So the title summs it up, here is some detail..
6'4" tall, ~220lbs +helmet, pads, etc.
36" waist (closer to 34, but factory in clothing, jackets etc..)
No buggy, atb, water board (YET)

I plan to try and kite ski this winter to get in motion, and/or get an ATB to start getting in motion.. Buggy would be next year if at all given limited buggy ride locations...

SO, I need a "real" harness to go with the Venom heading my way. I have a climbers harness, but it does not have a proper hook for the chicken loop & donkey dong. I also know I will be seeing more lift being atb/ski's and the climbing harness is way under my CG..

Thoughts on models/sizing? I think I saw Indigo post a pretty inexpensive baseline harness, but I have no idea what size I should look for?:puzzled:

I am a 36" and I like an XL.

agree with Cheezy..........Ion waits harnesses are sweet..................easy clip in and put, safety knife, lower back and spine support/protection

Ion seat harness nice as well (had to go with this one due to a stomach feeding tube I used to have) anyway same features as the waist minus the hook knife.................XL would be a great fit for a 36 inch waist

Peter Lynn seats harnesses are nice too but run big....my understanding is their mediums are another brands L/XL

I fluxuate 31' through 34' (mountaineering +pizza).
Typically by the end of a season I'm a lean mean dirtbag machine. Since the thread is already here can I get a recommendation on a waist harness size?

I use a climbing harness but clipping in/out is a pretty big hassle after the 1 millionth time.

I fly with a Dakine Nexus waist harness and love it. The quick release spreader bar makes getting in and out a breeze.

When I was down in Vegas in early October beamerbob let me try one of his PL Divine harnesses and I will be getting one of those very soon for the snowkiting season. The Divine was unbelievable comfortable and the way it sizes can easily go on the inside or outside of my snow gear.

What about Seat vs, waist style? I am thinking waist is more appropriate? Is there a way to counter the issue with rising up that I hear about?

Cookies, muffins, starbucks, burgers, pizza and beer seem to do a good job at keeping my waist harness from riding up....

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Originally posted by g00fba11 Cookies, muffins, starbucks, burgers, pizza and beer seem to do a good job at keeping my waist harness from riding up....

Too tru goof!

Did I see somethign somplace that some waits harnesses have a way to connect leg straps from a climbing harness to keep them from riding up?

you can get some harnesses that will function as both waist or seat. Basically it think they are waist harnesses with leg straps. I use an old dakine speed seat and so someone else will have to chime in on crossover harnesses. They are out there though. I have a waist harness but really haven't used it yet.

Quote:

Originally posted by lamrith Did I see somethign somplace that some waits harnesses have a way to connect leg straps from a climbing harness to keep them from riding up?

Quote:

Originally posted by stetson05 you can get some harnesses that will function as both waist or seat. Basically it think they are waist harnesses with leg straps. I use an old dakine speed seat and so someone else will have to chime in on crossover harnesses. They are out there though. I have a waist harness but really haven't used it yet.

Ocean Rodeo Session. http://oceanrodeo.com/kiting/session_harness
It has lots of cool features. THE Most comfy harness that I have used in 20 plus years of windsurfing and kiting. I use it with the straps, with or without the neo short. I use it with a Pro Limit quick release spreader bar (it the nicest one I have seen, easy to work even with winter gloves or mitts and has never jammed or froze) so I don't have to play with the straps as much to put it on.

they have the Session2 also. http://oceanrodeo.com/kiting/session_2_hybrid_harness

Ozone makes a couple closer to a climbing harness.
non spreader bar version... http://www.flyozone.com/snowkites/en/products/accessories/ac...
and spreader bar version... http://www.flyozone.com/snowkites/en/products/accessories/ac...

Never used either but I kind of like the idea of the cleaner less bulky look compared to the Session harness.

I got a seat Mystic battle belt XXL + extra velcro extend belt. 40-44" waist :ticking:

yup, thumbs up for the session harness from OR. Nice comfy harness, and I would buy it again.

I would kinda consider the straps as training wheels though. Every once in a while they pinched (not often, but sometimes), and they kept the harness from sitting in its ideal position for jumping. I found I was top heavy in the air when initially learning how to jump...I ditched the straps and it was better.

Only things I would like to see different, not sure about the placement of the knife, and a clicker style bar like mystic would be awesome.

The only real trick for keeping a waiste harness in place is to tighten it to a point it almost hurts.

My seat harness helps keep my connection down at my core. With the Nexus waist harness the spreader would end up high.

Lamrith- I used a climbing harness for quite some time with a beaner clipped in through both loops, worked really well and also learned to jump with that setup- you will find with the arcs a huge amount of throw on the bar and no issues wth the climbing harness. I have now switched to the peter lynn radical seat harness and definetly more comfy as for sizing in the radical i would recommend a medium i use a large and am 40" in the waist
Scott

I guess the downside of using a climbing harness with a carabiner would be that you cant unhook, only quick release. But that only matters if you want to do unhooked tricks, it's not a safety thing (quick release should still work just fine). I've never used a climbing harness for kite flying but that is what I would imagine from the setup. Wouldnt hurt to give it a try if you already have one. From reading other threads I think most people that use climbing harnesses use it exclusively for land traction since you need more power for water (and a more comfy harness to avoid injury). Flyguy - any comment on this last point?

I like my dakine fusion seat harness, plenty of padding, super comfortable, just gets a bit harder to walk around when not flying or when doing the walk of shame for the 10th time (walking upwind with your kite). I don't have a V-shaped body so I got a seat instead of a waist harness to avoid it riding up.

Lot of great info guys!

I had a steel fixed biner joining the upper harness and lower harness which was shorter than the stock one built into the harness.. That would act to pull the legs up and/or waist down, lowering CG..

I have taken that biner and moved it up to the upper loop in the waist section. That should raise the CG a few inches. I will take pictures tonight if I get a chance..

Short answer is yes it works just fine for now, but I want to get a good harness whenever possible. I Def need one by late June next year at the lastest to take on a trip to warmer locale located on the water.:bouncy:

Original biner layout. As you can see the stock loop is really in the way and makes using the ronstan difficult.

This is the way I have it set now, it ends up cleaner and should let the waist section sit a bit higher improving CG, plus the ronstan will be easily accessible. I plan to test as soon as there is wind.