I'm stoked having just returned from a most excellent SOBB vacation. At the suggestion of numerous kite buggy guys that I respect, I am looking into the concept of starting to use a harness when I am buggying.

So, I know there's lots of info on the forum about harnesses but specifically I am looking for something fairly minimal and particularly suited to a woman.

I'm open to your advice, feedback and links...

thanks,
Erin

Best bets for a minimalist type harnesses are probably going to be:

• Ozone Access Base Harness
  
• Ozone Access SB Harness
  
• Peter Lynn Base Harness
  
• Peter Lynn Divine Harness
  

Suited to a woman? Sizewise or was there an ergonomics issued that you were concerned about? The Ozones are one size fits most. If you are particularly petite cinching down might leave a lot of excess strap length. This could always be trimmed down and sewn off the same as you would with a standard webbing belt.

The PL Base Harness comes in S/M and LG/XL, so while it might exhibit a similar excess of strap length, it shouldn't be as pronounced.

The Divine harness comes in the standard XS, S, M, L, XL size, so excess strap length shouldn't be a problem (unless you are kitten sized).

Did you get a chance to try any harnesses while you were at SOBB?

ATB,
Sam

P.S. Lest I forget, Windzup currently listed both flavors of Ozone Harnesses for clearance in their More Used Gear from Windzup- Foils thread.

Thanks Sam!

That Ozone Base harness that Windzup has for sale looks like it doesn't come with a hook for the strop...so do peeps usually kit out their harness in separate bits according to their preferences?

I put a pl pulley spreader on an ozone access SB harness. Little bit of time to remove the stitching at the ends of the spreader straps to get the factory spreader off. As indigo said, excess strap length on this harness might require some sewing for smaller riders as these were designed for use over snow gear. If you can get it adjusted though, this one is pretty comfortable. The Access base harness I believe is geared for bar/de-power with a chicken loop that opens so it can be threaded through the loop. I'm not familiar with the new pl harnesses, but a lot of the riders up your way seem to like them.

Quote:

Originally posted by airin Thanks Sam! That Ozone Base harness that Windzup has for sale looks like it doesn't come with a hook for the strop...so do peeps usually kit out their harness in separate bits according to their preferences?

The Windzup sale thread has two harnesses listed:

(images are clickable thumbnails)

1. Ozone XC Harness with spreader bar - $90.00
   
   
   
2. Ozone Base Harness - $60.00
   

The Base version has a nylon webbing loop to accept a chicken loop.

The SB version has a standard spreader bar which can used with a chicken look or a strop.

ATB,
Sam

Thanks Sam!

Looks like Ken #3 has a harness that he thinks might fit me. So I will take him up on his generosity this weekend and give the harness a try.

So, being new and knowing that I will get to this point eventually..

What exactly is a spreader bar, is it that padded part behind the hook on Harness #1?

If there is a good training or tutorial thread/webpage with some of this info, by all means let me know..

The spread bar is the metal portion.

Most are some derivative or variation of the basic hammerhead spreader bar.



The ends of the spreader bar contain loops for the harness webbing to lace into.

Between you and the spreader bar is the speader bar pad.



That the spreader bar fits into:




Kent has some "tutorial" coverage of harnesses here.

If you do a Youtube search you will find some product spotlights and reviews for various harness that will also help.

This post might help a bit too.

If you still have questions, you can always just post them here.

ATB,
Sam

Rock on Indigo! Least I have some reading now again.. Since wife says no park trip till tomorrow, thought I was gona go :roll:!!

The Ozone harness will not fit you!

I have to cinch in the leg straps all the way and they are loose...

It is meant to be worn over clothes for snow kiting.

Try a PL harness for Ricardo. He has the smallest one :o

Thanks for the heads up Ron.

Ok, I'm still on the hunt for a harness...it turns out the Ozone XC is too big and too bulky.

I think a PL small/medium with a spreader bar hook style would probaby do the trick.

Anyone planning to upgrade and wanting to part with their PL harness, lemme know.

thanks,
Erin

If you go with the PL divine, it runs a little large as well.

I also know that Dakine also sells womens harnesses. I believe you can get one with a roller on it for a stop line.

Here is the link for the Dakine roller spreader. If you go to their home page you will see the link for their harnessess.

Dakine roller spreader bar

Here is the link describing the PL divine harness and shows pics of the roller spreader.

Peter Lynn Divine harness and roller spreader

Thanks for the links shhobbies... I was looking for some thing zenly minimal...the PL Base looked like the ticket, not bulky but still designed for buggying.

I was thinking the hook spreader bar may be safer for a newbie. Read somewhere that the roller can make it harder to unhook in a hurry...is that true?

I have not tried the roller but I can't see it being harder to push out of than a spreader hook?
If anything I have avoided one because I would expect my strop would fall out too easy when not under load ?

Is it possible you are confusing a roller spreader with the " captive " set up of a 'biner and roller combo?

What about a rock climbing harness ?? Can be quite minimal, far stronger made than my Ozone SB or Dakine. Thread the chicken loop around the straps or use a small maillon:
or carabiner with a swivel cheek pulley/quick release setup for fixed bridles.

Ronstan make a pulley and quick release combo....



Always more than one way to skin a cat. And there's a much bigger choice in climbing harnesses.....

John, thanks for that suggestion...will give it some thought. So does the strop feed through that pulley roller? And then if you need to release quickly, does the whole unit detatch from the harness? I haven't ever used a kite harness so am just trying to picture how the climbing harness adaptation would work.

if you need to borrow my harnesses you can

Quote:

So does the strop feed through that pulley roller? And then if you need to release quickly, does the whole unit detatch from the harness? I haven't ever used a kite harness so am just trying to picture how the climbing harness adaptation would work.

Yes. The disadvantage of using that pulley is that you have to thread your strop through it before you tie the other end to the handles. And you'll also need a small maillon on the other end to attach it to the harness. Pull the release (a bright bit of cord and stopper attached to the QR's ring) and the whole lot departs.

Alternatively you can use a swivel cheek pulley -

and attach that to your quick release. That way you can use it on any handle/strop setup. Of course, if you have to release that, the pulley goes flying off!!

Here's a pic of a good setup:

When I first started I used a very simple rockwall type harness, webbing for legs and waist, no padding. It worked well untill I started to jump or heavy side pull then it would cut into me. I cut the straps short for use on the kids but I'm tempted to get another one and use it over my crash pads in the buggies. I use a snap open type pulley and a Winchard snap shackle like the one above.

+1 for climbing harness.

The image above, this one...



...fascinates me. I love double-ended QR handle that passes through the release area of the Wichard Snap hook. This looks the best way for folks like us to have blind release mechanism for one of these snap hooks.

So how do I make one? Where do I get the parts? I want one of these in each of the snap hooks. :frog:

Regards,
Philip