did a long search for a climbing harness to replace my stupid uncomfy mystic seat harness for snowkiting.
the usual climbing harness has little back support and rather thin cushions on the leg loops. though you can get them dirt cheap and they are probably still way better than the usual kiting harness, where the spreader bar tends to poke into your stomac if the kite is in the zenith.

now, i found this monsterous, impressive harness for industrial climbers:

http://shop.freeworker.com/kolibri-multislide.html

klick for big picture


isnt that amazing ? not only are the leg loops massively padded, but also the big ring attachment point can slide freely into any direction. very nice indeed for snowkiters on ski , when parkinig the kite to the side.

downside: the price. its also massive :wow:

so - any professional snowkiter should think about getting this wonderful toy.

a similiar harness, showing the freedom of action such a tree-climbing harness allows:

(source: http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/general-chat/1345-tip-day-27.html )

Nice. However, in the configuration shown with the guy wearing it for climbing it would place the controlbar way too far away from you with the bar fully powered all the time. That can reduce the amount of available throw unless you have super long arms. Riding with that extra power increases the barload. You would have to depower the kite to make up for that. Then, you lose that amount of depower available to you when you need it. Things get worse when riding toeside too.

Not sure if there is enough adjustment in that harness to shorten things enough to get things closer. Will it provide the same mobility then?? To keep the same depower /riding config, you need to keep your chickenloop about a spreaderbar hook away. The further away, the worse things get.

I use a sliding rope setup on my harness and this is what I noticed if the line stretches beyond the length of a hook. I have had to roll my shoulders and stretch my fingers to make up for it without depowering the kite. Even if the line does not stretch, the problem presents itself when riding toeside since that distance is further away than a hook length. When riding toeside, I often ride one handed and with my fingers stretched on the bar to makeup for that.

I know a lot of folks that started kiting with a climbing harness, thinking it was a logical application. 100% of the time they moved to a proper kite harness with spreader bar.

Quote:

Originally posted by zero gee I use a sliding rope setup on my harness and this is what I noticed if the line stretches beyond the length of a hook. I have had to roll my shoulders and stretch my fingers to make up for it without depowering the kite. Even if the line does not stretch, the problem presents itself when riding toeside since that distance is further away than a hook length. When riding toeside, I often ride one handed and with my fingers stretched on the bar to makeup for that.

There is also the dynabar which one can buy if they don't want to make one like zero gee did. Someone did a write up of it on this forum last year. Might have even been zg. It has the same sliding action you are looking for but works with stock kite harnesses.

Ive been custom sewing mine together with a combo of a climbing harness and a kite harness, as per really high jumps the spreader bar is a mute point of gear as it can break and Im fine. The hooks on the spreader bars as well as the bar for the kites are typically the weaker parts.

The rescue harnesses as shown in pictures above are ok but the Center of Gravity is very low (think seat harness) putting a lot of strain on the stomach and C spine (neck muscles). They are typically partnered with a chest harness which is impractical for kiting, but do able.

Im making a new harness currently and if I can ill post the results...

Be safe

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I know a lot of folks that started kiting with a climbing harness, thinking it was a logical application. 100% of the time they moved to a proper kite harness with spreader bar.

Guilty. Arc'teryx -> HQ.

i got a sweet deal for a "singing rock timber II" tree-climber harness.




so i bought one and will test it out as soon as the weather complies.

below is a video where i put on the harness indoors and tested especially the distance of the chickenloop. as was mentioned before, its indeed a bit far away.

but that can be resolved with a shorter "red line" and an additional line running through the waist belt similiar to those sliding hook harnesses discussed in the kiteforum thread: http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2379075
i will find a solution and post it. have several ideas already.

as you can see in this video, the big ring slides similiar to a sliding hook harness. the big pro of this tree-climbing harness is comfort ! its the most comfy harness you can imagine.

* the wide leg straps take most of the load (depending of the position you put the kite in) , so you have a very efficient and healty transmission of the kite forces directly to the legs and then to your board / ski / snowboard etc. should be interesting for kite-racing.
and it will never slide up and squeeze your ribs and stomach like a stupid (sorry) waist harness.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNeCPTe3w14

I like it. The Ozone harnesses (climbing harness based) always appealed to me for the lack of bulkyness compared to kite harnesses. Never tried one though. I like my session harnes because of the way the legs straps are suspended to the front of the harness (like a climbing harness). It's the most comfy harness I have used. But bulky as hell.

That red strap looks like it is shackled for easy replacement (to a shorter strap if needed). That's a nice feature.

However, it almost seems like it might be similar height to a waist harness hook since it links to the harness at a point below the belt?? Maybe all that needs to happen is to not use the ring and chickenloop directly to the strap (that what I do with my sliding rope setup)?? Maybe needs to be a little shorter??

That distance looks like it could change if you ride ride extended and then in a more seated position. Does it?

Do you think it will "squeeze" you when loaded up without the spreaderbar? If it does, that could change the distance too??

What do you think about using it in water? Corrosion, sand in those buckles?

I've contemplated the Jay Dynabar but... I'm betting I could bend it :o

Quote:

Originally posted by Kamikuza I've contemplated the Jay Dynabar but... I'm betting I could bend it :o

A new version is being reinforced.

... then the next problem is if it fits the Dakine hooks. I've heard it doesn't...

Is there a dealer that sells them in the USA ?

yesterday there was a moment without rain, but extremely gusty wind.
i tested my tree-climbing harness with a HQ apex 1, 7 sqm on 7 meter long lines with a bar-free setup.
result:
* harness is extremely comfy - just perfect.
* control with handles instead of a bar gives me total, forceful(!) control over the kite ! i can instantly stall it, whip it around. and my arms can move freely!

looking forward to better weather and testing the setup on ski or mountainboard.

http://youtu.be/LKDroQGIq7c

Quote:

I like it. The Ozone harnesses (climbing harness based) always appealed to me for the lack of bulkyness compared to kite harnesses. Never tried one though. I like my session harnes because of the way the legs straps are suspended to the front of the harness (like a climbing harness). It's the most comfy harness I have used. But bulky as hell.

the tree-climbing harness is less bulky than my other seat harness, but it has some weight (1.8kg) while wearing the harness, i didnt even noticed it. but if you have to walk a bit to the spot you might notice an additional 1.8 kg.

Quote:

That red strap looks like it is shackled for easy replacement (to a shorter strap if needed). That's a nice feature. However, it almost seems like it might be similar height to a waist harness hook since it links to the harness at a point below the belt?? Maybe all that needs to happen is to not use the ring and chickenloop directly to the strap (that what I do with my sliding rope setup)?? Maybe needs to be a little shorter??

using handles the distance doesnt matter. i will test it with a bar, but then i am sure that the red line needs to be replaced with a shorter stroop. and yes, good idea - just chickenloop into rope, no alu-ring.

Quote:

That distance looks like it could change if you ride ride extended and then in a more seated position. Does it?

yes, seems to change. i am with the little test of yesterday not sure if that will be a problem. with handles it seems to work, but cannot say exactly until real riding with board or ski...

Quote:

Do you think it will "squeeze" you when loaded up without the spreaderbar? If it does, that could change the distance too??

squeezing together was absolutely not a problem. i didnt feel any discomfort at al.

Quote:

What do you think about using it in water? Corrosion, sand in those buckles?

probably not suitable for water. it looks like a mixture of iron and aluminum. would probably corrode badly..
but at the end.. if one would dry it properly and clean it from saltwater with freshwater - it could work.. maybe i will test it in 3 months when summer arrives here :-)

its ready for a testrun:

https://picasaweb.google.com/111510368262264907350/17Februar...



i took an old naish depower thingy, removed the bar and added grab handles made from aluminum tubes.
now waiting for wind and good weather for test.

Love the new ideas, can't wait to see video.... even if it does not work perfectly innovation is never a waste of time, expanding possible ideas drives everything forward...