Hi Everybody! as a kite-surfing enthusiast I was wondering what's your thoughts about wave harnesses. I've been riding Ride Engine carbon bamboo (very stiff, light, amazing bar) and Da Kine C1 (a bit more easy on your ribs). Any review on the Ion Team Wave? doesn't look like there is much online.
keep surfing Peppe
Hey do you have the 2016 carbon bar rope slider? I do and found the bar would put pressure on my lower rib.
The 2017 bar comes with a pad for that reason, I got around it be putting an old surfboard foot strap pad around the carbon spreader bar until I picked up the 2017 bar with pad. tough harness to go past in my opinion.
Yes, been using the 2016 Ride Engine without padding. I've always been wearing the harness well tight so bar didn't came up at all. Found the edge of the harness a bit too heavy and uncomfortable on my ribs, but may be it's just me cause I've broken it 2 years ago...
The 2017 model has much thicker memory foam around the edges of the harness and the new 2017 spreader bar has a much comfier spreader bar pad on the carbon rope slider which doesn't have any sharp edges.
Thumbs up for the 2017 Ridengine Elite Padded Carbon sliding rope spreader with 5mm SSteel ring.
Very comfy waist harness.
Also had a bamboo elite.
Had 2 sessions on this. First time using the slider rope. Feels abit weird upwind but is lush downwind.
Looks like the J Harness has adapted the rigid shell approach which I like. I love my Engine, two seasons and still like new. I wonder how much bigger the J shape is. One of the things I really love about the Engine is it's smaller profile. Compared to the Mystic Warrior I was on previously the Engine was much smaller. This harness does not ride up.
Hey Leigh, I added a second slider rope that is slightly longer than the one the ring is on. This is a back up in case you ever break your dyneema, (which you will). It will save you the hassle of a self rescue. This comes from experience ;) and resulted in a very long paddle in good size surf. If the main breaks, you can ride the back up until you swap out the original. Since I made this mod I have broken two cords, but was still able to ride. For what it's worth, I jump a lot with this setup so I perhaps put more wear and tear than normal.
Hi Peppedurso,
We sell both Ride Engine and also ION Team Wave. The Ride Engine had the concept first with the stiff back for support and it does this very well. In wearing both, I find the Ride Engine a little more supportive, but the ION is more comfortable for ME.
They are both setup with the rope bridle which allows the chicken loop to slide from side to side to allow unrestricted wave riding performance (both can be set up with a fixed hook). I think the wider spreader on the Ride Engine does this a little better with more movement range and a more durable concept. I find the ION is easier to setup, adjust and more comfortable.
There is a significant cost attached to the Ride Engine over the ION and from the feedback I have received, most people feel it is a big hit to the wallet, but worth it. I haven't had enough experience on the Ride Engine to give an informed personal opinion as yet.
Both are a good jump up on regular designed harnesses. The softer sided better padded ION wins it in terms of comfort, but I think the Ride Engine probably has it over the ION in terms of back support.
Best to drop in to a shop and try them on back to back. Harnesses are always such a personal item.
DM
Jay is normal harness size. More the size of the warrior. I'm thinking smaller would have been better too. But haven't tried an engine yet. At the time of ordering I couldn't try either. Jay had a 30% off introductory special so that won on price
hi,
A back up line if one snaps. I have been using this set up for over a year. Dynabar v7
Note: I don't jump, just surf.
I think the backup rope should be slightly longer so there is no wear on it, otherwise they will both wear equally. And if one goes, the other can't be far off.
below is a link I posted with more pictures. Yes it does come off when I crash or the lines loose tension. I now run the loop inside the slider . It is very smooth . Now I am working on making my own chicken loop to make the distance a lot closer.
kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2385302&hilit=sliding+hook&start=640
cheers
Imo, this is great for wave riding - if you don't intend to unhook. The main benefit, I'm finding from bringing the bar closer is you get more usable throw.
I'm thinking of trying a low friction ring but don't want to loose the swivel function on the pulley.
There's no wear on the rope using the pulley, tried the SS rings & found it rough as guts.
yes it does wear the rope. On my setup it has been one year and the rope still in good shape. I don't unhook. The benefit on bringing it close is the throw. cheers
Nice work Leigh, found this pic & thought it looked pretty neat.
@ Blettie, pm me if you want to build one similar to mine mate.
When I was looking for low friction rings I found the Antal rings pretty $$ exy, Ronstan make low friction rings too that are available at most boating stores & at better prices.