Power Kite Forum

Need help finding a good waist harness

flyjump - 31-1-2011 at 12:21 PM

Long story short, i've had a hard time with my harnesses. First thing you should know is that I am 6'1" and only 165 pounds, so really skinny. I always have a problem with my waist harnesses riding up into my armpits. Its not too much of a problem except that when I try to do board off tricks its hard to reach down all of the way and put the board back onto my toes.

I've had a small dakine pyro harness and a large wipika waist harness and they've all been the same. So what do I do?

I'd like to steer clear of seat harnesses, but thats the only thing that seems its going to work.

Any of you who know of a good waist harness that doesn't ride up, or of a real comfortable seat harness? Please help if you know something good thats out there. I may just get a pl radical seat harness when they send me my 12 CH.

well i guess thats my ramblings for today

PHREERIDER - 31-1-2011 at 12:39 PM

a seat really solves the problem. i have been back and forth i like both.

some come with leg straps... DAKINE, i think , don't remember the model.

might try women sizes they cut narrow on the sides so they bite at the waist and hold the position better for smaller ribcages.

a convertible waist/ seat is what i have now, currently the seat is rolled up.

on the water the waist is great. for land stuff, standing idle for long periods will result in harness riding up,

acampbell - 31-1-2011 at 12:41 PM

I was going to suggest the Radical. I can lend you one to try. Or consider the Mystic Blazer with more back support (waist/ seat)

flyjump - 31-1-2011 at 12:51 PM

phreerider, i love the idea of the waist harness that doesn't ride up. I like the waist models because I am free to swing my legs and put them where i want the to go. That is a huge advantage during big jumps, it helps prevent certain crashes. On the other hand it would be really nice to be able to lean down really far and work on spinning the board around with my hands and being able to place it back on my feet much easier than with a harness in my armpit.

angus, I may have to take you up on borrowing the radical.

i love the info guys :) strait to the point

burritobandit - 31-1-2011 at 01:02 PM

You should also look into the Ocean Rodeo Session II. The leg harness straps aren't too bulky and are removable if you ever want to switch to a waist harness.

Seanny - 31-1-2011 at 02:03 PM

I have a bit of a problem with this aswell. The Naish harness I have is super comfortable, but if it rides up, it's hard to get it back down again without taking my hands off of the bar/handles, and it presses against my chest and constricts breathing. This mostly occurs when I static fly, or for whatever reason have the kite high in the air. When I'm on my board and the kite is lower in the sky, it doesn't ride up as much.

ripsessionkites - 31-1-2011 at 02:57 PM

You sound like me, no matter how small I go it's a problem.

I use a seat harness all the time. Radical for kitesurf and lanboarding. Divine harness for buggying.

flash - 31-1-2011 at 03:22 PM

try the dakine renegade if you are going to be doing a lot more snow and over the clothes stuff... I have had good luck with it. Or the mystic Warrior III (just came out this year) with the torque thing on the back if you can't get that harness to fit you perfectly, then.. yeah I vouch you might go for the moderate leg loop, not full seat harness. (think something like the ozone snowkite harness)

ripsessionkites - 31-1-2011 at 05:28 PM

If you can wait, PLP has new stuff coming.

*currently waiting at the airport to LAS / KTAI to unveil 2011 PL toys.

Keeping secrets is so hard, 24 hours to go.

Bladerunner - 31-1-2011 at 05:39 PM

+1 for the Mystic Blazer that Angus mentioned. I am short and skinny.

It is a seat / waist combo. I like it as a seat. Very comfortable and good support. Tough nylon seat makes it good for sitting in the buggy as well.

They fit just a bit small or bang on. I have very little room for snow gear or a$$ pads under my size small 30" waiste. Medium may have been better for me ( in winter ) .

Shouldn't you be trying the PL harness ?

flyjump - 31-1-2011 at 06:01 PM

Yeah I'll probably go with the PL radical harness. Unless Ricardo has a new secret harness from PL he wants to tell me about ;) u2u me if Ricky!

flyjump - 31-1-2011 at 06:23 PM

Yeah I'll probably go with the PL radical harness. Unless Ricardo has a new secret harness from PL he wants to tell me about ;) u2u me if Ricky!

Kamikuza - 31-1-2011 at 06:29 PM

Oooh secrets :cool:

DHKITE - 31-1-2011 at 06:31 PM

I have this problem with hat's... my head is too small and most adult hats are waaaay to big... maybe think of shopping for a kids harness ( a fat one ) thats how I usually buy hats now...


walking again, painfully though.... metal bones and all :)

Bladerunner - 31-1-2011 at 06:48 PM

Way to go DH' . It will take a while for those muscles and memory reflexes to kick in again. I know.
I am a titanium Hybrid myself!
:bigok:

Seanny - 31-1-2011 at 07:14 PM

I just irritated my wrist badly. I swear I'm going to but it off and join the titanium club.

I've heard a lot of good things about the DAKINE harnesses. You may want to try one out. :thumbup:

flyjump - 31-1-2011 at 07:37 PM

I had a dakine waist harness and the small rode up my armpits as well. A seat harness is probably gonna be my last resort

Kamikuza - 31-1-2011 at 07:46 PM

Seat harnesses ride up too ... sperlunking, yup. Whee. :ticking:

I got a Dakine Fusion cos they're the only brand that does XXL :ticking: I've a Session II that I'm dieting into :D if the leg straps work like the Ozone Access harness, then they'll be there primarily for keeping the waist part down. The Fusion is more like a diaper ... which is appropriate, I guess - don't drink the lake water BTW

North does a waist harness with seat add-on ...

flyjump - 31-1-2011 at 08:12 PM

i've been looking alot into the mystic harnesses because they have the extra strap to keep the spreader bar down. i'm starting to lean that way

shaggs2riches - 31-1-2011 at 08:36 PM

I got a Hadlow Pro Limit in the fall, its very comfy. My first waist harness, so it felt different a first. After a couple sessions I was use to it and found no issues. I got a large (32-34" waist), a little too small for me to wear heavy winter gear, but nice with a long sleeve shirt and hoodie. The shop owner I bought it from is a skinny fella, and loves using it.

chudalicious - 31-1-2011 at 09:45 PM

Adam, I got the Mystic Warrior II for women this past year and it is SUPER comfy and when tight enough, i dont find it riding up too much. Then again, I don't go skyward like you ;)

The extra strap for the spreader bar is nice. However, when I was trying to snowkite and wore it over layers, it was tough to secure and the second spreder bar strap did not reach. not a huge deal but I bet when you get air it would.

ragden - 1-2-2011 at 06:41 AM

I have a mystic warrior II as well. It is a great harness. However, I ride with my harness a little loose. It does ride up a bit, but then I can normally push it back down with one hand, or just lean back after landing a jump, and it slides down on its own... Of course, if your problem is that you are letting go of the bar, and then reaching for it after your harness slid up, I can see how that might be a problem that this solution will not rectify...

kiteetik - 1-2-2011 at 07:34 AM

my mystic blazer is comfy.........

PHREERIDER - 1-2-2011 at 08:09 AM

ok here's a combo i worked out last year with a waist harness but really wanting a seat for land. kinda the "nitro short" concept but with pads AND back support of a waist harness.

on the water the vector of traction is lower so its not a problem and a seat has some squeeze on the legs, and for land the vector of traction is higher so the "harness ride up" is an issue.

the best of both with a waist harness, it started after a brutal hip pounding session on the coyotes in high winds and finally the hilly billy pants where purchased soon after.

i placed webbing straps down the legs of the hill billy pants that came together in a peak knot in the back right at the tag area with a small paracord tether knotted at the end. on the waist harness i placed a paracord tether at the back handle.

the key to the set up is actually putting the HB pants on!
harness tether goes over the top back and down to the HB pants tether.

works well . i just used knots and larks head til all was snug.

its an extra prep step to a session but when it gonna be all day thing it worth it and no ride up and hips are ready for bangin'.
plenty of flexiblity as well. i probably use this 50% of the time, mostly because alot of my session are water AND land , and don't want mt HB pants in the water...and i forget.

def bring the pics in few minutes

SSPX0198.jpg - 43kB

PHREERIDER - 1-2-2011 at 11:57 AM

here 's them attached , kinda goofy but works

SSPX0204.jpg - 76kB

chudalicious - 1-2-2011 at 01:32 PM

Don't mean to hijack Adam but I have to tangent a bit...

Good stuff PHREE - how do you like the HB pads? They look a little bulky and as a gal I am not a fan of lookin' a little fat in the arse. :embarrased:

I have a pair of Demon ones but because I broke my tailbone previously and recently discplaced my sacrum (hockey related) I am looking for something more protective.

Can you speak to their level of protection? Bulk?

flyjump - 1-2-2011 at 01:33 PM

Phreerider very cool setup. Thanks for attaching photos :)

PHREERIDER - 1-2-2011 at 01:45 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chudalicious
Don't mean to hijack Adam but I have to tangent a bit...

Good stuff PHREE - how do you like the HB pads? They look a little bulky and as a gal I am not a fan of lookin' a little fat in the arse. :embarrased:

I have a pair of Demon ones but because I broke my tailbone previously and recently discplaced my sacrum (hockey related) I am looking for something more protective.

Can you speak to their level of protection? Bulk?


since i'm nearly arse phree i should wear them all the time.

not as bulky as they feel. excellent protection a, nice and tight

it helps! heres the harness side

SSPX0201.jpg - 87kB

flyjump - 1-2-2011 at 01:52 PM

i've got to get some hillbilly hip pads if i'm going to be freestyling at NABX.........i'm going broke because of landboarding lol

Bladerunner - 1-2-2011 at 05:04 PM

I'm a bit of a buttless Chap myself. I've never really asked the boys " do these pads my my butt look big " !

Like Phree' says they feel bulky but are about as sleek and tight as you can get. They have saved me a few times. One of the best investments I have made! :thumbup: