Hey everyone,
I am going to get a new harness and I would like to hear from others what they think.
I am mostly doing wave sailing now (I am in the waves, not really catching them properly).
I have previously only used fixed harnesses but I hear that slider harnesses are the go-to to get higher upwind so I can play in the waves for longer.
The conditions that I sail in are mainly cross with waves anywhere from small to 3m'ish. I am 90kg and usually ride a 105 and a 95. The 105, I normally can get back to the launch point but it's a bit of a concern always trying to poke upwind. I would like to kick that phobia and not even have it as a thought. The 95L I am normally taking a walk.
After about an hour of sailing, I can sometimes get lower back pains (not bad just annoying) on the port tack (coming into the beach).
Please note though I am currently sailing with a harness that is a wee bit small.

I suppose the question would be what kind of harness are you using? Have you tried both types and which do you prefer?

Previously I used seat harnesses but I really prefer waist harnesses for control. I am sure that I have talked about this in a previous thread but now I got the cash and I'm looking to buy it this coming week.

I was thinking of getting the Dakine T-9 slider, which is on sale at the moment or a Prolimit Teamwave fixed. The local shop stocks Prolimit but does not have XL and I would have to order it. The Dakine would come from the states and it would be a $240USD'ish round trip if it was not what I was after.

Thank you very one for your input.

I like mystic harnesses, good hook release connection but is fixed hook. Expensive but good cushioning and support. Make sure your new harness is large enough or it will squeeze your hips, and a wide spreader bar. Kite hook's don't work for windsurfing, despite some stores will try to sell you a kite hook because that's all they have.

Might be cheaper to keep your current waist harness and get a wider spreader bar. Both Ion and Mystic sell them in different sizes.

I use a Prolimit Team wave and also had a Dakine T-9. To each his own, but I like the Prolimit better and has a quick release system which is nice in waves.

I don't think the sliding bar improved my upwind angle

The slider is a nice feature but does lose drive through elasticity. Fixed is more direct and so long as the harness can rotate to the side enough then it's the same thing. It is difficult over wetsuit, a rash guard can make it slide more.

It does also seem that one can go with longer lines on a fixed bar because of the tighter hold.

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flyingmujol said..
I use a Prolimit Team wave and also had a Dakine T-9. To each his own, but I like the Prolimit better and has a quick release system which is nice in waves.

I don't think the sliding bar improved my upwind angle

Was the Prolimit more comfortable?

Yes, it was.

Also I got used to the fixed bar from the first session.

Well i guess i stand alone here but for me there is only a sliding hook....
I hate a fixed hook and for most of my windsurfing live (a 40 years) i use a sliding hook.
I always used to have a da kine harness but about ten years ago i modified my Gaastra harness to a sliding hook and love it.
Must agree that you seems to point higher with a sliding hook... well, its easier...
You seem to have more freedom with a sliding hook

Well, as Manuel7 stated fixed vs sliding has its pros and cons and it's a matter of taste. I have no problem using either fixed or sliding.

I have used a Dakine Harness with sliding hook and always replaced the worn out version with the latest iteration . Recently it was time to replace the harness and I ended up buying a Ride Engine Elite that comes with a fixed hook. After 10 minutes on the water I was used to not having a sliding hook. The most important, in my opinion, is to buy the harness that fits the best. The hook, sliding or not, you will get used to.

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santi4 said..

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I actually ordered the pyro based on that video.
I decided against the T-9 slider because I was really not sure if I was going to enjoy the sliding part plus I really did not like the way that it is put on and then tightened, it just seemed like a lot of farting around to get a harness on. Saying that it did look like it would stay tight once set up.
I could not get a team wave in Japan and had to cancel that idea.
From time to time I do get out the slalom gear and do want a fixed harness. So I started looking at Dakine fixed harnesses that had a quick way of getting on and off. I also would like to try kite surfing one day.
Saw Graham's video a while back and my initial thought was that, with my stance, I would be wearing it as a bra. Also a few months ago one of the members of Graham's Facebook page broke a bone on his hip b/c he was wearing a loose harness.
But then I thought it would be worth a shot and ordered it a few weeks ago. Got all excited waiting for the package to arrive, came on Friday, and it was only the spreader bar. So now I am waiting on Dakine to send me the harness.
I am hoping to report back good things about it. But I will let you all know.
Also, I think I have finally cracked this keeping upwind problem. I just needed a bit more speed to get the flow over the fins and then I could point higher without any issues. Coming from slalom and freeride I had a nice big fin that I could put more pressure on at lower speeds but wave/Freewave boards really are just a little bit more sensitive.
Thanks to everyone for your input.

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santi4 said..

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Omg, this is a game changer for me! Thanks for posting

I'm blown away by that looseness.
As a portly gentleman a waste harness is a nightmare as it doesn't stay put. So I use a wave seat - same look position but a nappy attached.
I wonder how on earth that amount of riding up could be tolerated by anyone...?

G Ezzy probably spends more time off harness lines than in. Guess by being loose as soon as he's off lines the harness drops down. It must still ride up over a long tack pulling from the hip.

I have an old Da Kine slider and it really annoyed me when I hung some weight in the lines which I do whenever the wind drops and I try to keep planing. It crushed my ribs so I rigged up a strap to hold it down. It still slides but not as much and it's OK.
If I was going to replace it I'd probably prefer a fixed bar.

I still get a sore lower back after a few days sailing. I don't know why, but it's only a problem after six days or so and that hardly ever happens.

Used the loose kite harness hack yesterday ,I was skeptical but works.
Always used a sliding hook in past as it feels more free , but this feels better as you can twist your body more and has much more back support .Did not ride up any more so than my normal dakine slider but drops straight back down as soon as you unhook to gybe.
Will keep testing but so far all positve.