Carbon shell harnesses

After 4 years of sterling service, my beautiful harness has shuffled off the mortal coil. It was (can't believe I'm using the past tense - it's lying there looking like everything's OK, until you turn it over and see the bottom bar strap has torn off) a so-called X-over harness - IOTW, a kite harness with a normal hook. Much heavier than a typical WS harness. Very good back support. Very comfortable. Probably too comfortable (who needs to gybe?). The downside of all that memory foam padding is that it would take up water, making it heavier still and a bit of a pain when traveling.

So I'm now looking for a new harness. Seems like most harness innovation is in kitesurfing. There are new kite (and WS with a bar change) harnesses with carbon shell backs, which claim to offer the best of both worlds - light and maneuverable, yet comfortable like my old memory foam harness.

Anyone has any experience with them? I'm planning a long WS trip later this year, and having to use a dud harness for a month would be almost as bad as getting skunked.

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forceten said..
Da Kine T7 and 8, Ion, Mystic, Ride Engine, NP were the 2018 17, versions I tried on and tested in store. I think the carbon is a way to increase price , and not necessary. Using a space age "plastic" is a good.

They all claim to form to body shape . The significant design feature was the attachment to the bar, with a couple variations, and at least one using a non metal bar, again space age material.

so, I replaced a 2 YO ION, with a Mystic Legend, this will interest you as it is made with material that doesn't absorb water , it felt the best . Small . 2 color versions red and blue.
In my travels I found a 2016 Da Kine C1, NEW, which is a 3 piece hard shell, kite, it was such a bargain , I went for it as well, I removed the rear line and other kite kit, except the knife, never know. The shell is not carbon., some fancy name Replaced bar with windsurf version, clasp to bar not overly friendly but acceptable. I find that this wants to be tighter to not slide up. Size same as Mystic , maybe slightly smaller, weight on these 2 very close, Mystic will win out without water.

Ride Engine, now with Slingshot, 2018 version , improved over previous, nice unit but didnt feel as good as Mystic, also rather tall. They offer a windsurf bar . Bar sold separately and pricy unit .

The one piece hard backs are different in feel.

I was in a place that has quite a few shops , windsurf and kite to try. FWIW the T7 /8 did not appeal at all.
The ION was MY 2nd one, happy with both, last started to fray at the edges, performance unaffected . New ION composite CS was a close 2nd over the Mystic Legend, Mystic also have a hard shell version , close 3rd, maybe 2nd as it has a lower back. Did not consider carbon, too $$ and my view not needed.

I have doubts that back protection , is better on 1 version over another, I mean inner back Skelton or ligament/muscles .
One size or version doesn't not suit all, best is try on , otherwise you are rolling the dice, in that case get a upgraded version of what you are replacing .

Tried a bunch of harnesses today. My old harness is a Mystic Majestic - an arm chair around your back. It's actually not that heavy when dry. But it just sucks up water and then becomes really heavy.

I tried the Mystic Legend. Not sure I'm convinced. It doesn't absorb water, but doesn't feel soft either. The Mystic Majestic X has a carbon back and a newer version of the quick release bar, which is great. The Ride Engine was not bad either. Although this one did not have a carbon back, but some kind of hard plastic. It does not come with a bar, but I can re-use my quick-release Mystic bar, which I like more anyway (I don't like clasp bars. IMO, all bars should be quick release). The NP Atom is also a hard back and also felt pretty good. It doesn't come with a default bar either - you pick a KS or a WS bar.

There was also a WS-specific Mystic Legend. I think it was an older model, because it's not on their website. It only had one strap per side and no kite line thing at the back. I don't get the point. Having 2 straps is better because it keeps the bar from riding up. (And this seems to be the general trend now - harnesses with 2 straps per side sold without the bar and you can then use whatever bar you want.) I then realised that I can probably keep using my current harness for a little while because only the bottom strap on one side failed. The top strap is as wide as on a classic single-strap WS harness. But I guess this sudden failure means that the harness is on its way out, even as it looks basically new.

TBH, all the hard shells felt similar and quite good. But hanging off the harness lines in the shop is not the same as using the harness. I'm not sure if I would like such a stiff back plate on the water. Also I don't know if a high hard backplate is better or worse than a low one. I'm used to having quite a high back, but that's with a normal harness. I am almost tempted to buy another Mystic Majestic. Yeah, it's heavy, but I know it works. It's way more supportive than old school WS harnesses (I would not bother with one), but has a little bit of give - the hard shell harnesses don't seem to have any. A couple of months ago I was rewarded with a "fancy" chair at work and it was killing my back. So I swapped it for my old chair after a few weeks. I don't want a repeat with a harness.