Having returned to windsurfing after a very long absence I was sold a seat harness rather than a waist harness. In hindsight I should have asked more questions at the time of purchase. I rarely see anyone else wearing a seat harness.
Can anyone explain to me the pros and cons of each? If I were to compare a seat with waist how would this affect my technique / performance? (mostly flatwater sailing in 12 to 15 knots or so.)
Ta
Seat for speed, waist for waves.
No real difference in comfort, for what you're doing either would be fine.
Sounds like ideal sailing conditions for a seat harness. If you want a comfortable stance, and an efficient transfer of power on flat water, especially with bigger sails, then seat would be my pick. Waist harnesses are good if you're hooking in and out a lot and don't need to optimise the power from the sail so much.
Flat water blasting, racing, and sails over 6m then a seat harness.
Waves, freestyle, jumping etc with smaller sails, and not really any sustained straight line really powered up stuff then a waist harness is the way to go.
Waist is easier to hook in and out, but seat is easier to get the power down.
The technique is quite different between the two - seat allows you to sit your weight down and lock into a powerful stance, while waist makes for a more upright stance with a less direct power transfer - perfect if you're utilising the power of a wave, and need to be more over the board to maneouvre.
The only other factor I can think of is that seat harnesses are un-cool because they emphasise certain parts of the anatomy while waist harnesses also serve as a 'girdle' and help to keep the rolls in the bakery..
Don't rule out waist for any style of sailing.
I've been running the waist for formula, slalom, speed and waves for years now and love it. I first got put on to the waist for racing through Hedgie who raced at the highest level on one. He use to say the biggest advantage for guys less than Bjorns size was the extra control and ability to react to gusts when they hit.
I try a seat each season but always go back to the waist. Just grabbed a new seat to give it a try again but time will tell if I stick with it.
If you want to try out a waist just get in touch and I can loan you one as it looks like you're in Sydney. If you decide you want to go with a waist just let us know and we can definitely figure out a change over for you.
I started out windsurfing with a seat harness and used that for years. One day I thought, stuff it I'll try out a waist. At first I though, wow, this is crapola but after a session of getting used to it I've never turned back. Way more control, far easier to hook in/out and you can move far easier which as I mostly sail waves now is key.
When I got my big combo for light days (8.5/hyper) I thought i'd try out the seat harness again. sailed off the beach for about 100m, turned around and got my waist harness, it's just so much easier and you have SO much more control. With the seat you are really on your toes getting pulled up with each gust, far easier to catapult in a seat harness imo.
horses for courses but given how good todays waist harnesses are I wouldn't touch a seat harness again :)
I currently use a seat harness as its the only one I have. My favourite harness was a Da Kine chest harness. It was sweet. However along the way I lost it.
i've been using seat ever since i started and noticed as i added years my lower back started to act up and numbingly at times very irritating even with stretches and stomach exercises, i just looked the other way till i got a hold of a waist harness...and wow! what a comfy one
and sailing stance and use is still the same...i guess what everyone is saying there is a use for a specific harness but in my case it was a "brace for my back" and the mates i sail with all have changed to same and noticed the difference too-our opinion
I went from chest in the '80s, waist in the '90s and am now using a seat harness and love it. Although I don't wavesail anymore - cant afford another big wipeout
Many thanks for all your comments. And thanks to Sam at WSS for the loan offer - I might borrow a waist harness at some stage for comparative purposes.
I also asked Guy Cribb what he thought - clearly there's no one answer and like harness line length - it's about personal preference - but this was his advice:
"Seat is good for big rigs over 7m ish and for girls, waist is better in windier conditions. Main thing with waist harness is to always keep it pushed down low- very important, really low! Cheers, Guy"
If you enjoy having your balls squeezed and presented to the world go the seat harness, sseeing someone wearing a seat harness is like watching a guy surf in nut-huggers, simply not a good look, just for this reason alone I would never wear one 
so Im 100% waist harness kinda guy.
But, the average windsurfer is a daggy crew, so let the nuts and knob loose on the world if thats your thing!
so Im 100% waist harness kinda guy.
Changed from seat to waist in last six months - very strange for a while but wouldn't go back for all the sails from china.
Gets you more upright - higher boom and leg freedom without squashed plums!
Also holds my beer gut in!
Go the waist!
I have been using a seat for everything from waves to speed for over 20 years,so now it's like I could not change if I wanted to.
I have seen a few mates go down with back injuries in this period,a few with those old over the shoulder harnesses(they were killers) and a few with waist harnesses.
When I look at a waist harness the lower spine seems to be taking the load,where as a good speed seat supports you under the butt cheeks.
The hard part is getting a seat that isn't half supporting you on the back.
Cause if ya back wears out ya wont be doin much more windsurfin
oh 555 you poor old bugger, you have to go and make it personal, tsk tsk, its just my opinion champ, I did think that was the threads point, to ask our opinions?? mmm??
When I started using formula gear I tried waist for the first time, big improvement as it stopped being pulled onto toes and also let me run boom a bit higher to assist in earlier planing. For going fast definately stick with seat harness but with big sails, wave gear or slalom racing in big swell i use waist.
A few sailors here must have poor fitting seat harnesses or be very self conscious.
as dave white said in one of the peter hart dvds if you havent got a waist you havent got a choice
