Power Kite Forum

Ozone Access Harness

kiteNH - 11-9-2008 at 09:43 AM

Has anyone used one of these harnesses:?:

The only harness that I've used is the Dakine Tabu. I like it, but it gets pretty hot and is kind of bulky when worn over winter coat. I'm thinking about giving one of the Ozone Access harnesses a try for this winter. It looks a little bit cooler and I'm thinking that the leg harnesses will keep it from riding up and let me sit back against the kite a little better.

I like that it is a "one size fits all" harness except that I'm not very large (5'9", 150lb) so I'm worried that it could be too large so any input on the size would be great.

Also, they are offering the '09 harness with both the D-ring version from last year and a standard spreader bar this year. I'm not sure which one to go with. I'm tempted to give the D-ring a try because it looks so clean and light. If anyone used the D-ring version from last year I'd love to know what you thought of it.

Here's a link to the 09 Access harness:

http://www.flyozone.com/snowkites/en/products/accessories/ac...

andya - 11-9-2008 at 03:07 PM

Just bought a 09 with D ring yesterday. Will test it out with the Acceses at the weekend.

I'm 6ft, but 34" wasit, and on me all the straps are pretty much as tight as they will go.

Felt very comfy in the shop, but a few hours in the bug will decide if it works for me or not.

archkiter - 11-9-2008 at 03:13 PM

How does the D ring work?

macboy - 11-9-2008 at 08:41 PM

To my knowledge it's just a metal ring that you loop the chickenloop through. I opted for a climbing harness and a carabiner but the theory would be the same in terms of how you are hooked in. All I can say is that it removes your ability to unhook as easily as a spreader bar would allow you to (obviously) but with the safety systems on the Access you have little need to worry. The primary is a complete and total depower.

nhlrule56 - 11-9-2008 at 09:28 PM

I have the Ozone AccessXC harness and the Dakine XT Seat. I am 6', 220 lbs. I really like the Ozone harness especially when getting in/out of the buggy because it is less bulky. It also is nice to have on while setting up the kites. The diaper is awkward when setting up. My depower kites (Flexi Sabre2) do not have the megatron loop that the newer ozone's have, so I hook up the loop using a small beaner. The only downside is that sometimes I find myself reaching a little further than I would like due to the added length of the beaner. For flying with handles I use the Wichard/Holt Allen combo and hook up to the strop. If I am doing general flying and scudding, I tend to use the Dakine harness.

kiteNH - 12-9-2008 at 09:24 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by andya
Just bought a 09 with D ring yesterday. Will test it out with the Acceses at the weekend.

I'm 6ft, but 34" wasit, and on me all the straps are pretty much as tight as they will go.

Felt very comfy in the shop, but a few hours in the bug will decide if it works for me or not.


Let us know how it works for you :thumbup:. I won't be using it in a bug but I'm definitely curious what you think of the D-ring. They must have had some complaints since they included a standard spreader bar this year.

The thing that I don't like about the idea of the D-ring is that I'd have to open the chicken loop every time I want to get in and out of it. However I do have a little trouble reaching the trim strap so I suspect the D-ring will bring the bar a little bit closer to me and make it easier to reach.

I've also had issues with my chicken loop coming unhooked accidentally so I always wear the leash. I agree with macboy that the primary safety completely depowers the kite so I think that with the D-ring I could ditch the leash. And if $#!+ really hit the fan I'd just release the whole kite and track it down later.:rolleyes:

DAKITEZ - 12-9-2008 at 10:15 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by kiteNH



The thing that I don't like about the idea of the D-ring is that I'd have to open the chicken loop every time I want to get in and out of it. However I do have a little trouble reaching the trim strap so I suspect the D-ring will bring the bar a little bit closer to me and make it easier to reach.



Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think you should have to open the chicken loop. You should be able to put the d loop through the chickenloop and secure it with the donkey d%ck.

USA_Eli_A - 12-9-2008 at 10:28 AM

The NEW Ozone XC harnes comes two ways....The d-ring and spreader bar....

The ozone chickend loop is very easy to pop and reset inside the d-ring...If you prefer a shackle, it's easy to add so that you have an easier way to disconnect and reconnect to the bar...

The harness is comfy, and easy to wear under your clothes. The d-ring is much stronger that average spreader bars, and it's good to add the xc to another harness like a tabu, you can connect the two with a carabiner so if you fly on long flights the harness will support you legs and you can still have the higher attachment point for FREESTYLE..
check it
http://www.flyozone.com/landkites/en/products/accessories/ac...

kiteNH - 12-9-2008 at 11:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by USA_Eli_A
... it's good to add the xc to another harness like a tabu, you can connect the two with a carabiner so if you fly on long flights the harness will support you legs and you can still have the higher


Eli, do you mean that you'd attach the Tabu to the XC at the back to the leg straps somehow? I'm just having trouble picturing what you mean.

And thanks for the great reply. I think I'm sold on the D-ring style.

2stix - 12-9-2008 at 09:33 PM

I went and demoed the XC harness, I really wanted to like it and liked the idea of being able to pack it smaller then a seat harness. But Once I was wearing it, it was really pinching my junk. I couldn't get over it, and had to say no for now. I am a bigger guy so the way it will fit me was not so good. I would reconsider it now that it has a spreader bar instead of the d-ring, just because it packs down so well, but I have a diaper harness now, so thats what I will use for this season anyway.
I guess what I am saying is, try it before you buy it or sure.

kiteNH - 15-9-2008 at 10:55 AM

Andya, did you get a chance to try out the Access harness this weekend? Any thoughts on it?

I was thinking that having to open the chicken loop to get in and out of the D-ring would probably be a good thing in a way. I've probably only checked it once since I bought the kite and this way you'd have to release it every time you got in and out of the harness so you'd be sure it was in working order and you'd be more familiar with reaching for it. :thumbup:

andya - 15-9-2008 at 02:55 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by kiteNH
Andya, did you get a chance to try out the Access harness this weekend? Any thoughts on it?

Yep, did a good few miles in it at the weekend, and think its too big for me ... I'm 34" wasit and the leg straps were at the tightest possible, and th e waist mostly done up

When standing static (or maybe boarding) it seems to work well. However in a bug I found the seated position brought the leg loops nearer the D ring, and hence the D ring and waist harness could rise up. I found the waist riding up so it was 75% over my ribcage, I found this uncomfortable in a bug after a while. I also found this looseness resulted in sideways movement of several inches.

I'll give it another go, but I wasn't impressed for someone with my frame. Its comfey, but perhaps a smaller size?

I also agree it does frame your tackle, and package it all out there for all to see .... but I didn't find it chaffing.

As for wearing UNDER clothes??? how does that work then???

Quote:
Originally posted by kiteNHI was thinking that having to open the chicken loop to get in and out of the D-ring would probably be a good thing in a way.


Yep thats how it works. Just need to work out how to get the donkey dick off the Megatron, if I'm going this way long term.

kiteNH - 16-9-2008 at 05:48 AM

If it's too big for you at 6' then maybe I'd better stick with my waist harness because I think this is a one-size fits all deal. It sounds like it might be a bit uncomfortable having straps riding up my legs as well.

Custheyder - 16-9-2008 at 05:57 AM

Okay I have one of these but I'm considerably bigger than Andya. I got it off my mate Nige because it rode up on him and would pinch. It pinches me a little, till I have a wriggle, then it's sorted. No problems with it riding up, but you do have to have the leg loops tight. I also suggest you have th strap at the bacl of the loops tight as well or the loops will try to migrate south to your knees, which makes for interesting pressure points when flying.

I quite like the harness now I've worked out how best to wear it in a buggy.

Great for a larger chap *cough*42*cough* waist.

Scudley - 19-9-2008 at 06:07 PM

Just got one today. I have not tried it in the buggy yet, but for static flying, Vanier Park, it was great compared to my old Naish waist harness. No fist in the solar plexus syndrome. When I first put it crushed things a little bit but after some adjustments of the harness and other things it was fine. Looking forward to trying it in the buggy tomorrow weather permitting.
I should add that I am not small. I see see how thinner fold might find it a bit on the large side. I got the D ring model, but it modifies to take a 10" roller spreader.
BR, why have you not mentioned the incredible amount of goose grease at Vanier? On the bright side it makes for long scuds.

S
P.S. I suspect if you disconnected the leg straps and took them out of the straps attaching the the leg parts to the waist part of the harness they might fit a smaller leg. Years of long distance cycling have given me pretty big thighs and years of drinking beer a pretty large gut, but I can see that for a thinner person it might be a bit on the large side. On the other hand, a thin person can fit their keister in the buggy seat with a normal seat harness.
Until someone actually designs a harness for sitting in a buggy, the AccessXC is designed for skiing, this is about as good as it gets for us larger folks.

kiteNH - 16-12-2008 at 01:21 PM

I finally got one of these harnesses and finally got out to use it this weekend. Overall I like it. I'm only 5'9" and about 150 lb and while its a little on the big side I felt that it tightened up nicely. The waist is just fine on me. The leg straps get a bit scruntched up but I didn't even notice it when I was flying.

I went with the D-ring model because I liked the idea of how minimal it is and I am not advanced enough to be doing any unhooked riding. I also liked that there was no danger of becoming accidentally unhooked. Overall I like the attachment but I'm wondering if it will be a pain to deal with unhooking the chicken loop every time I hook in and out, especially in the winter with gloves on, so I may sell this one and buy the version that has the spreader bar.

I really liked how light the harness is and it will be much easier to toss in a backpack to haul out to the field than my bulky waist harness. I found it easier to get in and out of and get tightened up than my Dakine Tabu.

I kind of liked the feel of the lower attachment point. I've never used a seat harness but I suspect that this is how a seat harness might feel. I felt that I could sit back against the kite a little more and that I had more balance. Overall, I'm quite satisfied with this harness.

Sudley, I don't see how you could attach a spreader bar to this thing and I thought that you had to buy a new harness to get one with a spreader bar.

ragden - 16-12-2008 at 01:51 PM

I have one of these harness, and for snowkiting, it worked great. However, when walking around, the leg streps seem to slide down on my legs. I'm not a small guy, nor am I particularly large. 5'11" 175 lbs. I need to make some adjustments to try to get this fit tigter around my legs. I have not tried it in the buggy yet, probably this weekend for that.

I'll happily note that while riding, I had no issues with where it sat, or the straps moving on me. Everything was very comfortable there, it was only when I was running down the field to my kite that I noticed the straps moving on my legs, which felt a little awkward...

f0rgiv3n - 16-12-2008 at 01:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by ragden
5'11" 175 lbs.


LOL same weight, same height... o.O are you stalking me?


I'll have to check out these harnesses, they seem to be pretty good for snowkiting :D I've seen others with them as well!

kiteNH - 16-12-2008 at 02:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by ragden
I have one of these harness, and for snowkiting, it worked great. However, when walking around, the leg streps seem to slide down on my legs. I'm not a small guy, nor am I particularly large. 5'11" 175 lbs. I need to make some adjustments to try to get this fit tigter around my legs. I have not tried it in the buggy yet, probably this weekend for that.

I'll happily note that while riding, I had no issues with where it sat, or the straps moving on me. Everything was very comfortable there, it was only when I was running down the field to my kite that I noticed the straps moving on my legs, which felt a little awkward...


I know what you mean, but I think this is normal. When you think about it the "riding stance" puts you in a different position than standing or running because of the way you are sitting back. If you tightened up the leg straps while standing up straight then I bet it wouldn't feel right when you were riding.

I was a bit apprehensive about the leg straps running between my legs and found that there was more going on down there than I had expected but didn't have any pinching or discomfort while flying.

In my review I forgot to mention that I thought that this harness was MUCH MUCH cooler than my Dakine waist harness which is a major plus for me. Also, I was wearing this harness under my coat with the bottom of it unzipped and it seemed to fit great this way.

Did you go with the D-ring version or the spreader bar?

ragden - 16-12-2008 at 07:02 PM

I have the spreader bar and i really like that. Worked really well when I wanted to get the chicken loop off in a hurry. Didnt have to activate my fds, just yank the chicken loop off instead of pulling apart the fds tab... dont have to put it back to gether that way... and still does the fds magic.. :)

kiteNH - 19-12-2008 at 11:33 AM

Is anyone interested in buying my brand new, used for 1 hour, Ozone snowkite harness with D-ring? I'll probably make a "for sale" post for it but I'm feeling lazy so I figured maybe someone would snap it right up. I really like the harness but I'm going to get the one with the spreader bar.

EDIT: I realized that I need to hold off on selling this until I'm able to pick up another harness. So I'll probably keep this one for another week or two. Thanks for the offers.