Hi guys,
10 years windsurfing, 4 years kiting, always had pretty low end harnesses. Older Naish/Dakine. Never anything fancy, never payed big bucks for a harness, never had one give me problems. Picked up an almost brand new Warrior 3 in my size which felt amazing on the beach, but this thing just shredded the skin off of my hips and made the last two sessions essentially a waste.

I'm not bashing the harness or trying to be a crybaby, just looking for advice, tips, tricks, etc. I don't normally wear a rashguard or wetsuit, and I run my harness loose enough to have a tiny bit of side to side movement when switching tacks. I did wear a rash guard today (and had my wounds duct taped) but it was still causing way to much pain. Should I try running it loose? Higher? Tighter? Anybody else had issues with this harness? I've only read tons of positive reviews on it. I would feel like such a dummy to switch back to my $40 Naish from 5 years ago, but if it means I can kite all day again I guess it's worth it. Thanks guys.

So...pretty much thinking f**k this harness at this point. Piece of s**t.

yeh man, those harnesses have so much grip that when they slip there is loads of friction. ether use a rashie or get a wave harness. you have a good 2 weeks before that chafe will be healed.

My latest warrior tore its self to bits within 2 years.

run it tighter so it doesn't move otherwise maybe think about a ride engine harness?

The Old warrior scars bring back memories of when I'd had to duct tape my hips from the original warrior.
Having two layers between you and your harness can help a lot.
What I did was to tuck the Rashie into my boardies & pull my shorts up before putting the harness over the top.
Goodluck

Shave off all your body hair and smother yourself in vasoline




Not sure what you should do about your harness though

the positive side - if the lovies aren't bleeding at the end of a session, you know you weren't going hard enough

Women have hips

What sort of aussie kites without at least a rashie on?!? If you think that rub is bad wait till theyre cutting chunks of cancer out of you.

Talked to some guys who really recommend trying the dynabar. Always wanted to try one anyway, seems like it should help my problem. Another buddy said to just put a huge glob of sunscreen where the harness rubs. I'm just hoping it's not windy for a few days so I can heal up some.

umm why not just buy a new harness? I used to get that from my Mystic Code 1. Switched to a Dakine C-1 and all that went away. The end.

My mystic harness has been the most comfortable out of the many I have owned - and Ive kited with a few over the years with a wetsuit or with just board shorts - It seems a harness fit is a really personal thing.

So kimbler - seems the Mystic just isn't your perfect match ??? Id hate to finish each session with the harness rash you shared ...........

Good luck in finding the one that works for you !!

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JKimbler said..
So...pretty much thinking f**k this harness at this point. Piece of s**t.

looks like a love bite and a scratch mark
maybe stop calling him warrior, gets him going by the looks of things

Second pic, whats the long scrape? That's not harness injuries... is it?

Yep all harness. From two days worth of kiting though, couldn't resist trying to get out there. Wore a rash guard on day 2.

Cauncy you are cracking me up man!

I also have the mystic warrior 3 and have a similar problem in the same area but only if i wear it repeatidly over i.e. 2 days. I dont get the rash but i definetly get very uncomfortable pressure in the same area you have the abrasion...

Wear an impact vest and you will have no harness problems, also stops it riding up. Ion or dakine do some good ones.

Get a Ride Engine harness.

They have a hard molded shell.

I've haven't ever had harness rash since I switched.

The harness is tight and locks into one place.

So nice.

Tried the Ion wave harnes in the shop this weekend, wow super comfy. IVe always had that chaifing problem, 5 options ..
1. Wetsuit underneath
2. Trisuit underneith
3. Wide white Elastoplast tape were it rubs
4. Get a girls harness, maybe smaller sides, Ive done this but only used it once so far, all black so you could not tell its girls. I'm not hippy either, well I don't think I am, I think it is because my harness slides around alot because of the way I kite.
5. Get a sliding hook

mystic warriour here since.... 2014. i move when the season ends to a new location where seasons begining so full 3 years on it and use it for instructing. never once had any rub or rash. i have also never kitesurfed without either a rash shirt on or a 1mm neoprene wetty top on.

baffled as to how youve done this. maybe something in the water is aggravateing it like sea lice ? or you are simply not wearing sun protection for some reason? harness rub is least of your worrys if thats the case here in australia

i get a big leash rash/bruise a fair bit higher up when i do a handlepass with the leash around wrong side of my body. but its a very noticeable bruise like someone has hit you with a coles pole

2 mil wet suit top and a dynabar, pain and irritation are gone. When I'm fully healed I'll try a thin rash guard and see how it goes. Definitely comfy now though, seems like the warrior feels better super tight.

Hey Jkimbler,

A harness isn't supposed to do that. If it causes you pain, discomfort or damage, it's not a good harness for you. Find one that better suits you, don't persist with the Warior.

DM