SEAT HARNESS BUYERS GUIDE 2015
CHANGE OF HOOK
SEAT HARNESS BUYERS GUIDE 2015
Are you sitting comfortably ?, then let us begin our buyer’s guide to the top harnesses to put on your bottom! Firstly though, eyes firmly on the page for a lesson from our professional windsurfer in residence, the indomitable Peter Hart on just why it may be time for a change of hook.
I don’t have the figures to hand but I’m suspecting the ratio of seat to waist harnesses sold is currently 90% in favour of the latter. There are good reasons to wear a waist harness but amongst them is not the fact that everyone else seems to be.
Length of shorts, colour of rashie – yes these are things that can be influenced by fashion but the fundamental ability to harness and distribute power as efficiently and comfortably as possible, is not.
On clinics I have changed more lives by persuading people from waists to seats than the other way round.
If you’re pondering the choice, these are the criteria that might push you towards extra bottom support.
Comfort
If despite your every effort to stand up and direct the power into your lower back, the waist harness still rides up, then you have no choice but to buy a seat. There’s a hint in the title – so if you haven’t got a waist and the harness can’t tuck under your ribcage, it’s not going to work.
But it’s not just a chubber issue. I was teaching a girl last week, who was skinny as a rake – but she had an unusually high waist which left the hook at around throat height. As a result she couldn’t commit her whole bodyweight to the harness and transmit enough power into the board to release it.
Moving to a seat, the transformation was so immediate that it brought a tear to the eye. Asked why she’d gone for a waist harness she said she wanted to go into waves – and was told that everyone wears a waist harness in the waves.
What are you going to do?
Indeed most wave sailors and freestylers use a waist harness for the extra freedom of movement around the groin. The higher hook also suits hooked in moves.
But if you think about waves and freestyle, it’s not about locking down huge amounts of power for long reaches – it’s about getting planing and then doing something – usually hooked out.
There are some slalom sailors using waist harnesses these days but across the classes, including the Olympians, the vast majority favour a seat because it simply offers more support. The hook lines up with your centre of gravity. You can make better use of your weight and lock down the power. Whenever I go out testing sails over 7.0, I slip on a seat harness.
So if your sailing is more about about speed than manoeuvres, seriously think about it. It may be an ‘as well as …’ not an ‘either or …’ question.
Buying tips
Things to consider as you sample a seat.
Sliding hook?
This is a style preference thing. Personally I like the hook to slide a little within the webbing so that as I crank the hips forward to go upwind, the hook slides back a little. Equally I know those who like it to be fixed.
Hook height.
The hook on seats used to be very low – as low as winkle in some examples, which took some getting used to and made catapults very severe. On my own seat harnesss, the seat hook is only a couple inches lower than the waist harness – just below belly button, so I don’t really have to change my style much.
So check the hook height – on some it’s adjustable.
Technique
This is the subject for another time – but the top tip is just because it’s got ‘seat’ written on it, don’t sit down … well at least don’t squat and get defensive.
As you hook into a seat you immediately engage more bodyweight and power through the legs. You wont go faster by sitting down more. Yes, drop the hips but try and stay tall and go with the flow – and there’ll be plenty more of that!
Flying Objects Transit
Flying Objects say the Transit was developed “through a need for practicality and functionality, a dual function harness that combines a waist with a seat”. This concept provides both the high back support and hook height of a waist harness but with the secure fit and feel of a seat. Features include an independent tension belt, seat attachment, neo leg straps, quick release hook and a bar hold-down strap. Construction is a 3-D Thermo-formed Outer Skin with Full Neo Inner Skin and there’s even a nifty Key Pocket!
RRP £129.99
ION Peak
The ION design team are known for innovation and with the Peak harness have took the best of both worlds and combined the comfort of a seat harness with the performance of a waist harness! Other highlights include Quick_Fit 2.0, the new lever buckle system which allows superfast and effort-saving tightening of the harness; Cross_Link, an internal load spreading system; Wrap_Tec, the harness is not flat, it wraps itself around your hips ! and the 3D shaped seat part, improving comfort and support. The Peak is the perfect option for all speed addicts and intermediate free riders.
RRP £139.95
Naish Balance
The Balance is an ergonomically shaped seat harness that combines lower back and hip support, with the freedom to move. The strategic synch strap placement puts the hook in a low position to allow the body full range of motion, while supporting the lower back and waist Other features include contoured side shape, neoprene buckle covers, soft fabrics, soft round edge, dual tension belt, split side load-spreading patches, 3D-fit technology and a click-in, integrated spreader bar.
RRP £119.00
NP Surf Gravity
NP bring to market a Convertible Harness System . The laminated EVA inner of the Gravity Seat multi-sport harness is split into three segments to provide dynamic support while the pre-bent shape allows for the harness to completely wrap around the hip and seat area. Click in leg straps are uniquely angled for exceptional fit and freedom of movement. Other features include Anti-chafe seams, Adjustable back support, Replaceable straps and Tie-down system.
The NP Surf S1 Windsurf Spreader Bar features a Straight and narrow hook with three attachment points for maximum stability.
RRP Gravity Seat Harness Body: £99.90 S1 Windsurf Spreader Bar: £47.90
www.npsurf.com
Pat Love Master
A Freeride and Slalom seat harness with adjustable back support and anatomical shape. Featuring a quick release spreader bar system and lumbar support with Neoprene padded leg straps for extra comfort. In addition, neoprene padding on all edges of the harness. Other highlights include: Ergonomic fit, rear handle, extreme comfort and a new innovative and patented SPQR Spreader bar system with bar pad.
RRP £89.00
www.zerogravitydistribution.co.uk
Point-7 Slalom
‘Full contact windsurfing’ is how P7’s PWA riders describe the performance of their seat harnesses. Designed using a minimal structure with no padding to keep the direct feeling from the entire rig but still giving the comfort needed to achieve great average and top end speeds with full control. In addition their Slalom seat harness can be adjusted to the millimetre ensuring the optimal fit, comfort and output from the sail.
RRP £85.00
www.zerogravitydistribution.co.uk
Prolimit Rambler
The Rambler is a Freerace/racing harness. It has a medium high profile for support and allows maximum sail power to be carried at all times. The double buckles combined with the high profile allow a big adjustment of where the power from the sail can be directed into the harness body.
Other features include true 3D seat shaping, an elastic slalom belt, cruising optimized outline profile, an MPL Quad belt attachment, patented pin Release bar System and neoprene cushioned legstraps.
RRP £95.00
RRD WR
The legendary Italian brand have drawn on the experience of their World Cup winning PWA World Tour Slalom team in the design of their latest WR seat harness. Using the best materials and technology process available today to construct it, detailed features include, spreader downhaul to adjust hook height, very good load distribution to seat area, neoprene legstraps, spreader protector and neoprene edges. Available in sizes: XS-S-M-L
RRP £114.00