Engine Handmade Custom Harness

Rider: 75kg
Style: Surf
Build Quality: 9/10
Satisfaction: 10/10
Disclosure: (BWS team rider)




My Comments:
Just received a custom engine waist harness. I haven't put it through all its paces yet. These are handmade in the states (CA) by Coleman Buckley. The amount of work in them is incredible. Without giving too much away; a mould is taken of my back and then the harness is shaped to custom fit. You can choose colours, materials. options etc. Mine is made out of carbon fibre, is rigid and extremely low profile and lightweight. Maybe won't be for everyone; especially If your in a mad rush or don't understand the character of something being handmade. But mine feels great on and looks wicked. Will post more feedback on how it rides and handles abuse with more use.

Hi Wheels,
Cost and time depends on your options. Although Ian alldredge and other pros (who keep their sponsors logo) have been using these harnesses for a while. At the time I ordered (pre xmas), I was one of his first o/s customers and coleman was in the process of setting up his business before going to Hawaii for holidays. You can order a regular sized harness eg S, M, L which would take less time. As you can imagine, if you get a custom; the template mould will be posted to you, you post it back, then the harness will be made and posted. So there is a month of postage time above build time. Remember it's one guy (and a parrot). not a chinese factory building these; so as I said;not something to be rushed. He reminds me of a young George Greenough, inventive and artistic. Cost is comparable to a top line pop out harness, depending on options. I paid <$300 aus which I think is a bargain for a handmade product. If you could see the materials and calculate the hours of work in it, you would see its a labour of love.

https://shop.ride-engine.com/

hey pearl did you get the goon ballon ..what the hell is that .

Really like this idea. The harness is the most undervalued part of the whole kite surfing setup...well I have under valued it.

Took me ages to find something that 'worked' but its not totally there.

Interesting to get feedback on how this goes after a while.

Totally dig the idea.

That's a Dynabar that pearl has fitted himself, pretty sure its a separate bit of kit.

That's my old sliding dynabar v711" I have fitted in secound photo. The good thing is it would easily take a 13" to give more movement which a lot of regular harnesses can't do especially in smaller sizes. The guys in the USA use ropes & ferrells & ditch their chicken loop. I like the dynabar. Had it a couple of seasons & only replaced the elastic which cushions the movement, rope is still in good condition. You need to use your own spreader bar of choice, that's why harness doesn't come with one. You could use a fixed hook, but the harness is moulded to your shape, so don't expect it to slide. Your better off with something like a pat love cast if your after that. Also my lining is cushioned neoprene, which further reduces harness movement. Advantages of keeping back comfy & warm but may be hot in summer for here without a wetshirt. Post back to USA for mould was around $25aus. I'm not sure what model I have off his website, that's all new. I think it's the top one. Should give it a decent run 2morro

Totally agree with Eppo - again.
If your harness isnt right then sessions can be a pain - literally.
I went through 4 harnesses in my first year - the last one was a borrowed girls seat that I refused to give back. Lasted me 4 seasons.
There is no 'best harness' out there. Taking someone elses recommendation is like accepting their opinion on their favourite pair of shoes. Its the harness that matches your personal body shape thats the "BEST" harness.
Custom shaping sounds like an awesome idea.
Be interested to know how the mould is determined. It would need to account for spinal curvature, distance from hips to ribs as well as the proportion of the arc from your back around to the front.
These are all points I look at when customers are trying the different variations in the store. Amazing how different models produce different reactions. Im just now learning what will be the next best to try & just what might work once the first harness is tested.

Thanks for the feed back pearl, i would be interested to see how you like it after a couple of long sessions.

It's a very, very good bit of kit. I'm happy. Just had a few hours straight on the water. Mixed it up. Caught a stack of waves, did some long tacks across the Bay, even took a surfboard out with straps for a bit of 'dog style'. Cranked it right up... rock solid. Backed it off, even with the flaps under the spreader bar loose and it just doesn't move. It just sucks to my back, there's no comparison with the harnesses I have. It just fits so perfectly. Wore it with boardies and a wetshirt. I'll give it a run in just boardies; but I can't see me getting any hip burn because there is no movement. I may be quite lucky with my shape. I am thinner at my waist and very straight in the lower back, so it can't go up down or sideways. Maybe a different story for someone more 'rounded'.
There are rivets holding the adjustment straps on mine, that have some sharpness. It may be a future wear point. There are two rivets each on the twin adjustment straps. The straps are both tripled over. Wear should be obvious if it happens here in the future. I'm sure the harnesses will evolve over time. I know he's working on a few ideas at the moment. It's custom made; so if if you have ideas for improvement, shoot coleman an email; I'm sure he would love to hear them.

Just an update after a couple of months of riding with harness. No wear detectable on harness. I swapped to a 13 inch dynabar from the 11" and it works great. I can use just boardies without any hip burn. The carbon shell spreads the load over the whole harness area, negating any back stiffness after long sessions. Its like you have a protective cast on your back. I won't be going back to any other harness. The only thing I can pick on is the lining can be hot on land or in tropical temps, the flip side being it keeps your back warm in cooler conditions. I guess testament to their performance is the fact both Ian Alldredge & Patrick Rebstock choose to buy these harnesses, rather than take their sponsors. I've got the feeling this style and construction of harness will become the bench mark in top end.

still asking what is it

looks pretty nice, however I wouldnt mind those rivets being covered in neoprene or something.. I could see my surfboard possibly copping a few dings from them

got the mould in the mail today, taking it to the post office now.
one question for ya, do you think i should give his slider setup a go or keep the dyna bar?
cheers...

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^Im liking the idea of these new slider bars.. will make unhooking, hooking back in much easier/faster than on the dynabar

try before you buy, i hated them, tried them in variable conditions and riding chilled and hard, very smooth when you ride relazed but very on , off, if you start to change directons agressive, especially in jumping transitions where your redirecting the kite quickly, very nicely enginered though