Rider: Weight 85kg Level intermediatetyle:
Freeriding, Surf
Weather: 18-30knots


My Comments: Going back to a seat harness to protect my back, advice from those that use them and kite in the surf please.

Cheers

I like my dakine fusion
it doesnt restrict me and you can loosen it a bit so it rotates on your waist toeside
I havnt tried others, just a couple of waist harnesses but they rode up too much because im l shaped, not V shaped

Hi Eppo,

A seat harness and riding waves are rarely mentioned in the same sentence. They are just too restrictive in movement to be helpful at all.

If you really must have a seat harness, then you will NEED a sliding spreader bar system like the Dynabar



For wave riding I like the Flying Objects Felix waist and I have a bad back too. Poor quality or old waist harnesses may cause back issues, but I can tell you, as a back pain sufferer, that the newer harnies lend far greater support which actually helps your back and keeps it from being under compression like in a seat. A well fitted high supporting wasit should cradle and straighten your back and allow it to unload as the pull is more perpendicular.

Just a few thoughts to consider.

Cheers mate,

DM

You can also consider the Liquid Force range - there is the boardshorts type and a full on seat harness. Very well supported and comfy. See Jason at West Oz to demo or contact us if you need further info.

Whatever seat you decide on definately grab a dynabar ,they are awesome in the surf for toeside riding,they take a few minutes to get used to when ripping into a toeside heelside carve cos your being pulled from the hip,but you compensate pretty quick ,but you can toeside like a dream,i have used one on a dakine,naish and now a prolimit,so you can fit to just about any harness.

Be keen on other comments here too... I have the dynabar and like it although its not on my harness at the moment - been using the flying objects waist harness - amazingly comfortable - but riding toeside after back surgery isnt that great after the harness rides up a little, push the harness down and Im good for the next 20 minutes.

The first Dakine seat harness I got from KP lasted me 3 years,really comfie.
My lastest Dakine Fusion seat harness is 13 months old and has totally cr@pped itself.
It has fallen apart in 5 different places,pretty much every seam has torn apart.
I guess they would have a 12month warrenty, but its 13 months old ( bought on the 19/9/09) so guess there is not much I can do about it.I might contact KP and see if Dakine will help out.....design fault maybe???
Comfortable harness,love it, but sucks the quality has failed.

Thanks crew all good advice. Hey saw the other day a sliding bar system from Kitepower? The have a few different options, the thread stopped after a while just wondering if anyone has anything more to say on the matter since then? Someone said the full sliding bar kept depowering the kite or something like that, but there is another option that keeps it central until you want to slide... anymore??

Um excuse the ignorance is is the new version of the dyna bar v5 sold by kitepower. My harness cost $190 so $170 for just the spreader bar is it worth it? Also do the notches stick then jump or can you move it side to side relatively smoothly? The Freeride that is?

Yes, we have the latest V5 version of the Dynabars.
The Freeride has a significant notch in the middle, so in a fast heel to toe carve or toe to heel slash the notch in the middle can be a nuisance.
If you mainly ride waves, then you need the Prowave it has a very small notch in the middle and moves more smoothly.
The Freeride is best if you still like waveriding a bit on twin tips and boosting, but if you are only riding waves on surfboards then definitely get the Prowave model.
If you can really ride gard and shred waves, then get the pro race, but that bar is not designed for unhooking.

Can anyone shed light on the compatabilty of the Dynobar and harness brands?

I have only ever seen the Dynos used on Dakine harnesses and they fit the existing clips (I think) with no need to modify the harness or the Dyno.

What about other brands harness clips etc, do they fit the Dyno spreader attachments?

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eppo said...

Um excuse the ignorance is is the new version of the dyna bar v5 sold by kitepower. My harness cost $190 so $170 for just the spreader bar is it worth it? Also do the notches stick then jump or can you move it side to side relatively smoothly? The Freeride that is?

I have the one with the front notch,awesome for toeside,sweet jumping always sits central,and as in vid great for walking up the beach straight with the kite out to the side not that i do the walk of shame much(ha ha),takes a few minutes to get used to the toeside heelside carves as you have to flick your hip while carving to recentre the hook but as soon as you get used to doing it its all good,goes straight on to a dakine clip setup, and the warrior waist harness with the dakine style clips,i also had it on my naish seat, after i shreadded the dakine cut the clips off and used them on the naish.
If you want to do a **load of toeside riding with a seat then well worth the expense.

This idea looks like it has potential. By cutting off the hook, there is less variation on the bar throw when toeside, and it pulls from nearer your core.

kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2350471&start=140

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eppo said...

Um excuse the ignorance is is the new version of the dyna bar v5 sold by kitepower. My harness cost $190 so $170 for just the spreader bar is it worth it? Also do the notches stick then jump or can you move it side to side relatively smoothly? The Freeride that is?

You don't have to pay $170. There's a bunch of ways of doing this with rope and a pulley or carabiner

Mmmmmmmm looks like some good potential for disaster with some of that homemade stuff,go the real deal,mine has a nylon roller set on the rear and self centres again with the bungie setup,so real easy and smooth to use,you might even be able to pick one up secondhand if you throw a wanted ad on the forum,i got mine used and only paid $50 for it awesome buy.

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eppo said...
.... Going back to a seat harness to protect my back...

Why do you think a seat harness is going to protect your back?

I stopped using a seat harness because having all the load locked in on my hips was causing back pain, particularly with toeside riding. Imagine a 25m long spanner locked onto your hips twisting at your lower back.

The flexibility of the waist harness got rid of the back pain.

Issues with the waist harness riding up are dealt with by better riding technique.

I have been using the dyna bar with a dakine fusion seat harness for 2 seasons. love it, won't change it ....super comfy, works well.

I believe that the seat harness is more awkward for riding waves if you are riding toe side. Being a goofy footer in western Australia I have never found the seat harness to be too restrictive.

I really liked the flying object seat harness as it was soft and light. I have now gone for the more solid dakine storm.

I think trying heap of types out for comfort is the best way.

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Gorgo said...

eppo said...
.... Going back to a seat harness to protect my back...

Why do you think a seat harness is going to protect your back?

I stopped using a seat harness because having all the load locked in on my hips was causing back pain, particularly with toeside riding. Imagine a 25m long spanner locked onto your hips twisting at your lower back.

The flexibility of the waist harness got rid of the back pain.

Issues with the waist harness riding up are dealt with by better riding technique.

Gorgo is totally onto it! It's time to move on from the last hand-me-down from the windsurfers. A good waist harness should support your back and wont require the Dynabar. Waist harnesses have come a long way in the last two years.

I couldn't imagine wave riding without my FO Felix harness.

DM

Too late bought a Flying objects Seat... Will go the dyna bar freeride - anyone got one they wanna off load

Ive got a stuffed lower back ride in the surf lots and use a plain old prolimit seat ( very comfy )harness dont have any problems toe side or carving and yes have tried every waist harness but with my injury they just agravates my back.
Hope this helps
George