nus - 22-5-2007 at 09:02 PM
I've been looking into getting a harness as I find myself closer and closer to getting a landboard. Buggying interests my but with my small car I
think I'm gonna stick with the landboard for ease of transportation. I was wondering what type is recommended a waist harness or a seat harness. I
currently have 2 kites a 1.8M and a 5M and plan on getting a 3M. Both kites are flown with handles, I've thought about trying a bar but expect to
stick with the handles for while..
Also I was curious if it's common to use a harness for jumping or are they typically only used for buggying and boarding?
B-Roc - 23-5-2007 at 06:01 AM
Hey Nus, you may want to get over to powerline and try on a few. I really think harnesses are personal preference and their comfort may be based on
your body build. I've tried and ridden with a waist harness (tabu) and based on my build, it kept riding up so I either needed to have it so snug
that it made breathing difficult or loose in which case it would rotate around me every time I changed direction while skiing.
So I went with the fusion and it is primo for skiing, good for static (I don't jump with it hooked in though) and OK for land boarding - my stance and
body position is way different on the board than on skis and I do find my hands a little low on the board when harnessed in but I'm getting used to
it. FWIW I did notice that this winter while kiting most of the riders had seat harnesses whereas just a few years back most had waist harnesses - so
maybe that tells you which are more comfortable most of the time for the skinny riders and those hitting it with boards, skis, buggys and on the
water.
For me the seat harness is better as the bar won't ride up and when skiing you can sit into it and hold down a good deal of power comfortably. I
bought mine 1 size too big so it wouldn't be tight with my ski pants and all and it has been fine. I tighten the power strap as tight as I can and I
still have just a bit of room so nothing gets crushed but nothing rotates or rides up on me.
They do feel completely different when just on as compared to when hooked in. I don't know if Andrew has a way you can hook in to a column in or
outside of the store but if you can try one on and then hook a rope or something to the spreader bar and then fasten yourself to something you can
lean against you'll get a much better feel for how (un)comfortable the harness well be while kiting.
Good luck!
acampbell - 23-5-2007 at 11:53 AM
Tough question with no clear answer as B-roc says. Pretty subjective. A lot of board riders argue that the seat harness puts the tow point lower so
there is less of a moment (force) to pull you over and off the board.
That being said, if you are thinking about flying mostly on handles (and I'm assuming with a strop between the tops to hook into a harness), then
consider a waist harness. A waist harness puts the spreader bar and tow point a few inches higher and therefore closer to the drection of pull coming
from your hands.
If your body shape gives you trouble with the waist harness riding up, consider a "waist-seat" harness. Mystic has several examples of their regular
waist harnesses with the addition of leg straps. I like my Mystic Warrior for that reason. The leg strqaps are not too much bulk to be uncomfotable
in the Bug, and I can still keep the harness down and low for use on a 'board.
If using a strop, consider a pully style spreader bar such as offered by Peter Lynn . See here
