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airon^
Since 07 Aug 2013
290 Posts
Durango
Obsessed
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 Thu Sep 05, 13 7:18 am Surfing harness? |
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Looking for advice on a surf-specific harness. I spend at least half my time on a surfboard now and looking to spend most of that in the waves or swell.
I have the Pyro '13, and it is fine, but I have to wear a tech shirt between harness and wetsuit so that it rotates easily, and even then it catches at times.
Has anyone tried the Mystic Two Face? Renegade, I know, is a local option (and i try to support local). Also, maybe I should just get a dyna bar? What's that funky harness Rebstock wears?
Cheers
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Gman
Since 11 Feb 2006
4911 Posts
Portland
Unstrapped
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SalmonSlayer
Since 27 Nov 2005
648 Posts
Addicted
CGKA Member
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| Thu Sep 05, 13 8:26 am |
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| Gman wrote: | | https://shop.ride-engine.com/harnesses/ |
In my experience Engine harnesses work best with sliding hooks. With a fixed hook, the hook and pad tend to twist. You will be adjusting your hook and pad often. This may be a fixable issue if you used it with the hinged fixed hooks that are widely available.
The Engine harness is custom designed to your body shape and is NOT designed (IMHO) to rotate like the harnesses you are using now. I use the engine harness with a Jaybar which is a very good combination and seems to give me all of the freedom of movement I need even though the harness is pretty much locked in place. You could also incorporate a "poor mans" version by using a larger (12"?) spreader bar with the hook cut off and line running from end to end.
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Sauve
Since 19 Mar 2009
97 Posts
Hood River
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| Thu Sep 05, 13 11:01 am |
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Never seen an engine shop harness before? Looks interesting. any reviews out there?
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Sean Sauve |
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SalmonSlayer
Since 27 Nov 2005
648 Posts
Addicted
CGKA Member
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| Thu Sep 05, 13 12:32 pm |
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| Sauve wrote: | | Never seen an engine shop harness before? Looks interesting. any reviews out there? |
Engine has a custom and generic harness. What are you referring to when you say "shop" harness?
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Moto
Since 03 Sep 2006
2698 Posts
Still a gojo pimp!
Moto Mouth
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| Thu Sep 05, 13 1:08 pm |
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Check out a dyna bar. Its a rotating spreader bar.
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Still rockin gojos, *ssless chaps, and ankle weights! |
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Sauve
Since 19 Mar 2009
97 Posts
Hood River
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| Thu Sep 05, 13 3:03 pm |
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HA. just meant the brand name... engine.
each page is title "engine shop" on the website. now i get it. you'd think I was 100 years old and just discovering "the internets"
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Sean Sauve |
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knotwindy
Since 25 Sep 2011
615 Posts
Addicted
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| Thu Sep 05, 13 8:53 pm |
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been riding an ENGINE harness for about 50+ sessions,
for surf and swell with a sliding bar or rope
best harness ever
Last edited by knotwindy on Fri Sep 06, 13 9:56 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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1surfer
Since 20 Apr 2010
355 Posts
'Ualapu'e / High Rockies
Obsessed
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| Fri Sep 06, 13 5:09 pm Dynabar |
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I really love the Dynabar for surf.
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Ozone Reo's. C&k Beach Boy Service, Windsurfing Waikiki, Hawaiian Windriders, NSRN. |
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SalmonSlayer
Since 27 Nov 2005
648 Posts
Addicted
CGKA Member
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| Fri Sep 06, 13 9:07 pm |
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| Sauve wrote: | | Never seen an engine shop harness before? Looks interesting. any reviews out there? |
About Engine http://www.kitesista.com/kitesista-meets-ride-engine-harnesses/
Website https://shop.ride-engine.com/harnesses/
I have 10+ sessions on the Engine harness. All of the sessions except 1 were with the rope sliding Jaybar/Dynabar. As I said above, the Engine harness works well with the sliding bar. My one session with the fixed hook spreader bar was not so favorable. The bar pad twisted, so what was the top edge of the pad, twisted towards me 90+degrees and stuck against my gut. The wide Neoprene belt pieces that go between the bar pad and me on the Engine harness ( I don’t know the name for this part)were pushed down below the pad after it rotates. The Neoprene belt will either separate or just stay stuck below the pad. I found this problem to be very annoying and fixing it while kiting to be a PITA.
I attribute (best guess) this problem to two design differences between the Engine Harness and a typical factory harness. I also have a Dakine Renegade and a Nitrous harness, which are perfectly good harnesses.
1. I took a measurement from the adjustment buckle on the left to the adjustment buckle on the right for all three harnesses. The Nitrous harness and it was 24”, Renegade was 25” and the Engine was 28”. I suspect the additional 1+” on each side between the adjustment buckles and spreader bar makes it easier for the pad and bar to twist with upward pressure. This may not be an issue in a smaller waist size
2. I think the problem is mostly attributed to the materiel directly behind the spreader bar hooks. The Renegade has a thick pad that continues from the harness, across my hip and behind the spreader bar hook. The Engine has flimsy Neoprene between the spreader bar hook and me. Without the thicker-stiffer padding of the Renegade harness, the fixed spreader bar has more play to twist. The Renegade spreader bar hook is against a hard pad that stops the bar from rotating.
I suspect the hinged spreader bar hook might solve this issue, but I have not tried it yet. Next session….
Engine harnesses are made in a one man shop. You will not get a factory finish, but I like the handmade aspect and consider the “one-off” finish to be a bonus. I chose standard graphics, but next time I would like to get custom graphics. Coleman (the owner) encouraged me to get a custom design, but I am completely inept at deciding on an artistic graphic design so I chickened out. Don’t bother criticizing me for being a big wussy. I have already flogged myself enough.
Even though Engine has made many harnesses, the design is still evolving. Coleman has made improvements in the design since I received my harness. One example is the rivets used for securing the straps are not covered with neoprene so they dont scratch your board or hand. There is also a proprietary carbon fibre spreader bar. I chose to pass on the spreader bar because the harness would be designed differently and it would have been a bit harder to convert to fit factory spreader bars.
In a couple of years I will probably be compelled to buy another one as the design improves. However, I am very happy with my version as is. Unless I am well over powered and trying to attempt my best dangling jumps, the harness will not move at all. I really liked the locked in feeling it gives me and how it fits my lower back.
Pros
- Great fit. None better.
- Perfect complement to a sliding hook
- Unique product that breaks the mold and conventional wisdom of factory harnesses
- The ability to personalize your gear
- Lighter and smaller than a factory harness
- The carbon fibre is stiff and will not allow the harness to squeeze you.
- You are supporting a grass roots effort to improve kite gear in leaps instead of through the spoon fed planned obsolescence from a large manufacturer.
- You will like the owner of Engine.
- Made in the USA
- Not a good demo for friends because it is custom made 
Cons
- Resell value is low for custom gear.
- Not compatible with a fixed hook at this time. I suspect this issue will be resolved shortly.
- 2-3 times more expensive than a factory harness
- You are still buying a product that will improve rapidly. Do you wait or do you buy? (I say pull the trigger!!!)
- Not a good demo for friends because it is custom made 
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wakeup
Since 11 Sep 2005
328 Posts
always
Obsessed
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| Sat Sep 07, 13 4:12 am |
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| lovin my engine for waves and wake
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wjb
Since 14 Aug 2007
223 Posts
Nor Cal
Stoked
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| Wed Feb 12, 14 12:53 pm |
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| Has anyone else have beta on this harness? I am thinking about picking one up this spring. Has the rotating spreader bar problem been solved or does anyone else have this problem?
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Lurk
Since 04 Apr 2009
355 Posts
Obsessed
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| Wed Feb 12, 14 8:18 pm |
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| I wonder if this type of harness will last longer. If so may be worth the extra cost?
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SalmonSlayer
Since 27 Nov 2005
648 Posts
Addicted
CGKA Member
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| Thu Feb 13, 14 6:19 am |
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In my opinion the shell will last longer. I think the first point of wear that may bring the harness to end of life is the neoprene liner. The jury is still out based on my experience. If you treat the harness with care on and off the water it will definitely add life to this harness. I don't think i would assume the cost can be justified by counting on a longer life.
There are plenty of factory harnesses that are perfectly good, so I would not spend my last kiting dollars on this harness. However, if you have a bit of extra funds to burn I think this harness is worth the purchase. For me, it is a far superior fit that I can't get in a factory harness and totally worth the cost. I have read nothing but good reviews on the harness. However, I do recognize that people would be reluctant to post anything negative about a home grown product from a owner that you can't help but like. This is especially true in the PNW where anything but happy thoughts are considered blasphemy (maybe it is just Seattle).
One indicator that tells me a product is good, is when I can forget about it. With this harness i just 'set it and forget it". It is not sliding around and up my torso to my arm pits. If i really reef on it hard I will get a little movement, but that is it. i find paying attention to the fit when first putting it on is the key. My weight/girth can fluctuate a bit from week to week and the wetsuit/dry suit I choose also adds a variable. Once I figured out I had to pay attention and make it fit correctly pre-session, it is a piece of gear I don't need to think about again when on the water. It becomes part of my body. Because it is a hard-shell custom fit. it will take one or two sessions to get it dialed in and fully realize the advantages.
I hope that helps.
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kitesurfingmag.com
Since 26 Sep 2007
66 Posts
USA
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| Fri Oct 09, 15 8:59 am |
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Here is a copy of the review of the Elite Series Ride Engine Harness that Kitesurfing Magazine published in the Fall issue.
Originally started by California wave kiter Coleman Buckley as a made-to-order custom harness line, Ride Engine is now part of Slingshot’s parent company 7 Nation and has a full range of production harnesses for 2016. Slingshot HQ was kind enough to outfit us with their top-end Elite Series equipped with their Streamline spreader bar. Your writer must admit to some initial skepticism, first Slingshot insisted the harness needed to be fit really, really tight (an interesting challenge considering the ample waistline involved). Second, the absence of a fixed hook was mildly unnerving. Third, one side of the spreader bar is fixed to the harness, the other side is attached by simply hooking the spreader bar to a loop of PVC-enclosed rope. Surely that’s too simple to be secure? Armed with assurances that the harness would stretch out a little (and I’d be able to breath again), that I’d love the freedom of the Streamline Spreader Bar, and this PVC loop would mold to fit the bar perfectly and is completely secure, off to the beach we went.
The Elite Series is a very stiff harness and with a lot of lumbar support and a very tight fit the harness is locked firmly into the small of the back. Having the harness locked in place and the chicken loop traveling effortlessly from side to side really increases your range of motion. Especially in the turns and riding waves. With this harness set-up we immediately felt looser and better able to open up in our turns and wave rides. Personally, except for riding freestyle (obviously you can’t unhook with this set up) I can’t imagine going back to a fixed hook. Some other notes, the harness did stretch out quite a bit, to the point where we even needed to tighten up some straps. After one session I could dial in a nice tight fit and had plenty of room to breath. Also as promised, the PVC-coated hook definitely melded in to fit the spreader bar and the fit looked a little better every time I used it. The rope, a low stretch Dyneema, did stretch a little bit, but a great feature is that by adjusting a simple knot on the back of the bar you can decide how long the rope loop is and how far you want the chickenloop to be from your body. Ride Engine isn’t the first to replace fixed spreader bars with ropes; in fact, if you go back to the early pioneers of kiteboarding, ropes and shackle hooks were pretty common. But by coming out with this product line Ride Engine should be congratulated for bringing a well thought out product to the market.
https://kitesurfingmag.com/ride-engine-harness-review
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Kitesurfing Magazine www.kitesurfingmag.com |
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eabmoto
Since 10 May 2012
123 Posts
seattle
Stoked
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| Fri Oct 09, 15 9:18 am |
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| In response to the original question about harnesses that rotate around your body easily. I used to do that but found a slider spreader bar set up works way better. I make my own but I think the Dynabar system works good.
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zipperline
Since 02 Aug 2005
66 Posts
Hood River
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| Fri Oct 09, 15 9:24 am |
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| I have been using the Ride Engine hex harness for a few months. Spectra line attached to chicken loop. No doubt the most comfortable harness on the planet! It does not move ride up or pinch ribs. The key is that the hard shell in the back becomes a part of you. Riding topside bottom turning etc feels like you don't even have a harness on. Try and demo one if you can. Everyone I know that has one will never go back to any other waist harness ever.... I have at least 30 days on mine...
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