I think I want a high hook seat harness. Or at least to try one...

Trouble is, I recall some brand had one they called a "surf seat" years ago, and I know Vidar used a seat. That's it, limit of my knowledge. Last seat harness I had was a Wild Winds so that gives u a tip how long it has been

Googling gives me stuff-all ...... cos I get lots of seat harnesses, and including the word "surf" gives me all the kite harnesses.
Including "wavesailing" gives me all the threads here about should I use a waist or seat.

I want the windsurf specific wavesailing seat harnesses, nice high hook. Reviews, who makes one, what is the actual hook position, anything

Anyone got some leads for me....?

You need to embrace your inner tea bagger in you and have a look at the blank force harness. They are waist harness with detachable seat arrangement. The hook is higher than a seat and lower than a waist. I use mine with the seat arrangement all the time as it stops it riding up. I was looking too after my trusty Da Kine surf seat finally threw the claw in!! I bought it through the Go Kite website which is now owned by SHQ but doesn't see to stock them when I checked. Really happy with it the back support is better than the Da Kine.

Flying Objects Transit harness is what you're after i think

www.flyingobjects.com.au/products/windsurf/transit/

Flying Obs has one without the buggery handle if that matters.


*beat me DanP

Thanks everyone.

I won't be using the kite harnesses as the hook is different and damned unsafe for windsurfing (twisted lines and you're dead)

Looking at Transit Harness now ad then found this for anyone who is interested www.windsurf.co.uk/2013-seat-harness-buyers-guide/ so at least I found a few models to look for

I was just looking for names of models to read up on, but any reviews still welcome

I've got one of these

www.hotsailsmaui.com/accessories.php?uid=6

built well and comfortable , Higher hook than a slalom seat style harness.

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Mark _australia said..
Thanks everyone.

I won't be using the kite harnesses as the hook is different and damned unsafe for windsurfing (twisted lines and you're dead)

Looking at Transit Harness now ad then found this for anyone who is interested www.windsurf.co.uk/2013-seat-harness-buyers-guide/ so at least I found a few models to look for

I was just looking for names of models to read up on, but any reviews still welcome

I have been looking for the same thing as my high hook Mystic seat harness is about 15 years old and I can't find one like that when I look for it among windsurf harnesses. I'm still using it. Evolution doesn't always move forward unfortunately. I don't really wave ride, just sail in small waves.

You can change the spreader bar. The reason I say that is that the Ocean Rodeo Session 2 kite waist harness with removable leg straps is a good harness. The leg straps attach to the sides of the harness which gives good freedom of movement. I have the Session 1 harness and find it works well, and its probably what I will use when my windsurf harness dies. It's a bit bigger, stiffer and more hassle to get on and off than my windsurf harness, but once on it gives good support and freedom.

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terminal said..

You can change the spreader bar. The reason I say that is that the Ocean Rodeo Session 2 kite waist harness with removable leg straps is a good harness. The leg straps attach to the sides of the harness which gives good freedom of movement. I have the Session 1 harness and find it works well, and its probably what I will use when my windsurf harness dies. It's a bit bigger, stiffer and more hassle to get on and off than my windsurf harness, but once on it gives good support and freedom.

Agreed. If you can't change a spreader bar you aren't trying. I have some kiting harnesses that I changed to windsurfing bars, and I still have the kiting spreader bars to try kiting.

^^^ yes..... but I am not going to buy a brand new harness, knowing I will have to also buy a bar, when I have the option of a windsurf-specific one.

i'll add another + for the FO transit. been using one for the last 2 years as a replacement for the discontinued dakine surf seat.
use it for about 65% of my sailing for B&J conditions. the rest I use a dakine XT seat which is very comfy. the only issue with the transit that I have is the velcro tension belt that is one piece with the harness. after it falling apart on me now after what would probably be only a single season of sailing for the committed sailor(as I dont get a lot of water time) I will probably need to replace it soon. this is a shame as the rest of it is in as new condition.
on the up side to this, the images of the new model seem to show that they have now gone to an indapendant tension belt like the rest of the industry seems to use.
Any way, it seems to be one of the only and not to expensive surf seats available in perth at the local shops.

+1 for the FO transit. Tried both waist and seat styles and found the FO transit offers the benefits of both styles.
Had mine for two years with no durability issues.

ION have three options ...

http://www.ion-products.com/water/men/harnesses/windsurf-seat-harnesses/peak/



www.ion-products.com/water/men/harnesses/windsurf-seat-harnesses/octane/



www.ion-products.com/water/men/harnesses/windsurf-seat-harnesses/fuel/

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McSailing said...
+1 for the FO transit. Tried both waist and seat styles and found the FO transit offers the benefits of both styles.
Had mine for two years with no durability issues.

Yes I used the transit for a few years and you can wear the hook very high. I just went back to the Dakine XT and have foind the hook is also higher compared to the older model i used to have.

^ Yea, a 2 year old Prolimit Rambler. Mine looks like that.

Considered longer harness lines?

^^^ no
as a big fella i hang down on the boom a lot in marginal conditions and the waist harnesses all ride up. Some more, some less, some on a rashie some on a wettie, but they all do at some stage.

I have discovered when I move my waist harness as low as I can I plane earlier and get upwind better. (I mean crazy low)
After 20mins suddenly it feels less windy or more gusty but no, I stop and move my harness down and re-tension, then gee whizz it is all good again, it wasn't the wind changing at all. I reckon a harness that can't move up will help me sail betterer more often.

Longer lines will exacerbate the waist harness riding up, as it would not take much riding up at all before the ability to hang down on the boom is lost. But a seat, with the hook maybe a tiinny bit lower than a waist will enable slightly longer lines anyway - and no riding up - so a double whammy for performance.

Just switched from waist to a seat again recently.Im 100 kegs and have used seats years ago but hate sailing with ultra low hook.
l can relate to hanging off the boom a lot, problem with being a big bruiser.
I wave sailed for years but currently chasing the clock ,using big slalom sails but still like the feel of a waist when sailing.
Dakine xt seat is adjustable ,great back support and not too cumbersome.No where near as tiring when sailing with big rigs.,
Find I can use it like a seat or loosen the straps and adjust it and feels like the waist but no riding up.
Very pleased with it .
Cheers.

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monaro said..
Just switched from waist to a seat again recently.Im 100 kegs and have used seats years ago but hate sailing with ultra low hook.
l can relate to hanging off the boom a lot, problem with being a big bruiser.
I wave sailed for years but currently chasing the clock ,using big slalom sails but still like the feel of a waist when sailing.
Dakine xt seat is adjustable ,great back support and not too cumbersome.No where near as tiring when sailing with big rigs.,
Find I can use it like a seat or loosen the straps and adjust it and feels like the waist but no riding up.
Very pleased with it .
Cheers.

+1 for the XT. I like it a lot too, and haven't even played around with the height like Monaro. Took a while to get used to the lack of a sliding bar, but now I quite like that aspect of it too because it seems a bit more efficient.