If it actually "spins around" easily then this could be the harness that preserves your board. Getting the hook out of the way when mounting the board is a big deal!
Select to expand quotedejavu said..
If it actually "spins around" easily then this could be the harness that preserves your board. Getting the hook out of the way when mounting the board is a big deal!
I agree, definitely need some innovation here. I was thinking of plasti dipping my harness hook to try and help my board out from the abuse but not sure how well that would work. Even if the hook was made out of some hard plastic material that had some give. We don't really need a metal hook with the wing.
I fitted my hook to a belt that I fastened around my waist so I could just slide the hook to my side when mounting the board. It worked well for awhile until the belt eventually dropped down below my waist, which was a big problem. If there's a harness that allows the harness or hook to slide to the side without drawbacks then I'm in.
For the time being I've slide some fairly thick plastic tubing over the hook and secured it with some strong line. Here's hoping it works.
Just a thought, maybe a simple rope style harness with a small hook attached to the rope coming down from the wing strut?
Select to expand quotePat WA 1965 said..
Just a thought, maybe a simple rope style harness with a small hook attached to the rope coming down from the wing strut?
That would never hit you in the face when pumping up onto the foil 
A few guys have tried them here and they are more hassle than they are worth, they all damaged their boards and missed time on the water. Especially a PITA for in and out surf riding. Only use I would see would be long upwind hauls. But damage to the board would still rule it out for me.
Put the hook on the wing lines and just have a loop in the harness...could work?
Select to expand quotebolocom said..
Put the hook on the wing lines and just have a loop in the harness...could work?
If you do not mind it smacking you in the face
Fair comment, could also damage the wing canopy if you were unlucky with it bouncing around. Only way I can see round that would be to make the hook small and work out a way to fix it to a handle when not in use
I've been trying to think if there was a way to combine the wing leash into the harness line somehow, maybe having it on a long loop which could be shortened for going upwind then lengthened for flagging?
I'm 90% sure a 3D printed (carbon nylon?) hook could be figured out. A smaller padded belt like the ozone would let you spin it if you even needed to once it wasn't metal. I'll bet there's a weight lifting belt that would suffice. It's 2021, this is solvable.
Edit there are $20-$30 3"-5" Velcro weight belts all over. Who's good enough with Fusion360 to get us a printable prototype or two. Don't make it like the metal ones. Design for the material. I can see at least two in my head now.
No excuse for wing boards getting harness hook dings. It's as simple as putting some Innegra in the rail. Manufacturers need to respond to the user needs.
Had anyone tried the ozone harness?
Premium price for a non soft hook and no board leash attachment....
I ordered a bunch of stuff from Mackiteboarding, and the NSI harness was not in the package. When I called to report the missing item, on a whim, I upgraded to the Ozone because of the NSI plastic buckle.
I rarely bump the board with the metal hook, but there are times I do. Usually, at the end of the session when I am getting tired so far bumps have made no damage to my 95L Naish Hover. I do find it frustrating there is not leach attachment. I can hook the leash to the side hip buckle. I last tried strapping the leash to the back of the harness, but this caused the harness to be more challenging to swing to the side. Sometimes I use a waist belt (with a plastic hook) for the board leash. I think I am going to go with the side hip buckle. I am still figuring it out.
I like how easy it is to slide the Ozone harness around the waist, and the harness does provide support. With just a belt and the NSI hook under 18 Knots, one can get by, but more back-support is beneficial with stronger winds. Over 30 Knots necessary, at least for my back. It is easy to hook into the Ozone Harness. In the end, I am going to make the Ozone harness work, but I do think the NSI would have provided the same back support and had a waist leash attachment. I don't know if hooking in would be easier or not.
Select to expand quoteemmafoils said..
Solutions to a nonproblem. Build up your arms or go back to windsurfing
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Agreed, I am not young, fit or strong and still manage to go out for several hour sessions without issues. Not sure how long or far you have to ride to need a harness?
One of the things I love about this sport is it ditched lots of the unnecessary complications of kite and windsurfing.
Let's keep things simple... Better more efficient wings is the way forward, I can ride so much longer since moving to PPC Wings.
Select to expand quoteDWF said..
No excuse for wing boards getting harness hook dings. It's as simple as putting some Innegra in the rail. Manufacturers need to respond to the user needs.
Even with Innegra the paint chips and the outer layer of resin cracks. I don't want either of those things. I've just finished refurbishing an Innegra kite foil board because of all the minor dings and cracks around the edges and under the heel areas.Select to expand quoteemmafoils said..
Solutions to a nonproblem. Build up your arms or go back to windsurfing.
There's two reasons to use a harness. One is because you get tired arms. That's mostly a technique issue. Bear off very slightly, stand a little more upright, go with the flow. The load on your hands and arms will decrease considerably.
It's possible the design of the wing is contributing. I have a wing from a different company to my others. My main wings have massive top end and are very comfortable in any powered conditions. This one wing is quite twitchy and feels more loaded on the hands even though the low end power is not particularly great. It can be feathered but still feels a bit loaded and unruly.
The other reason to use a harness is to improve upwind performance by bringing the wing close to the centre line of the board. Upwind speed and angle is greatly increased. It can be awkward holding the wing close to your chest with bent arms.
The hook needs to not damage your board no matter what you do. Pushing it aside is not a solution. It's absolutely certain you're going either forget when you're climbing on, or going to fall awkwardly.
Select to expand quoteemmafoils said..
Solutions to a nonproblem. Build up your arms or go back to windsurfing.
Sounds cool but...
I am 49,ex windsurfer, with some shoulder problems after quite a few years of surfing and three shoulder dislocations (snowboarding,skiing and skateboarding).
I like to do Upwind/Downwind sessions,this means very long tacks upwind in 15 to +25kt with acompanying sea state.In 4/3 wetsuit minimum water temps.And some distance from shore,obviously.
Doing this Tarzan style is possible...but why not save the energy and upper body wear&tear for the downwind fun bit?.
Just from a safety point of view i see it as a must.
A plastic NSI style hook&belt weigh nothing, i just gave an sceptic friend my v1 DIY hook&belt and he is raving about it after 1 session.
Says he will never wing again without :)
I have the NSI harness too and I also bought some large plastic tubing and stretched it over my old metal harness hook and cut off what I didn't need. I then scotch taped the bottom part to seal it and then filled the tube part with shoe goo and let it harden (still relatively soft and impact absorbent). Basically, I plasticized my hook -- it works!
simplest one Ive seen, Forward Wip Wind Wing belt, bit exy for a belt with a plastic hook!
my legs get more tired than my arms. That being said I will reserve judgement until I have tried a harness hook of some kind.
Last year I thought harness were completely unnecessary but then after close to 100 session I did start to get tendonitis in my left elbow. I wished I started using a harness sooner. You can relax your back muscles. Often use just one hand; I partly think this is because I have the ozone wasp v2 4m and 5m wings - very well behaved wings when in the harness, but using only one hand is fun. Basically you can be more relaxed, enjoy the ride at times when you're using a harness.
The ozone harness does have a little metal loop. I now have started using quick release attached to NSI freedom bungee leash for the board. I also first took rubber from a bicycle tire than used electric tape over the hook. Just to protect the board on the rare occasion that I bump the board or forget to move the harness to side.
