the debate between waist and seat harness please h

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WillPower said..

Hi guys. I am new to windsurfing and I am wanting to buy a harness. I have a few questions first of all i was wondering which kind of harness is best for a beginner (waist or seat) also if you could give me a few tips on using the harness eg. When to hook in and where to set harness lines. Lastly if any body had any info as to whether or not you can use a life jacket with a seat or waist harness?????. Any reply would be very appreciated. Thx

It would be great if you could try both types and see which works for you.

I have been using seat harnesses for years and never had a problem with them other than wearing them out and breaking spreader bars.

I forgot my harness once and bought a waist harness at a kiting shop on the way to the sailing spot. I have used the waist harness a few times since and I don't like it. It rides up enough to make me feel uncomfortable breathing, and the hook position is too high compared to what I am used to.

I suspect that seat harnesses are better for flat-water blasting and waist harnesses are better for wave sailing.

Try different harnesses if you can, because body shape has a lot to do with it.

1. Seat or waist harness it doesnt matter at this stage instead make sure the harness line is long enough.
2. Position the harness line at the CE of the sail, meaning the 'power' spot. Try find the spot by slowly narrowing your grip while sailing.

Good luck

Oh, yeah. I just had a rethink. If you wear size 38 shorts, then I think your best bet is a pair of almost brand new Dakine Nitrous HD harness shorts, specifically in black. I just happen to have a pair for sale too, what a coincidence! When I say 'almost' brand new, they haven't even gotten wet yet! Unfortunately I bought size 38 and need 36, so these have to go.

Just like a seat harness except more comfortable.

http://www.dakine.com/p/kite/harnesses/nitrous-hd

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Macroscien said..

Not sure if somebody else could confirm similar observation but when I have been using seat harness I always had terrible back pain the day after.
When switched to waist harness no more such problems ever since.

I don't know. I haven't seen you sail, so I haven't noticed.

Perhaps they're designed large to allow for the wetsuit underneath?

If the topic had been at the heavy weather I could mention about one more advantage of the waist over seat harness


Qaulity and fancy seat harness but one may find also not very comfortable

If my conclusion are right that is unbeatable proof that wind or kite surfing was know as 6 centuries ago ( harness survived but boards not because had been made of wood at this time !

I use both harnesses. I find the seat harness works best with a life jacket/bouyance vest. But I use my Neil Pryde bouyance vest with my waist harness as well but feels more comfy with the seat harness. My NP vest is cut away where the hook comes out of the waist harness, it's a bit of a pain with the waist harness but I feel more comfortable with it on in the bigger waves.

The expert instructors that make the training videos mostly all feel that a waist harness is best for most everything except perhaps racing, however, a lot of people just cannot wear a waist harness as it's always riding up or they end up with a sore back so IMO you are better off with a waist harness but may be forced to wear a seat harness by default.
The main problem I have with my seat harness is it makes me look like I'm wearing a nappy

Guy Cribb says the lower the hook the better so seat harness's are good for that but they will be harder to learn to hook and unhook..
I like mine because as a lightweight I feel I can use my bodyweight better to hold more sail ..However that will be a bit down the track for you so try some on and see how they feel..If you can borrow someones who is about your size and get it wet/ sail on the water that will really help decide and see if it will stay in place.

I sailed with a seat / surf seat for 20+ years. Last year switched to a waist and wonder why it took me so long.
Use it for waves, slalom, speed and the only area it does not work very well in is slogging with bigger slalom sails.
However I had to try a bunch of different harnesses and get a wider bar to get it to fit solidly around the hips rather than the waist.
I use mine with a prolimit vest which is not a perfect fit but doesn't bother me when sailing.

I also find the old fashioned, pure seat harness gives me back pain, and a pure waist rides up. I started using a dakine surfseat many years ago, these put the load on the lumber region but also have thigh straps, best of both worlds.
The surf seat is no longer made but there are good modern seat harnesses with a high hook and good back support.
I use one for both speed and wave sailing.

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mineral1 said..

Willpower, Same as FormulaNova, seat harness, in preference to a waist harness. The bloody waist things always ride up.

The old ones used to, but the waist harnesses I've used in the past 10 years are fine.

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mineral1 said..
My initial was not too as well, but late 2008/9 a windsurfer lost his life in Northern NSW or Southern Queensland when he was caught in an outgoing tide and huge rollers coming in. No vest and ran out of steam when he became separated from his gear..

I think if you're on flat water, or choppy ocean then a lifejacket would be fine, but big surf, it's probably more dangerous having one.