Ride Engine

Sounds like your wearing a size too big.

I went a size down with mine.

It seems to fit perfectly into the lower area of my back and doesn't really move around.

Can actually kite all day now .

has anyone compared the metal to carbon fibre slider?

Yep, ride in waves all the time. I have the ride custom with slider it's awesome for waves. Hardly know it's there and toeside tacking is so easy.

I was talking to one retailer who had the carbon slider and said it was awesome but some of his buddies had the metal slider and were finding that the edges were a little sharp and had either started to wear the straps or at least had potential to, has anyone found anything similar?Cheeers

RE supports me so there's some definite bias here but just for frame of reference I've worn Mystic for years and I switched to RE after having a sore back and using a demo one by chance. Lower back strain is gone. The rope slider is incredible for wave riding and I love the bar setup when riding freestyle. The most supportive yet free feeling harness I've ever used. I feel that people who don't like them either are wearing the wrong size or haven't set them up right. My medium is spot on and it's ridiculously comfortable. I've worn a size too big and it didn't work. I don't ride s**t that I don't like period and I like this.

I would have done that would the rope be long enough.

The velcro strap is starting to fray.

At $600 you'd expect better finishing.

Weight 92kgs / Level - Advanced / Style: Surf & Freeride Boosting / Build Quality: 9/10 Satisfaction: 9.5/10

My Comments: - Purchased a Carbon Model with Carbon Rope Slider & Fixed Hook Attachment from Bonny at KSS. Medium Size Harness Fits Like a Glove - The Velcro Securing Strap is Very Solid - Has Frayed but I think only due to it being too grippy. So far have used for metro downwinders , lanno to Wedge & Margs Main Break. In winds from 25 to 35 knots. First time using a slider & I love it, especially downwinders, I find it ok for riding toeside, however I can ride toeside better with my ION Vertex (I ride this harness very loose & like how I can gets heaps of torsional movement with it.) I also find the ION is well built & Secure, good when boosting 10m + on TT. The Ride harness is so light & it does not move up at all, its just so comfortable, I double loop the straps back through the fasteners & they don't back off at all even in the highest winds. Have boosted quite high also with the carbon slider & no issues. Haven't found any wear on the chickenloop / I connect it straight on to the rope & doubt I will before I upgrade for next season. Have not had any issues with stitching yet. I met another rider up north who was using one with slider rope for TT Freeride Boosting in High Winds & he loved it. I have the Fixed hook also which I haven't used yet, as I have used my ION Harness for TT sessions due to being a little uneasy with the rides fastening system for using in high winds/jumping high.
I thinks the fastening system could be tweaked - Use four fastening points instead of 2 & make them a little more heavy duty - also some thicker straps.
Overall I'm very happy with this product - yes its expensive but worth it for me so far, the lightest & most comfortable harness I've used so far for sure. Other harness's I've used before don't last much longer than a season or 2 (apart from my ION Vertex which is still going strong into its 3rd season). I can kite all afternoon with this harness & I have no soreness whatsoever.
Like drury I wont use s%&t products & like him I think getting the right fit is essential / & I think some body types just wont be suited to them.
Overall I would highly recommend one to others - I'm very happy with mine.

I just wanted to chime in and say that after only a few sessions with the RE harness, I'm stoked!! (small with 10" hook bar. waist size 32inch). Took me a couple of goes at adjusting to make it tight enough (yep, the tighter the better, though it doesn't feel uncomfortable) and stay that way, but once dialled in, it's just magnificent!!

Back again after winter here in N hemisphere. I was one of the early buyers of the production Hex model back in the fall, imported it from Real watersports.
after 10-12 sessions, I noticed the shell starting to crack at the place where the webbing holes are cut on one left side. Didnt notice any functional difference, started using it again this spring for 5-6 sessions but appeared to be getting worse. So I took some photos and sent them to RE, wondering if it was a problem. They responded immediately and said some early production models had this problem and they had fixed it and would send me a new one. They contacted Real and i had a new one in 8 days from that email. Remember that i am on other side of planet and both RE and retailer were fast to respond. So i was happy with the Customer Service. ( i was nice about- they were nice about it)

The new one has a thicker shell at the ends, and the stretchy part covering the webbing adjusters re-designed making it easier to work the adjuster.

Used it 4 times. i do about 60 sessions a year so i am not a heavy user, but find the harness really comfy and good on my ol back, even after using seat harness for 13 years kiting.

When i put it one it feels pretty tight, but on the water it doesnt feel tight. Sometimes it rides up a bit when i have to fly the kite high, but its easy to layback in the water before water starting after a fall and it glide back down and stays there more or less. One key thing for me is that i have a short torso and most waist harnesses are simply too big vertically to fit between my hips and my ribs- causing constant discomfort.

One thing i notices is the velcro belt is chafing my wetsuit lycra....have to see if i can cover it.

I'm pretty darn keen to try one of these harnesses.

But dammit i don't want to punt $500+ nzd on something I can't demo first.....

GRRRRR.