The Harness Conversation

This simple kiteboarding accessory is always a topic of conversation, and mostly for women. Why? First of all, it's the one piece of equipment in kiteboarding that absolutely can and must be designed specifically for us. We can ride any kite, bar, and board that the manufacturers produce for the male masses of kiteboarders, but the harness -- that one piece of equipment that hugs our middle section, wrapping curves and hips and protruding boob -- the harness has much more to deal with on a woman.

Don't get me wrong; A woman can strap on a men's harness and it will (with hesitancy) work. "Work" in the sense that you can wear it, and it will hold your bar/kite while you are hooked in. However, there is no guarantee that it will keep from riding up to the chest, hold a contouring and snug fit, and overall just be comfortable while you are riding. That is where a women's-specific harness comes in. We receive more questions on harnesses than on any other kiteboarding-related topic, so we have dedicated a section just for the harness topic!! Have a question? Send it! Or, maybe we have already answered it below. Check out our...

Harness Q & A

What are the differences between a seat and a waist harness?
Waist Harness: A waist harness sits at the waist, above the hips, and is secured by straps contained in the harness.

Advantages:

Provides extra mobility for intermediate and advanced maneuvers, walking, swimming.
Higher center of gravity promotes rider to have more efficient board control and edging.
Higher center of gravity promotes more efficient form.
Easy to take on and off.

Disadvantages:

Beginners may have lower back discomfort if they are not learning proper form.

Seat Harness: A seat harness wraps around the seat at the hips, and is secured with straps that wrap around the upper thighs.

Advantages:

Lower tow point allows for easier water starts
Can provide better support for riders with lower back issues

Disadvantages:

Can get hot, bulky, and comfortable (commonly referred to as "a diaper")
More expensive
Thigh straps can be uncomfortable if set too loose or too tight
Takes longer to take on and off
Limits range of movement when attempting intermediate and advanced level manuevers

Which kind of harness should I get: waist or seat?
The most frequently asked harness question. We recommend trying out both types of harnesses both while you are learning to kiteboard and again when you are up and riding comfortably. The reason we recommend trying the two types of harnesses out at separate points in your learning is the same reason you want to get a new bike after learning on training wheels. You may find that one harness performs much better for you for where you are at in your kiteboarding.

Which kind of harness should I get: waist or seat? Part 2.
It just couldn't be that easy, could it. That's why you're reading part 2 of the above question. The type of harness you may prefer will depend a lot on how you learned to kiteboard. To elaborate, students of instructors/schools who teach to "keep your kite at 12 o'clock" will most often prefer seat harnesses because they can "sit" down while the kite pulls them up vertically, but without pulling the harness up with it. Additionally, most male instructors incorrectly assume that all women want a seat harness and immediately direct women to buy one. DO NOT fall into this! If you are in a lesson, tell your instructor that you would like to try both a seat and a waist harness before buying.

Why, then, do instructors recommend seat harnesses?
Instructors commonly hear one of the most common concerns of women students in regards to the harness: "It rides up, jamming my chest." The instant reaction to this problem would be to put someone in a seat harness. However, women's harnesses have come a long way in recent years -- designs are now shaped and molded to a women's curves, with strategically-placed cinch straps, lumbar support in the curve of the back, and a shorter overall height for our shorter torsos. The "riding up" that used to happen with unisex, and even some women's harnesses is no longer an issue.

Is it true that seat harnesses are better for those with lower back issues?
This depends. We have seen many new kiteboarders learn to kite with incorrect form, where they hunch over, riding with their backs arched forward rather than straight. This form of riding often comes from learning to kiteboard in a seat harness, where the seat harness promotes a "squatting" form. This form of riding can actually affect lower back issues. If you are learning to kiteboard in a seat harness, make sure that you focus on leaning back and edging your board rather than "squatting" forward. If you are just starting to learn to kiteboard and you don't have any lower back issues, try a waist harness. Not only will it help promote good form, but you will actually find increased lower back strength if you ride with proper form. If you already have lower back issues, try a seat harness and see if that relieves some of the pressure off of the lower back.

Do you have other questions or comments regarding a kite harness? Feel free to email us or discuss on our Facebook group, "The Women of Kiteboarding."