Power Kite Forum

Advice please: good harness for snowkiting?

Windstruck - 19-10-2015 at 12:33 PM

Temps are dropping quickly in the Wasatch and I'm hopeful that I'll soon be hanging up my buggy for the winter.... to start snowkiting! :D

This is my first year enjoying mobile traction kiting. The only harness I've ever used is the PL Divine (size M). My Divine use has been exclusively with my seat meat planted solidly in my BigFoot buggy. The PL website bills the Divine harness as being designed with comfort and performance in mind for buggying.

For snowkiting I need a slightly larger harness to fit over winter gear so I'm going to need a second one. I've been pleased with my Divine harness so at first blush I'm leaning towards the PL Radical harness (size L).

I'd love some advice if this is a good idea or if folks have found other harnesses better specifically for snowkiting. I'm an accomplished skier but will be a first time snowkiter this winter. I don't intend to boost (on purpose!). I'll be piloting Flysurfer Peak-2s.

Thanks in advance for your sage advice! :thumbup:

Feyd - 19-10-2015 at 04:00 PM

http://www.hardwaterkiter.com/recommended-equipment.html

MotoFoo86 - 19-10-2015 at 04:27 PM

I run an old Mystic Blazer, some love em, some don't. Never got into the climbing harness style and while i'm sure they have their advantages i just cannot do it, waist harness for life!

IFlyKites - 19-10-2015 at 04:45 PM

Ozone Access might be a good fit. I own one and love it. I would imagine it fitting over snow pants as it's one size fits all.

Feyd - 19-10-2015 at 05:13 PM

Quote: Originally posted by IFlyKites  
I would imagine it fitting under snow pants as it's one size fits all.


OVER SNOWPANTS. You'd look kinda silly and a little creepy with that hook hanging out your barn door. :D

The Access SB is a great little harness and relatively inexpensive. Super comfortable. We use them as our school harnesses and I find myself opting for it more and more over my Fusion just because it's quick and easy and comfortable. If I'm out to rip, the Dakine has my back. But for most stuff the Access SB is great. I'm going to move to the Ozone Connect BC Pro (http://www.hardwaterkiter.com/harnesses.html) this season as my teaching harness. It's a bit more $$ than the SB but also a bit stouter. It may become my goto for most of my kiting this season.

Motofoo, You're like a lot of people on both sides of the harness fence. You like what you're used to. I bet you'd like the Connect Pro. It's essentially a waist harness with leg loops. I like the low tow point of a waist harness. But I like the "unfurnished basement" feel of a waist. The Connect base is a bit less $$ as it doesn't have the spreader.

Most of the people I know and ride with who ride water and snow either ride seat harnesses full time or a waist on water and seat on snow.

IFlyKites - 19-10-2015 at 06:20 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Feyd  
Quote: Originally posted by IFlyKites  
I would imagine it fitting under snow pants as it's one size fits all.


OVER SNOWPANTS. You'd look kinda silly and a little creepy with that hook hanging out your barn door. :D

The Access SB is a great little harness and relatively inexpensive. Super comfortable. We use them as our school harnesses and I find myself opting for it more and more over my Fusion just because it's quick and easy and comfortable. If I'm out to rip, the Dakine has my back. But for most stuff the Access SB is great. I'm going to move to the Ozone Connect BC Pro (http://www.hardwaterkiter.com/harnesses.html) this season as my teaching harness. It's a bit more $$ than the SB but also a bit stouter. It may become my goto for most of my kiting this season.

Motofoo, You're like a lot of people on both sides of the harness fence. You like what you're used to. I bet you'd like the Connect Pro. It's essentially a waist harness with leg loops. I like the low tow point of a waist harness. But I like the "unfurnished basement" feel of a waist. The Connect base is a bit less $$ as it doesn't have the spreader.

Most of the people I know and ride with who ride water and snow either ride seat harnesses full time or a waist on water and seat on snow.


Ahaha, edited. That's what happens when you don't get enough sleep. Yepp, open the fly on your snowpants for the spreader bar and your set! :lol:

MotoFoo86 - 19-10-2015 at 06:42 PM

You might be right Feyd, however it still doesn't have the belt under the spreader bar which is one thing i've noticed that i really like. Alas, no places locally to check them out and i have no issues with my Blazer so i will stay with it for now!

Not to mention another harness means possibly modifying another jacket (i ride with my harness under a modified jacket).

ssayre - 19-10-2015 at 07:05 PM

I miss my ozone sb harness. Sruprised by that, because I didn't think I liked my ozone harness until I had something to compare it to. Now I know it was a great all around harness.

nate76 - 19-10-2015 at 07:58 PM

I'm not sure if they make it any more, but I like the Ozone Access harness that just has the loop rather than the spreader bar. For guys like me who don't do a lot of unhooked riding, it made for a very short, secure connection to the kite.

I would also recommend a seat harness over a waist harness. Waist harnesses have a tendency to ride up to your armpits when you have loose clothing on. I tend to go between using the Ozone Access harness and a Dakine Vega harness depending on my mood.

IFlyKites - 19-10-2015 at 07:59 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre  
I miss my ozone sb harness. Sruprised by that, because I didn't think I liked my ozone harness until I had something to compare it to. Now I know it was a great all around harness.


Don't worry Sean, it's coming to great use and being taken care of!

ssayre - 19-10-2015 at 08:05 PM

Thanks Ari, I was hoping you were getting good use of it. :D

I might get another one at some point.

rectifier - 19-10-2015 at 10:11 PM

Haha, I wear a climbing harness UNDER my snow pants. Clip a caribiner onto the loop and it hangs out over the waistband but under my parka. I unzip the lower zipper of the parka up a little to make space. Seems to work fine for the rare times that I ride strapped in. Got a depower on the way to play with now, so I'll be wearing it more.

Feyd - 20-10-2015 at 04:23 AM

Ozone has discontinued both the Access and Access sb harnesses. We have them in stock because bang for the buck they are great little harnesses. The access, without a spreader, is being replaced by the Connect BC. Same idea, but with more support.

Motofoo, I hear ya. But the Ozone spreader bar pad does a good job. I don't even feel the lack of belt. :D

Poor Sean. You never know what you have until its gone. :P.

Demoknight - 20-10-2015 at 07:11 AM

I have tried to ride a landboard with my PL Divine and hated it. The Divine is amazing in a buggy because of how low it gets the hook/pulley, but for riding something standing up, it lets the kite control your hips and I felt constantly off balance on the board, and when I have done body dragging in water having the hook that low always seems to spin your body around the wrong way and put you on your back.

In a buggy it is a different story. I wouldn't use anything but a Divine in a buggy seat. Well, that or hotwire.