Hey,

When I wear my harness (a dakine speed seat) and hook in my kite i often find it quite uncomfortable.

When the kite is above me, or above about 60 degrees from the ground the top of the padding on the spreader bar (which i added after buying) digs into my stomach, about level with the bottom of my ribs. After a while it gets quite uncomfortable, and painful.

Is this normal ? Is there anything i can do to prevent this happening ?

As well as that, a smaller issue: when i put some power through the lines and harness the spreader bar pulls away from my stomach a good couple of inches. Is this supposed to happen ? its not a big deal, but i don't want it to be happening, if it shouldn't be doing so, or may cause a problem.

Thanks
Tim

It sounds like the harness is not tight enough, or is too big.

The harness should be tight enough so that when the kite is pulling, the spreader bar is still flush against you.

I think the best thing you can do is sell it and get one that fits!

Try removing the padding you added and adjusting the straps. If its still too big then you will either just have to put up with the discomfort or get another harness.

I don't think I need a new one, I'll try doing it tighter, and sucking in the gut a bit more See if that does the trick.

Thanks for your help !

Tim

I just went out with all the kit, including harness. I did it up pretty tight, not as tight as i could do it, but much more than before. it pretty much did the trick, its still a little uncomfortable, but only very slightly, so i think that was my issue.

Thanks guys

Tim

Quote:

Originally posted by elfasa I just went out with all the kit, including harness. I did it up pretty tight, not as tight as i could do it,

Always do it AS tight as you possibly can. No matter how tight you get it, once the kite pulls on it, you'll realize you didn't get it as tight as it can go. The more snug it is, the less it moves around or up. The less it moves, the more comfortable it will be. If you're not using a seat harness, snug up the harness as tight as you can, then suck in and snug it up again. Yany on each strap a few times after it is snug to really lock it in.

Harnesses aren't made to be worn loose.

I feel your pain and in the same place. My harness fits fine . Mystic with the foam covered spreader. The spreader simply rolls up because I spend so much time in auto zenith no matter how tight I cinch things up.

I just got a cushy Dakine spreader bar pad from Jellis's FREE bin at his garage sale Fri'. It the THE ANSWER !!!!! 3 1/2 days in a row using it and my ribs aren't at all sore! If the pain continues I'm sure this IS what will work.

+1 for tight as you can stand. Then once you have flown a bit you can always tighten it even more. Still that wasn't enough for me!

This is how I wear mine.... I have no idea where the middle strap is suppose to go so I thread it over and under the spreader bar hook - seems to keep the hook from going vertical. The padding on the spreader bar is worth it's weight in gold. I do everything very tight and find it very comfy.




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Interesting , I have an extra strap on my Mystic. I thought it was for handle passese on your leash and wear it toward the back ? Don't do handle passes so I have no idea if I am right ?

If there's a strap in front, it should be looped over the bar like in John's pic to stop the hook lifting, yes.

My Dakine harness... there's NOTHING I can do to stop it lifting the hook and then flipping the spreader bar pad - the wife can tell when I've been kiteboarding, even if I don't tell her I went, cos of the bruises cuts and gashes on my stomach from the spreader bar clips.

My harness does have that strap, I didn't know it should go over the spreader bar ! Previously it had just been straight across, helping to compress my crotch.. lol..

I took the kite out today (and yesterday ! ) Today was light winds, so didnt use the harness. I think that, along with keeping it tight, may solve the problem.

Thanks everyone for your input, as always very helpful !

Tim