Hi I'm looking to start using a harness and harness line on my slicks and unit. To enable longer sessions.
What do people reckon suits best the pvc tube windsurfing type or the bungy cord type ones.
What brands models do people suggest.
Thanks for any input advice.
My current favourite line is the Severne QUICK-FIX HARNESS LINES 28":
www.severnesails.com/hardware/harness-lines/
I currently use on Unit Dlab 3.5m and Flux 3m. I think a rigid line is the way to go. Much easier to get in and out of. You do need to watch your face when pumping up onto foil but will adjust to this quick. You can hook in and out lighting fast. You can attach the Quick-Fix version without removing the handles.
Bungee was invented to avoid getting smacked in the face pumping and hit in the head tacking. Prefer the bungee myself. Have tried both.
I use kite flag out line bungee dyneema with a bit of rope at one end with knots to adjust length.
?10 each, no weight and is out of the way when unhooked.
Mike
attached a crossover of (superlight) Ozone bungee lines with stabilising Prolimit adj line basis I finally ended up with. It supports easy hook in and out at half the way sheeting in without the disadvantage of hitting your face whilest pumping or unintended hook ins/outs. One season approved.
Tried both, went with pvc.
Things I liked about PVC:
- as a life-long windsurfer with 20+ years in waves: I learned a long time ago how to use my thumbs to manage hooking in and out and, most importantly, making sure I don't accidentally hook in at the wrong moment (lol). This same technique works perfectly to keep lines out of your face winging.
- I find it much easier to get in and out of PVC
Things I didn't like about bungy:
- especially with big wings... putting tips in the water when trying to hook in
- not having control over the line with above mentioned thumb technique meant I was actually getting hit in the face more with the bungies (spell check keeps trying to change this to bunny).
In the end, I think it comes down to whatever you get used to. Try both and see what works for you. It's a small investment.
it does also matter which type of wing leash you're using and how it may interact with your harness line ! I disliked coil first, went bungee, mounted everywhere possible 
and ended up back coil/wrist again. You will find yourself a solution. Practise overrules all theoretical options.
Select to expand quoteDWF said..
Bungee was invented to avoid getting smacked in the face pumping and hit in the head tacking. Prefer the bungee myself. Have tried both.
I like the Dakine wing foil harness lines. They are covered with PVC but not quite as thick as windsurf lines.
I hook the harness line against the strut with the thumb on my back hand when pumping onto the foil to avoid getting smacked in the face
I made my own harness lines out of some old velcro windsurf boom attachments, spliced dyneema line and urethane tube.
When underpowered it can be annoying to have the urethane of the leash and harness lines bouncing off knuckles and in your face and whatever. It's easy to hook the offending part with a thumb and get it out of the way while getting up.
With the harness line the urethane hangs down nicely allowing hooking in and out with very little effort. In the worst case a finger on the end of the line can tilt it and steady it to make for easy hooking in.
A couple of minor irrelevancies. It's urethane tube, not PVC. PVC is weak and does wear out in a few sessions. Urethane lasts for ever. It's cheap enough and easy to buy on ebay.
I keep checking my coiled urethane wing leash expecting the urethane to show signs of damage or age. Last night I found the plastic moulding at the end with the swivel had cracked right around the grub screws. Time to make a new wing leash.
I use 8mm marine shock cord, doesn't whack you in the face like windsurf style lines
Select to expand quotefoilthegreats said..
My current favourite line is the Severne QUICK-FIX HARNESS LINES 28":
www.severnesails.com/hardware/harness-lines/
I currently use on Unit Dlab 3.5m and Flux 3m. I think a rigid line is the way to go. Much easier to get in and out of. You do need to watch your face when pumping up onto foil but will adjust to this quick. You can hook in and out lighting fast. You can attach the Quick-Fix version without removing the handles.
X2 for Saverne they are really nice easy off and on and strong!As another previously said here just hold back line with thumb or whatever finger works for or hand side for that matter to steady em out on pump up and hook in when like bombs away great harness lines IMO,I use NSI harness and hook fits spot on
I really like these on a wing with a boom or Duotone Ventis. You can use either thumb to flip it out of the way if needed. Also it is impossible to get caught around neck which is possible with a harness line with 2 attachment points. Very easy to adjust forward or back on the water . I personally use the 26 inch, but I have shorter arms.
I made my own bungee line: video below starting at ~ 4:20
Primarily to stop being slapped when pumping to take off, but also to allow pumping the wing while hooked in without unhooking by mistake.
It's made with a thin bungee to avoid the wing bouncing in the gusts, and retract it when not in use.
With a thin Dyneema line inside so that there's a set "extended length" and is indestructible.
And the cover of a regular rope with core removed to hold everything together.
I found that different cover have different weight and heavier ones are a bit easier to "throw" in the hook, but lighter/thinner ones can compress much more if use with a shorter bungee.
Select to expand quotematshape said..
I made my own bungee line: video below starting at ~ 4:20
Primarily to stop being slapped when pumping to take off, but also to allow pumping the wing while hooked in without unhooking by mistake.
Nice work and video! But for really effective pumping you'd bring the strut (and any type of harness line) so close to your face that the slapping would be unavoidable I think, no matter the design of the harness line.
Select to expand quoteTaavi said..matshape said..
I made my own bungee line: video below starting at ~ 4:20
Primarily to stop being slapped when pumping to take off, but also to allow pumping the wing while hooked in without unhooking by mistake.
Nice work and video! But for really effective pumping you'd bring the strut (and any type of harness line) so close to your face that the slapping would be unavoidable I think, no matter the design of the harness line.
yes and no ... pumping a strike V3 work with smaller movements, so i'm not getting slapped anymore and regardless of the wing a soft slap is still better than a hard PVC slap, at least on the water :)
Just hab my first session with a harness. Just tied a Dyneema rope to the handles for trying. It did flatter around a lot in the wind.
I really like the idea of the A3D design. Want to modify something similar DIY to have it run inside the handles. I really like the idea of freedom of wingfoiling and hate to have too many lines, ropes and leashes around me ??
Select to expand quotematshape said..
yes and no ... pumping a strike V3 work with smaller movements, so i'm not getting slapped anymore and regardless of the wing a soft slap is still better than a hard PVC slap, at least on the water :)
It has not so much to do with the brand or model of the wing, but the conditions and the size of the gear. If you have big enough foil and big enough wing you may get away with smaller movements.
Select to expand quoteTaavi said..matshape said..
yes and no ... pumping a strike V3 work with smaller movements, so i'm not getting slapped anymore and regardless of the wing a soft slap is still better than a hard PVC slap, at least on the water :)
It has not so much to do with the brand or model of the wing, but the conditions and the size of the gear. If you have big enough foil and big enough wing you may get away with smaller movements.
I just hook my thumb in the line and it stops any face slapping
It took me 3 years of winging to finally start using a harness, so yesterday was my first light wind day with PVC lines. I can see how (in these conditions) your odds of getting hit by the lines are much higher. The thumb thing still works, but I went one step further and rotated the lines away from me with both thumbs. It helps to have the harness line connections really tight.
6mm Double Braid Polyester lines.
Very cheap, they hang OK easy to hook in and out, easy to tie off and adjust the length and hard wearing.
Just use this with one end attached to a pigtail stopper knot on ur handle.
newrock.surf/products/ozone-contact-flag-out-line-v4?variant=43078659014912¤cy=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAxOauBhCaARIsAEbUSQRfzcmpwk7GP5OxZ8XkeabO8H-6ZupKBAtO2JQttfj_XGO_tUXKfgMaAtMEEALw_wcB
