Hi everyone,
I previously used a Mystic Warrior softshell waist harness before recently switching to a Duotone Radar seat harness as I was getting lower back pain from the Warrior. I decided to go back to a seat harness for the back support but my question is, would a hardshell waist harness like the Mystic Majestic provide a similar level of back support to a seat harness or is a seat harness always a better option for minimising back pain?
As an aside, what seat harnesses have you had good experiences with for back support?

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OSprey42 said..
Hi everyone,
I previously used a Mystic Warrior softshell waist harness before recently switching to a Duotone Radar seat harness as I was getting lower back pain from the Warrior. I decided to go back to a seat harness for the back support but my question is, would a hardshell waist harness like the Mystic Majestic provide a similar level of back support to a seat harness or is a seat harness always a better option for minimising back pain?
As an aside, what seat harnesses have you had good experiences with for back support?

Back pains can vary quite a bit from one person to another and choosing the right harness is quite personal as well. The key is to try a variety of harnesses, ideally in action rather than in a kite shop. In my experience, hardshell harnesses offer great support but that doesn't mean they won't cause you any back pain based on your back problems.

Over the years I realized just how much the body shape is important when going for a waist harness. If you have a flat stomach then a good waist harness should offer excellent support. However, if you have a belly, then a waist harness can be a bad choice as it will most likely rise up regardless of how good and how expensive the harness is. A waist harness that rises up can be quite annoying, uncomfortable and will most likely aggravate your back problems.

hope this helps

Christian

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OSprey42 said..
Hi everyone,
As an aside, what seat harnesses have you had good experiences with for back support?

I have been using board short harnesses for years and find these the best all round for my needs. Dakine Nitrous HD have been the most used and have just bought my first pair of Ion B2's....they are a bit dearer but i feel they are made a little better....its a bit harder to get to demo harnesses, i still have a brand new (used once) NPX waist harness in my shed....don't like waist harness at all!

Good luck!!

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KiteBud said..

OSprey42 said..
Hi everyone,
I previously used a Mystic Warrior softshell waist harness before recently switching to a Duotone Radar seat harness as I was getting lower back pain from the Warrior. I decided to go back to a seat harness for the back support but my question is, would a hardshell waist harness like the Mystic Majestic provide a similar level of back support to a seat harness or is a seat harness always a better option for minimising back pain?
As an aside, what seat harnesses have you had good experiences with for back support?

Back pains can vary quite a bit from one person to another and choosing the right harness is quite personal as well. The key is to try a variety of harnesses, ideally in action rather than in a kite shop. In my experience, hardshell harnesses offer great support but that doesn't mean they won't cause you any back pain based on your back problems.

Over the years I realized just how much the body shape is important when going for a waist harness. If you have a flat stomach then a good waist harness should offer excellent support. However, if you have a belly, then a waist harness can be a bad choice as it will most likely rise up regardless of how good and how expensive the harness is. A waist harness that rises up can be quite annoying, uncomfortable and will most likely aggravate your back problems.

hope this helps

Christian

To help those with waist harnesses riding up... a pro rider once told me to loosen your harness... my god what a difference! Sounds counter intuitive but way more comfy and if it does ride up, just lean back and it will slide back down..
As i do wave riding mostly, i always have my harness loose so it can slide around when riding toe-side. This means i only buy harnesses with neoprene on the inside...never those with the rubber or EVA on the inside (if tight and they ride up then you're screwed)
Have tried a hard backed rigid harness... terrible thing, never again.
Also tried the rope slider ones for wave riding.... absolutely useless.. designed by someone who has never ridden toeside.
I like the Ion ones with neoprene inner and they have a number system... determining the stiffness... find one that suits you.
I think waist harnesses are ok for learning (mainly because they allow you to sheet out more) but once you get better you will want more flexibility.
I"ve had back pain from both rigid back and too-soft- back waist harnesses... try a stiffer, non-rigid waist harness...and use it looser (so it can rotate and slide up and down reasonably easily)... so stay away from the grippy inners (annoying that most are going that way).
HTH

I have used to have a Daikine with a hard shell although not as solid as others.
Since updating to the mystic stealth my back is so much happier.

I have a pretty stiff back with a bridge between L2 and L4, and while I originally thought a waist harness would be better comparing to the braces I wore after the surgery, I just can't ride with one getting pain in my back pretty much straight away when I have no problem with a seat harness.
I haven't tried different waist harness, but I can't see many problems/disadvantages on the seat ones so why I should investigate more?...
PS: riding surfboard in waves without switching stance (so lots of toeside) and sometimes foiling, but it could be a different story with jumps on twintips

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tromes said..
I have a pretty stiff back with a bridge between L2 and L4, and while I originally thought a waist harness would be better comparing to the braces I wore after the surgery, I just can't ride with one getting pain in my back pretty much straight away when I have no problem with a seat harness.
I haven't tried different waist harness, but I can't see many problems/disadvantages on the seat ones so why I should investigate more?...
PS: riding surfboard in waves without switching stance (so lots of toeside) and sometimes foiling, but it could be a different story with jumps on twintips

I've recently had to stop using a hard shell Mystic Stealth due to extreme pain when I use it. Borrowed a mates decade old Dakine Fusion and put my surf slider on it and bingo no more back pain so I sorted a Mystic Marshall and fitted the stealth surf rope slider to it. Feels a bit different after only using waist harneses for years, but I think its actually way better for me at my age (69) and the history of my smashed up spine, where I crush fractured 6 vertebrae (2 Thoracic and 4 Lumbar).
Seems to me that the hardshell was putting too much pressure on my lower ribs and they transferred this pressure to my spine so that I experienced sharp shooting pain while kiting and they a day or two of aching ribs after a 1 hr session of kiting.

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KPSS Used said..

tromes said..
I have a pretty stiff back with a bridge between L2 and L4, and while I originally thought a waist harness would be better comparing to the braces I wore after the surgery, I just can't ride with one getting pain in my back pretty much straight away when I have no problem with a seat harness.
I haven't tried different waist harness, but I can't see many problems/disadvantages on the seat ones so why I should investigate more?...
PS: riding surfboard in waves without switching stance (so lots of toeside) and sometimes foiling, but it could be a different story with jumps on twintips

I've recently had to stop using a hard shell Mystic Stealth due to extreme pain when I use it. Borrowed a mates decade old Dakine Fusion and put my surf slider on it and bingo no more back pain so I sorted a Mystic Marshall and fitted the stealth surf rope slider to it. Feels a bit different after only using waist harneses for years, but I think its actually way better for me at my age (69) and the history of my smashed up spine, where I crush fractured 6 vertebrae (2 Thoracic and 4 Lumbar).
Seems to me that the hardshell was putting too much pressure on my lower ribs and they transferred this pressure to my spine so that I experienced sharp shooting pain while kiting and they a day or two of aching ribs after a 1 hr session of kiting.

I'm almost the same age as you and have been using my Dakine Fusion for years, which I ironically bought in Maui, the home of Dakine! As you age, your body doesn't seem to adsorb the stresses of kite-surfing like a young person, and a comfortable seat harness makes it easy for me. Lately, I have been getting out 3 days a week in 20kts on a 12m Rebel for 2-3 hour sessions and absolutely no ill effects, which I put down to a great kite and amazing harness.