Top 5 Best Kiteboarding Harnesses (Dakine)
It wasn’t until the 21st century when one of our fondest water sports, kiteboarding, included a critical safety aspect – the harness. Kiteboarding used to be a developed kite, a line system, and a kiteboard. Now, there are kites, kiteboards, bar and lines, and harnesses. A harness is a kite’s silent partner in the primary trio of must-have items to kiteboard. Therefore, picking one should be made with careful consideration. This article will discuss the things you need to know about this safety aspect and the best kiteboarding harnesses. What are kiteboarding harnesses What kiteboard harness should I get Measuring your waist for the harness What Is A Kiteboarding Harness? A kiteboarding harness connects you to the kite bar, transferring the pull of the kite from your hands to your body. Often overlooked in the kiteboarding world, it is a safety essential and critical equipment in kiteboarding. The harness creates a balance zone that allows you to control, steer, and turn your kite with one hand, even in the most forceful wind conditions. It also comes in different types – the waist harness, the seat harness, and the boardshorts harness. The waist harness is the original kite harness type. Often referred to as the diaper-style harness, it provides a freer riding experience as it allows your legs to move more in the water while performing tricks and maneuvers. For most kiteboarders, they are the most comfortable to wear. If your sessions tend to be more laid back, with lots of cruising and occasional jumps, your best support and comfort come from a seat harness. This type lessens fatigue and allows you longer kiteboarding sessions. The boardshorts harness is the latest style in kiteboarding harnesses. This type integrates safety and fashion. Top 5 Best Kiteboarding Harnesses Reviewed Finding the best kiteboarding harness can be a hard decision to make. After all, it is a piece of safety equipment we are deciding on. The last thing you will want in a kiteboarding session is for your equipment to fail to leave you stranded in the ocean. There are many kiteboarding harnesses on the market today, but only a few can guarantee your safety and added fun. Here are five of the best kiteboarding harnesses to narrow down your choices: Ocean Rodeo Session Harness – Best for Beginners Ride Engine Kiteboarding Harness – Best for Comfort Dakine Pyro Multisport Harness – Best for Hybrid Riders Manera Eclipse Kite Harness – Best for Free Riding Ride Engine Elite Carbon Infrared Harness – Best for Advanced Kiteboarders 1. Ocean Rodeo Session Harness – Best for Beginners The Ocean Rodeo Session Harness is the most versatile kiteboarding harness on the list. Wear it as a waist harness or a seat harness, and you are sure to progress with your abilities. Its adjustable design and sleek exterior make it incredibly comfortable to wear as it provides you with maximum support. This kiteboarding harness is made of hard-wearing PVC material that can withstand rugged use even in a harsh saltwater environment. But, it is soft to wear with its soft lining and extra-wide Velcro band that helps keep the harness well situated around your waist. The Ocean Rodeo Session Harness is specially designed for kiteboarding with every feature you may need. It has no line snag points, and all the buckles are well-hidden. Moreover, its secure quick-entry and exit spreader bar buckle further makes riding better. 2. Ride Engine Kiteboarding Harness – Best for Comfort The Ride Engine Kiteboarding Harness is built to resist slipping and sliding. This harness uses an Armor Shell and Elite Carbon base to keep it from moving around while you do your kiteboarding stunts. Its memory foam molding conforms to your waist’s shape to ensure it stays in its place. The Elite Carbon and memory foam add to what makes this kiteboarding harness perfect for torsional flex while giving you comfort as you move. In addition, the foam keeps you cozy and snug since it prevents the edges of the harness from coming too close to your skin. This kiteboarding harness features a minimalistic design that lessens bulk and weight. One feature most users love is its Lumbar Lock which keeps the harness from twisting out of place. With its low profile, any rider can wear this for more extended periods. 3. Dakine Pyro Multisport Harness – Best for Hybrid Riders Tall kiteboarders who prefer hybrid harnesses will love the Dakine Pyro Multisport Harness. This is the most extensive harness among the five reviewed in this article. Aside from tall kiteboarders who will benefit from how big this is, it is also best for beginners looking for a step up from seat style harness. Its shell is a reinforced honeycomb shell. The inner side of it uses an adaptive fit composite with Texon backplate support. It can feel stiff in the middle, but that’s usually how hybrid harnesses are. It makes up of side panels that flex and soft wrap on your sides. Inside this harness is a featherweight ES memory foam thermo-molded and wrapped in neoprene. Dakine incorporated convenience by adding two side key/knife pockets with elastic loops for storing essential small items. 4. Manera Eclipse Kite Harness – Best for Free Riding The Eclipse Kite Harness is Manera’s version of a semi-rigid “hard-shell” harness. It is all about comfortable support for the back via a lower fit. This design aims to have a balance between flex and stiffness. This mid-price range harness doesn’t come short quality-wise. The stiffness keeps the harness from folding and compressing the body while maintaining the lumbar support, too. Its gel foam adds comfort by evenly dispersing pressure during long kiteboarding sessions. The Eclipse features a down old and tucks flap system to keep the harness from riding up during a ride. It uses an asymmetrical attachment design to bring the forces down and keep you balanced. The tuck flaps help by making sure all the straps are kept out of the way. 5. Ride Engine … Read more