that was before the days of owning a good winter suit!

 

You are well rusty after a long break off the water so you probably won't notice as much if you do make the change after a break.

[HOFY9]

I swapped over to a waist from a seat harness during a winter break.... that was before the days of owning a good winter suit!

 

You are well rusty after a long break off the water so you probably won't notice as much if you do make the change after a break.

Eh? Give up for a bit....forget everything.....then change your kit as you'll now be crap? Not sure about that advice!!

[yugga]

as long as the sea isnt frozen i'll be out there!! and if it is i might try ice skates!

[w1nd]

Eh? Give up for a bit....forget everything.....then change your kit as you'll now be crap? Not sure about that advice!!

 

I was just saying what I did..... If the OP was not kiting through the winter it might be worth a thought thats all.

 

All I am saying was after I avoided the cold seas for the winter I went straight out on my new waist harness and did not notice the difference. A freind of mine tried to change mid summer season and could not get on with it... just a thought.