After watching the pass the snowkite video I would like to get one of them jacket that are set up for a wastharness where do I start looking

There are a few companies making snowkite specific jackets, unfortunately I can't remember the names right now, but here's a link to a zip-in panel that a forum member came up with. Maybe you could have one made, or make one yourself. I have one, and it works well.
http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=12252&p...

Did you catch a brand?

Do the kite-panel. I did and it's perfect as perfect can be. Hell, if you need help and my zips match you can have mine - I want to make a new one now that I've got my fancy pantsy sewing machine.

Kite panel is a great option. I've never really needed a snokite specific jacketand so I can't remember who makes them. I think Ultra Nectar made one for a while. Not sure if they still do.

If you really feel a need to have you connection point come through your jacket you could probably find someone that can install one. Like the rappel port in North Face Steep Tech shells.

Ultra Nectar and Mystic both make snowkite specific jackets. The Kite-panel is a great option.

Mac'

Can you please post up something I might take to the seamstress at work? She owes me a favour and making one of these could make us even !

Oh, I think Bob posted to the old thread!

I have the ultra nectar jacket.. Kite panel is better. I don't make them anymore.. No time. They are easy enough anyone can make one though. I think it's the best option. Zip it in when you kite, take it out when you don't. Kite specific jackets aren't made as well as others you can buy.. At least my ultra nectar one wasn't. It doesn't even have a hood and I don't buy jackets without hoods anymore. Hoods are awesome.

Most of the pros I saw at the DSO last year had normal winter jackets with a hole cut so the spreader bar hook poked thru, lots of whipstitching around the hole to prevent tearing. Seemed a effective though ugly solution.

Snowkite jackets are great for those who can afford a snowkite jacket. I'm only interested in gear I can use for a variety of stuff and for the money I just don't see the point. Pretty much any shell will do, insulated jackets are probably more of an issue but you should be layering anyway. Rudeboy's Kite Panel is really slick and a hell of a lot cheaper than a snowkitespecific jacket.

Or have a port installed. I use a seat harness so it's much less of an issue for me than those who use a waist harness.

I personally use a military style goretex jacket. Tough and durable. It unzips from the bottom and has a snap storm panel over the zipper that I close the bottom with. I am a big fan of the armpit zippers that I can open when I am getting too warm so I don't sweat and then chill later. I use layers under it.
I have really wanted to make a panel to go with it to improve it but it takes time.

not seeing it up close and envisioning function..I see:

Depending on length of jacket...


I would want three 'slider bodies' on zipper teeth that allows me to make a variable length opening to put hook or roller thru while keeping bottom of jacket closed, and the rest of jacket closed above that opening.

The slider body must be the locking kind that only moves when you pull the slider 'pull tab'(zipper pull as commonly referred to)- which pull out locking pin to allow travel...otherwise the whole jacket would open.


....otherwise my jacket bottom sits on top of hook/roller...and don't really need 'hole' or panel. But I do have to 'scooch' it up over hook out of way to get stop line under often.

I have a friend that unzips his pants fly and hook goes thru that!
...depends how (high/low)you wear harness on you...!:o

So my design might be different than the actual kite panel that's being put forth here?

Anyone..? Bueller...Anyone?:roll:

That's what it's all about, ski. Make what works for YOU! (& post your improvements/changes!)

Just trying to figure full function out of ones pictured in linking thread, B'bLooie.

All I know for absolutely sure is panel shown widens jacket.

'..coming thru jacket..' does not appear to be part of shown panel examples designs.

The panel seems especially suited to those that have gained a bit of weight since buying their jacket.:wink2:....!

:moon::megan:

Yes, the panel does widen the fit of the jacket. But, as rbs said in the other post, the added size allows for more layers and also heat escape. What you can't see in the pic's I posted is the slot he made for the spreader hook, which is located in just the right spot(just below waist level) on these models. If you click to enlarge, the slot shows up a little better.

I see it now..nice.

Would roller fit thru? Hmnnnnn...

Yes. Mine has an "H" shaped opening for the hook to poke through and then velcro tabs to reclose the opening through the spreader bar hook. THe hook then has about 3-4 inches of up and down travel. Mine's only a bit drafty - had thought about inserting some stiffer fabric in between the fbric layers that extends out and closes the "H" shaped hole off but still allows the spreader bar to force it's way up and down.

I can't find the original post but here's my basic instructions as understood from rudeboy:

First and most important - head to your local fabric supply place with your jacket on and find bulk zipper material that matches your jacket. There is a number on the zipper you could work from but for me it was easier to actually zip the pieces to my jacket so I knew it'd work. You're going to zip one half of the new zipper up on one side of your jacket and the other part up on the opposite side of your jacket (don't forget to pay for it before you leave the store ; ) One of the zippers will be "facing" the inside of the jacket.

I got some complimentary coloured ripstop at the same fabric store as well. The length of the zipper on your coat dictates the overall length of your kite panel but you need to modulate the width to a) not make your coat too big to wear; and b) get wide enough at the right place for your hook to poke through. See pic.

I cut out the resulting "pear" shape in the ripstop and then I took an old fleece sweater I didn't love any more and cut another piece. The ripstop for the outside, the fleece for the inside.

Sew up the zippers and sides while still allowing yourself to right the fabric (you generally sew things inside out). Put on your harness and your coat with the panel zipped in to find the horizontal cut of the "H" and width required for your spreader bar hook.

Cut the "H" shape, flip everything inside out again and sew in your preferred closure setup to the top or bottom of the panel - NOT BOTH....see below. Velcro is easy-peasy....I stole some from a kite-stake pouch I had laying around.

TIP - you can sew up the top or bottom of the "H" shape and velcro tabby bits as well as the top or bottom of the panel but think it through....you need to be able to invert the piece to close up with the final stitch. You'll have to close up the remaining outer stitch and the other part of the "H" by hand once the fabric is right side out.

@ BR - I'll make a seamstress-type pattern void of measurements to send your way. Adjust measurements as need be for longer jackets, narrower/wider panels etc.

Found original post

And link to more info:
MN Adventure (Kite Panel page)

I like cheeper you guys all have been a lot of help thanks.

I have a few Wildthing kite jackets around in MED
They are made from Event.... Which has been proven to be more breathable then goretex....
The design was by Myself and a few others and as the jacket was a 2 year try... They are now not available.

I can give pictures if anyone's interested.

Email me for more info

Crabzebula at gee mail dot com.

The price on the few that I have would $100
Medium only

Quote:

Originally posted by crabnebula I have a few Wildthing kite jackets around in MED They are made from Event.... Which has been proven to be more breathable then goretex.... The design was by Myself and a few others and as the jacket was a 2 year try... They are now not available. I can give pictures if anyone's interested. Email me for more info Crabzebula at gee mail dot com. The price on the few that I have would $100 Medium only

Wow, vents twice as much moisture as lots of other like fabrics. I think eVent is 22,000 g/m2 and the old gore-tex is between 10000 and 15000. Too bad a medium would never fit.

Try calling wildthings gear and see of they have any around in different sizes, as they DID have L and XL and XXL at one point a year ago.

I do have a L that I can part with...

just get in touch,

also, a quick word on this.....Goretex and most fabrics INCLUDING eVent, do well when a harness is over the jacket accept when the rider is in the deep snow....then you have a bunch of snow stuck in between the harness and the jacket under the pressure of the kite pulling on you, this means that the snow is compressed as well as heated up from the body heat of you the rider. This all equals WET and COLD! In the mountains of Utah and NH (primarily NH) doing over night trips kiting up on Mount Washington and different peaks on the Presidential s, it is really really important that you get to bed dry, especially open bivy's in the winter above treeline, let alone a weekend of kiting...you gotta keep the gear clean and dry or the "u" factor of the material will be near its saturation point.

basically. Any jacket can be made into a kite jacket, use a zipper, use neo prene etc, but think weight R value U factor comfort breath ability...

Im still using my 3 layered eVent kite jackets from Wildthings, they are my perfect stand by...

Now I am sporting newly made set up in new colors and the kite "portable" for the spreader bar, I put in myself.

It is pretty easy! Pretty Awesome!!! And the fact that so many people are trying to make a "snowkite jacket" in the end is not really just about style, but rather function.

PM me or email me if anyone needs or wants more details on how this can work on any jacket.

Happy snowkiting!

There arent too many but made in the USA, Chip has been at it.



this is a good kite specific jacket that I ve used in the past, one of the originals,

this looks awesome!
you can buy them here......
http://www.ultranectar.com/shop/

many colors to choose from and of course as you see, the "portal" for the harness spreader bar, is a simple zipper....

which although you can put a zipper on any jacket, the main YKK zipper ( like the Wildthings Snowkite jacket) is off set to make room for the portal.

It is a great jacket!

Sorry to bring back an aging thread, but I had another idea to throw in the mix. I too have been thinking about skimtwashington's idea of three zipper sliders so you can make a moveable hole. It could be implemented really easily with these- http://www.fixnzip.com/. They are removable sliders. They aren't locking sliders, but they have a thumb screw that you can tighten down to lock them in place. Haven't tried them yet, but it could be a really quick and simple solution. The sliders could be handy for lots of things, really, but at $10 a piece I'm not going to be using them frivolously.

I think I like the idea of the kite panel better, but I'm going with a one piece suit this year. I'm assuming the bottom of the zipper won't be the separating type, so no way to zip in a panel.

Alex

I best with some minor mods you could do it Sask (the panel that is). You'd just have to interrupt the factory zipper (assuming it's one that goes from head to toe as it were). Worth thinking about for the added benefit. Plus you'd have a mid-point zip for relief on the go