Hey, I'm new to windsurfing and was thinking about getting my first harness setup. I've been out about 10 times now and I've been planing a lot with our recent good winds (albeit with "moderate" control!). Anyway, I know it may all come down to personal preference, but any info/opinions you have would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
Andrew
Harness question...
Moderator: MK
I really like the Dakine Speed Seat.. very comfortable, the hook
is just at the right height for all around sailing. The strap which
holds the hook is broad so it doesn't twist easily. Just bought a
second one for my son (and to have as a backup in case I
forget/break one).
I tried a waist one this weekend.. very different feel, but a little
easier to hook in/out of since the hook height is higher. Personal
preference..
Ideally, get one of each
is just at the right height for all around sailing. The strap which
holds the hook is broad so it doesn't twist easily. Just bought a
second one for my son (and to have as a backup in case I
forget/break one).
I tried a waist one this weekend.. very different feel, but a little
easier to hook in/out of since the hook height is higher. Personal
preference..
Ideally, get one of each
I've been a waist harness guy since '86. They're easy to get on and off and easy to hook in and out of. I've tried a seat harness but based on my style of sailing it wasn't a good fit. I agree with Mike. Try both if you can. Generally you'll fine the bump and jumpers/freestylers riding waist harnesses and the speedsters running seat harnesses. It ultimately comes down to personal preference.
A case for two harnesses
I believe having a seat harness and a waist harness are as important as having slalom equipment and wave/freeride equipment. For flatter water, a speed seat allows dramatically improved speed and wind range. For terrain, the waist harness is critical for getting in and out of the lines. True, we've got some local expert sailors that make the waist look very appealing on flatter water given their skills and strong upper body strength, but I know they'd further their upwind pointing capacity and their comfort when overpowered if they went to a lower hook height and fully leveraged their body weight for maximum speed slalom blasting.
So, given your situation, I'd go with a seat harness first, knowing you'll probably want to add a waist for those high wind bump/jump days, or those days on Lake Superior.
So, given your situation, I'd go with a seat harness first, knowing you'll probably want to add a waist for those high wind bump/jump days, or those days on Lake Superior.
Ride...just be it!
www.just-be-it.com
www.just-be-it.com
I've been using a Daking Speed Seat for the last couple of years and have liked it except for how the leg straps can wear on you if your out on a long session and not wearing some kind of wetsuit to cushion the straps.
A Dakine Fusion seat harness or a Dakine XT seat harness was recommended to me by Tighe & Mike W. The two harnesses are functionaly about the same, except for a handle & hook knife added to the Fusion for Kite Surfing. I bought the Fusion version this spring and have liked it a lot. The force coming through the harness is spread out better than my old harness and since the fit is broader it doesn't cut in at all. I can go for hours
Another thing I like a lot is that you can adjust the hook height - low for speed sailing, high for bump & jump )where you want to be able to hook & unhook quickly). I think a pure waist harness will put the hook even higher though, but it's a nice compromise for my needs.
A Dakine Fusion seat harness or a Dakine XT seat harness was recommended to me by Tighe & Mike W. The two harnesses are functionaly about the same, except for a handle & hook knife added to the Fusion for Kite Surfing. I bought the Fusion version this spring and have liked it a lot. The force coming through the harness is spread out better than my old harness and since the fit is broader it doesn't cut in at all. I can go for hours
Another thing I like a lot is that you can adjust the hook height - low for speed sailing, high for bump & jump )where you want to be able to hook & unhook quickly). I think a pure waist harness will put the hook even higher though, but it's a nice compromise for my needs.Since the whole Fusion issue has been brought up, I’m going to put my two cents in and try not to be negative. I’ll just say that guilt has overcome me for selling my old Fusion to a friend. I plan on buying it back when he can get a different harness and sending it back to DaKine. I don’t expect a refund. But on a positive note, DaKine makes cool bookbags. I'm using a pro limit felix waist harness for kiting, no problems and lovin' it.
Casey
Casey
-
aransavage
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2002 2:10 pm
- Location: Hopkins, MN
Thanks for all the help! I've got plenty to go with. I do feel like I tend to position myself very low to the water, just skimming above it when in a plane. I don't know if this is the wrong position to take or perhaps just because I don't have a harness. Either way I guess I feel like a waist harness would be a better fit. Thanks again for all comments and help!
Andrew
Andrew
I was thinking about harnesses last weekend, too. It was marginal conditions where I was (in door county) and I tried to get out anyway. I use a Dakine waist harness all the time now, but I was finding that in marginal winds when you are trying to be as light as possible to get / keep planing, the waist harness tends to ride up on me. I have no waist, so cranking the harness tighter doesn't work all that well. When I used to use the Speed seat, I also had some issues with the strap that holds the spreader down kind of gettingthe whole thing to ride up (maybe the Fusion would be better). I was thinking that I might want to look at my seat harness again when bump and jump is not gonna be happening.
I assume that some technique change might make the speed seat work better in marginal winds for me. Does anyone else experience similar issues?
I assume that some technique change might make the speed seat work better in marginal winds for me. Does anyone else experience similar issues?
Here are the major issues that I encountered with the Fusion.
1) The plastic buckles that run around the legs failed. One on the first time out, the second on about the fifth time out. I found out on message boards that this was fairly common for Fusion harnesses bought about the same time as mine. I understand that the Chinese manufacturer had molded a run of buckles out of print. I was told DaKine would replace them for free. Send my harness off to Oregon in late spring? Not an option. I ended up permanently attaching the straps with spectra. I expected a bit more in the lines of quality assurance from such a reputable company and one that uses umpteen buckles on the majority of the products they sell.
2) Tightening the harness was difficult after two months of use of wear on the straps. I ended up carrying around a pair of pliers to tighten it. It was impossible in the winter. I had the spreader bar come undone numerous times this winter and one final time this spring in the middle of Spirit. Not an ideal situation with a powered up kite.
3) The chrome plated stampings that hold the spreader bar had inadequate strength for kiting. They bent out to the point that after one session, the spreader bar actually fell off when I landing the kite and the tension was released. This was because the stamping had bent to the point the screw retaining the spreader was not doing anything.
Maybe the situation was DaKine had a good windsurfing harness that they thought they could turn into a good kiting harness by added a couple bells and whistles, but without a concern for the different type of loading involved with kiting versus windsurfing. But, trying to be positive, it was a very comfortable harness. I love the Pro Limit Felix, simplicity and function. Through correct design, all of the above issues are not factors. Maybe after a couple months of use, I'll find some new issues.
I’m not sure what Pro Limit has for seat harnesses.
Casey
1) The plastic buckles that run around the legs failed. One on the first time out, the second on about the fifth time out. I found out on message boards that this was fairly common for Fusion harnesses bought about the same time as mine. I understand that the Chinese manufacturer had molded a run of buckles out of print. I was told DaKine would replace them for free. Send my harness off to Oregon in late spring? Not an option. I ended up permanently attaching the straps with spectra. I expected a bit more in the lines of quality assurance from such a reputable company and one that uses umpteen buckles on the majority of the products they sell.
2) Tightening the harness was difficult after two months of use of wear on the straps. I ended up carrying around a pair of pliers to tighten it. It was impossible in the winter. I had the spreader bar come undone numerous times this winter and one final time this spring in the middle of Spirit. Not an ideal situation with a powered up kite.
3) The chrome plated stampings that hold the spreader bar had inadequate strength for kiting. They bent out to the point that after one session, the spreader bar actually fell off when I landing the kite and the tension was released. This was because the stamping had bent to the point the screw retaining the spreader was not doing anything.
Maybe the situation was DaKine had a good windsurfing harness that they thought they could turn into a good kiting harness by added a couple bells and whistles, but without a concern for the different type of loading involved with kiting versus windsurfing. But, trying to be positive, it was a very comfortable harness. I love the Pro Limit Felix, simplicity and function. Through correct design, all of the above issues are not factors. Maybe after a couple months of use, I'll find some new issues.
I’m not sure what Pro Limit has for seat harnesses.
Casey
Testing harnesses
At the Gorge WindFest last weekend many of the manufactures were represented and offered demos--lots of demos. One of the more helpful demos for me was to try out a bunch of different harnesses from DaKine. I tried the Fusion (which I thought really distributed the weight well, but not for me). I decided that after years of using the XT Seat that I would switch to a waist harness. I found the new ones better than when I last tried them many years ago.
I was also able to try a number of Sailworks sails and a bunch of boards. Unfortunately it never got really windy to try out the wave boards. But I tried some HiFly's, AHD, Minstrals and Starboards. I really liked the idea of demo'ing gear before buying and would really support more of this locally (MN).
I was also able to try a number of Sailworks sails and a bunch of boards. Unfortunately it never got really windy to try out the wave boards. But I tried some HiFly's, AHD, Minstrals and Starboards. I really liked the idea of demo'ing gear before buying and would really support more of this locally (MN).
sPk