It's time to replace my harness and I'm giving serious thought to getting an impact/bouyancy vest at the same time.

I want to ask if anyone is currently using a combination harness and impact vest for windsurfing?

These three models are marketed as being for kitesurfing but the Dakine can be ordered with a spreader bar specific for windsurfing.

The Dakine Impact-Harness looks pretty good but are proving hard to get
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The Pro-limit Impact-harness is a bit cheaper.
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Naish also make one
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Please discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these products.

Whoo... macho. Do you get a gun and badge with that?

Apart from them being waist harness which I don't mind for bump & jump they look the goods. I would probably opt for the prolimit one given that it looks like it'd be a bit quicker to get out of in an emergency.

I might actually consider one of these for my next waist harness, as I wore my weight/impact vest (minus weight) last week with waist harness and it was giving me the sh**s.

One of my mates has the dakine one and loves it. He was learning to waterstart when he bought it and I reckon it sped up the process cos he wasn't spending all his energy swimming, the vest was doing some of the work.

They probably restrict movement a little bit, but it wouldn't really be a problem unless you do mostly wave sailing or freestyle.

Can anyone comment on whether these impact harnesses are more like chest or waist harnesses in movement and stance? I think Neil Pryde also makes one too.

I am looking at getting a windsurfing type product as a Christmas present and something like this could be the go.

u wouldnt want to be wearing one if you're going to be wave-sailing

I used the Da Kine one for ages (previous version). One word - awesome.

I'm pretty dense (yeah yeah), so I sink even in saltwater (without a wetsuit), so a bit of extra floatation was great. Spent a season sailing in Egypt with one, no issues with being able to unhook, being unwieldy, etc. Great bouyancy, great for learning to waterstart, great protection from back-slaps when learning to loop... all-round recommended. I'd still be using mine if it wasn't in Egypt with the ex!

It also probably prevented a couple of hitting-the-mast-with-my-ribs injuries / bruises...

Thinking about it, I'm about to start trying Shuv-its... I'd quite like one again because I'm certain I'm gonna wind up on the boom pretty hard at some point.

As Zed said, probably no good for waves though.

EDIT - acts like a normal waist harness, not restrictive for freestyle (IMO)

EDIT1 - Love Da Kine stuff too, built to be bomb-proof. Never had anything DK fall apart until it had taken far more abuse than it should have done. Harnesses, backpacks, travel bags, everything. Build quality is simply superb from my experience. And no, I don't work for 'em

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FlickySpinny said...

EDIT1 - Love Da Kine stuff too, built to be bomb-proof. Never had anything DK fall apart until it had taken far more abuse than it should have done. Harnesses, backpacks, travel bags, everything. Build quality is simply superb from my experience. And no, I don't work for 'em

Just don't buy their adjustable harness lines

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Leech said...

FlickySpinny said...

EDIT1 - Love Da Kine stuff too, built to be bomb-proof. Never had anything DK fall apart until it had taken far more abuse than it should have done. Harnesses, backpacks, travel bags, everything. Build quality is simply superb from my experience. And no, I don't work for 'em

Just don't buy their adjustable harness lines

Oh no
I did when my NP ones broke.
I note that the piece that broke on the NP was plastic, on the DaKine is ... something metallic (alluminium?).

As something else to note the little toggles that you pull to adjust the Dakine lines fit perfectly into the dakine spreader bars, and could be a death trap. I've wrapped taped around the spreader bars where they can slide in and get stuck.

I went through 3 sets (kept getting them on warranty). There's stitching that holds the rope into the webbing and this gave out each time (within 3 months).

I sent an email to Dakine pointing out the design flaw but got no response.

do you definately want a waist harness?

the KA vest works really well. but it only suits seat harnesses.

Just a word of caution, all the harnesses pictured are designed for kites, the difference is the hook. On a kite hook it is wider at the tip, the sailboard harness hook is parallel. If you get twisted under the sail, quite common, you can still unhook from a sailboard hook. Because the kite hook is wider at the tip you can possibly be locked there.
There is normally a warning sticker on the hook stating for kiteboarding only. Dakine sell the spreader bars seperately so just ask for a sailboard one. Dakine also make an impact vest which works well with a seat harness, a great help for learning fowards.

My friend just bought a vest with a little hole for the harness hook to poke out of...not the NP, it's another brand, quite sporty looking. I'll try to find out tomorrow. This sounds good, as you can keep using your fave harness.

The local club has made vests compulsory due to a couple of recent water fatalities in which non-swimmers have fallen off boats and things. Most people still "forget" to put theirs on, though.


BTW regarding waves, Mr JP recommends wearing a vest in big waves to reduce your hold-down time. Mind you, if you're into the kind of waves he's into, you don't need to listen to me cos I know nothing.

I've been using the dakine one (2005 model I think) for kiting and like it a lot. The newer model isn't as durable but looks a lot better. They provide limited bouyancy and I wouldn't be relying on them to save your life. Over the last year I gone from a waist harness to the dakine nitrous harness shorts but still wear the vest without the hook.

I don't use it for windsurfing as they are quite restrictive for waveriding.

You have to buy the harness hook separately so you can get a windsurfing hook as opposed to the kite one.

You'll be able to buy them at most kite shops but they're pretty exy

Neil Pryde make a windsurfing impact vest harness combination with the automatic spreader bar. It's effectively a NP waist harness with the jacket added up top. But as with any harness purchase you need to test fit before you buy.

I bought one when I injured a rib as it spreads the load more than a waist harness so I was able to continue sailing. I use it occasionally for speed sailing (It allowed me to bounce off the water really well at Sandy Point).

It keeps you warm but also gets hot in summer.

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robbo1111 said...

I've been using the dakine one (2005 model I think) for kiting and like it a lot. The newer model isn't as durable but looks a lot better. They provide limited bouyancy and I wouldn't be relying on them to save your life. Over the last year I gone from a waist harness to the dakine nitrous harness shorts but still wear the vest without the hook.

I don't use it for windsurfing as they are quite restrictive for waveriding.

You have to buy the harness hook separately so you can get a windsurfing hook as opposed to the kite one.

You'll be able to buy them at most kite shops but they're pretty exy

How are those Dakine Nitrous harness shorts?? OK for windsurfing?? How about maintenence, washing, etc?? Do they last??

Most of the kite harnesses can be used for sailboards though are a bit more restrictive. The loads in kiting are much larger so the kite harnesses tend to be bulkier with more padding. For flat water sailing they are just fine.
I have a pair of Dakine Nitrous harness shorts, they aren't as restrictive as a full seat harness and maybe not as durable but those are the tradeoffs. Haven't tried them on a sailboard yet but probably worth a go.
I don't wash my gear, the eyelets will rust on the Dakine Nitrous but thems the breaks. The webbing gets stiff with salt after awhile but a soak in some fresh sorts that.

If I was wearing one of those flak jackets when I got caught under the sail still hooked in and twisted I reckon I wouldn't be here writing this.

The only way I managed to get out was to push down on the top of the waist harness to sort of wiggle out enough to grab a breath of air -- at that stage I was trying to breathe underwater which doesn't usually have a good outcome.....

I don't think I will be using one of those for windsurfing..

Are the first three mentioned Australian standard approved as PFDs,i know the NP&KA are.

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How are those Dakine Nitrous harness shorts?? OK for windsurfing?? How about maintenence, washing, etc?? Do they last??

I still use a waist harness for windsurfing. Only started using the nappy for kiting due to lower back pain. I really like the nitrous shorts although think the standard seat harness might be more comfortable if that's what you're used to. I've had mine for a year and they're still in good shape