Hi all,

A kiter from the lowlands here, i live in the Netherlands.


I've been kiting for almost 15 years, manly buggy-ing. After a leave of nearly 7 years i bought myself a twister 5.5 and a mountainboard. Now i am looking for a new harnas. What kind of harnas would you advice for landboarding a waist or an seat?

Grtz Ed

Imo...If I could only have one...I'd go seat..it won't ride up as much and will be better in a bug I wear a Dakine speed seat it's pretty basic no frills or bulk

I have a Peter Lynn Devine Harness and it super comfortable... A lot of folks love it.

I have a dakine fusion (seat) harness. I'm slender so my chest and waiste are about the same size which means a waiste harness rides up to and then crushes my ribs. If you are slender I'd go seat. If you are barrel chested you could think waiste but seat is better for the buggy I believe.

Thx for the advice so far guys, will look at seat first...

they are all wrong and you should get a waist harness. if you are now a boarder then you want your centre of gravity higher

I can get my hands on a 2nd hand seat harnas, so will give it a try first.

Quote: Originally posted by carltb

they are all wrong and you should get a waist harness. if you are now a boarder then you want your centre of gravity higher

While I understand why you would write that and the importance of a higher CoG for tricking, I disagree that anyone with a seat harness is wrong. It totally depends on what you want to do and how you ride. If people aren't looping or doing inverted tricks or riding unhooked then a seat harness is totally fine and likely more comfortable.

but its the wrong place to get pulled from on a landboard. its not just about freestyle its about riding stood up. seat for buggy, waist for board

Quote: Originally posted by carltb

but its the wrong place to get pulled from on a landboard. its not just about freestyle its about riding stood up. seat for buggy, waist for board

Again, I respectfully disagree. I've been land boarding since 2006 and while I am admittedly not as good as you, I am not limited from doing what I want based on the seat harness I wear. I see the advantage of a waist harness but find them unwearable given my build (or lack thereof). Comfort is a driving factor for me and I can't ride well when I feel like my chest is being crushed or the harness is spinning around my torso every time I switch directions.

i have been on both, a few other elements that make a difference.

if you are short waist-ed (top of hips close to ribs) a waist harness will punish you and a seat will "feel" so much more comfortable AND the bar will be in same position as if on a waist harness.

if you are long waist-ed a waist will be best position. esp. for freedom of movement, a seat harness will feel as though the CG is low and hard to balance up right.

small rib cage , wider hips and weak abs, a waist will work but eventually choke you ..accept it a seat harness is gonna work better. AND won't fatigue so fast.

if you stand around alot, idle, waist harness can move up, which sucks, land boarding the kite is generally higher than it would be on the water

in general strong legs and hips, or long legs, will do better with seat because of mass distribution, strong abs/core will make either a good choice. i do both much rather have a seat because i'm short waist-ed, and a waist harness gives me heart burn!

sometimes womens specific harness' have unique grip action and can be great option esp. for smaller riders depending on body type. try before you buy and LOAD it at the shop with hang rope. spend the time and the $ and get it right or may injure u.

Thx for all the insights so far..

youre right phree. but a well fitted waist harness is the way to go. if it fits correctly then it will work. ive seen people wearing harnesses as bras and wondering why its uncomfortable!!

i have changed my mind...i think im in a waist harness for good..i knew id like it standing up ATB but i really didn’t think id like it in the bug...i was wrong

**Bonus** I dig how my love handles are sweating away..should be skinny by summers end

I have never worn a waist harness, but I can see how it would be easier for upright riding anything. Slightly higher CG would give you better balance and more mobility of your legs to help steady yourself. My Divine seat harness is basically the exact center of my mass, and I have noticed that my spreader is much lower on my body than it would be in a waist harness. That is awesome for the buggy to help keep you in the seat, but I can tell it has hindered me from learning to ride my board.

waist harness will demand more core strength

a seat will offset this demand a little and pass it on the legs and hips ..until you start jumping then all is same.

i like a waist harness ...it just does not like me. currently use a seat without legs straps, so it still has the seat area on my butt, but gives freedom like a waist. it does not take much to keep it down and rarely have to adjust it. dakine fusion ! go strapless!

I can relate to where B-roc is coming from being small and skinny as well.

My 1st harness was a Dakine waist harness. I would crank it on super tight but it would still move up and cause great pain to my ribs.

I wasn't convinced a seat harness was right for me due to the common advice that waist is best for stand up riding and seat harness is for girls. I bought a Mystic seat / waist combo. In waist mode it rode up and hurt. In seat mode it was good in the buggy but even when tight around the waist the spreader would still angle up and hurt my ribs standing. I got a Dakine spreader bar pad and it made all the difference. Now I keep the harness in seat mode and leave the leg straps very loose standing, tight in the buggy. Being so small the difference is only an inch or so. No rib rub and I am super happy with it.

Harnesses become a very personal choice. I don't ride at the level that Carl does and for me, comfort trumps the small change in COG.

i was leaning back like a foot and a half further than ever in my seat harness on the board...quite a feeling
i was in a lite duty speed seat and no matter how tight i pulled that sucker that spreader was gonna ride high and be out of whack ...i would like to try a heavy duty seat but that leaning back and feeling like i was over the side of a catamaran