Surf Seat harness?

Anthony · Since 07 Oct 2008 362 Posts Salem Obsessed **CGKA Member**

Does anybody make a surf (waist) - seat harness for kiting like Dakine would make for windsurfing? I have used waist harnesses in the past and that caused back pain. Seat harness are hard to walk in. The combo surf(waist) / seat harness is the best of both worlds. I get core interaction without the back pain and it is easy to walk with.

Thanks

Anthony

ldhr · Since 21 Jul 2009 1487 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Two options.
1. Dakine shorts harness.
https://www.dakine.com/en-us/sport/kiteboard/kite-harnesses/nitrous-hd-kiteboard-harness/

2. New hardshell waist harness.
Have you tried the new generation of hardshell waist harness?
I have lower back issues but when I use the Ride Engine it makes my back feel great.
It stays in place and has a 3D lower back lumbar support.
Lots of models on sale.
https://www.rideengine.com/rideengine-harnesses/rideengine-harness-sale

macgruber · Since 06 Dec 2011 490 Posts SE PDX volcano Obsessed

Dakine does make a seat harness but I have the chameleon waist/seat from them that has a removable seat which can really keep the hook low and never rides up even in a dry suit. About $130 complete

A_Ron · Since 19 Mar 2009 29 Posts PDX

Ocean Rodeo makes the Session waist harness, which has optional leg loops. See the end of: https://vimeo.com/175249518

markamcclure · Since 20 May 2011 168 Posts Portland, OR Stoked

Another vote for DaKine nitrous boardshort/seat harness combo. I also upgraded to DaKine option spreader bar for easier toe side riding. Make sure to get the right size spreader bar. No back issues with nitrous.

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

the smaller mystic
the big ones like a bucket too much there

Kmun · Since 05 Jul 2009 256 Posts Obsessed

Ho-Toe · Sun Nov 18, 18 6:59 pm **Love my seat harness**

I bought into the hype and purchased a higher-end Ride Engine harness last year. I don’t like it that much. In my experience, it tends to Ride right up my torso. Maybe if I grow out my beer gut it will help with this...

I reverted to my several-years-old Dakine seat harness—a Fusion, I think? Yeah, it kinda feels like an adult diaper, and yeah it kinda makes me waddle a bit when I walk, but none of that bothers me as much as a waist harness over my sternum. It ain’t cool, but I love it.

If you aren’t doing the walk of shame, the waddle shouldn’t matter much. Plus I prefer the lower center of gravity attachment point for waveriding. YMMV. Not sure if Dakine still makes the same seat harness model I’ve been enjoying... the fact that it’s lasted 3-4 years speaks to its quality of construction.

Anthony · Since 07 Oct 2008 362 Posts Salem Obsessed **CGKA Member**

Thanks

You all answered my questions. Ho-toe you totally understand my situation.

Anthony

Ho-Toe · Mon Nov 19, 18 1:00 am

Happy to help!

And all you “shorts” guys should know: all the surf betties watching from the dunes do NOT dig ‘em... Laughing

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

aviator is the smaller mystic fits great .

McLovin · Since 11 Sep 2017 284 Posts Corbett Obsessed

https://www.kitepaddlesurf.com/products/2016-dakine-chameleon-kiteboarding-harness?variant=7644701032478&gclid=Cj0KCQiA28nfBRCDARIsANc5BFC-jKFhcn_nukGKwrTomOEOayfy-85LzWBFS7eq9tyiMmwDoRRKzdEaAnesEALw_wcB

Another vote for the Chameleon: It WILL NOT ride up as cool as it looks to have your harness under your armpits, I'm not quick enough to do all the math to constantly recalibrate my sheeting angles, so prefer for the hook to stay put...my .02

PS - You can leave the leg loops pretty loose and still get 95% or more of the nice "hook stay in your designated position" value which allows you to walk normally. The best feature is the strap which slides thru the bar to keep a nice snug fit.

Mc

shred_da_gorge · Wed Nov 21, 18 12:26 pm

I have a DaKine Fusion hanging around as a spare; size L or XL (I'm 185 lbs and 6'4"). Used it while learning but it's not my thing, so I'd let it go. I'll be back in Hood River late December through early January and could arrange to swing through Salem at some point, so PM me if interested. The bar that's on it is the swivel kind but that's replaceable (also didn't work for my preferences).

Windian · Since 28 Apr 2008 892 Posts Newport, OR NEWPORT OG

Be aware that changing the harness hook location from what you are used to can really mess with your kiting. I am a longtime waist harness rider where the hook is about the vertical height of my belly button. I really like that height as it allow my upper torso to be part of my harness so to speak. Rotation of my upper body is in sync with my harness and feels very natural and in control of my bar and kite especially when wave riding where I am constantly turning and changing directions quickly.

Last summer I injured my false ribs on the right side on a bad foiling crash and afterwards using my waist harness was super painful. I still wanted to kite with the injured ribs so I ordered an Ion shorts harness which really lowered the harness hook to a location that was several inches below my waist harness. Well, I went to go kiting with my new shorts harness and literally could not do it at all. I went from being a very proficient kiter to a total kook immediately. It was one of the most humbling experiences of my kiting career. It felt like the kite bar was even with my knees and had to hunch over with bent arms which I found very unnatural and unpleasant. Told myself if I had to continue to kite like that for the rest of my life, then I would give up kiting. Immediately sold the shorts harness on Ebay and went back to my waist harness and dealt with the pain for weeks until they were healed up. I love my waist harness!

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2088 Posts PNW Bigfoot

I'm not a fan of the seat harness as it inhibits/makes toe-side riding much harder.

Nevo · Guest

I tried a seat harness yesterday to close out my season in the gorge.

1. It was obviously better for my back.
2. I lost a huge portion of my surf skills. This can probably be regained with practice.
3. Falling resulted in the harness yarding up on my junk with the fury of a thousand wedgies. I abandoned it immediately.

I'm sure theres good seat harnesses out there but I'm still thinking that a properly fitted waist harness and a properly powered kite is quite nice.

Ho-Toe · Thu Nov 22, 18 10:54 pm **Oklahoma!**

Aww, c’mon—the wedgie is part of the experience. A good gusty kite session provides more action than I’ve gotten in awhile... Laughing

https://vimeo.com/242357883

(PS—on a more serious note, use a slider rather than a hook on your spreader bar for increased rotational ability & toe-side action)