Snowkiting Harness

[Kenny]

This past Saturday at Skyline, Jake, Billy, Ryan, Jason, and I were comparing notes on harnesses. Jake and Billy went to Black Diamond and picked up some defective climbing harnesses, they ditched the waist section and secured the leg sections to a traditional waist harness with some webbing. Ryan did basically the same thing.

I thought I would see what is commercially available and read about the Mystic Blazer and Ozone Access Harnesses. I am curious if anyone has tried one or both of these harnesses. Thinking I might just get a new one since my waist harness is on it's last leg.

[MikE mAy]

billy or ryan or jake-

can you post how you accomplished this? i regularly use a climbing harness as a backup on my waist harness and hate the carabiner riding around on my spreader bar. i think it will get in the way when hooking in/out. my climbing harness is old and i wouldn't mind cutting it up at all...

[bordy]

We just cut the leg loops off. I really think the Mystic Harness mmay be the way to go. It and the Ozone harness are build similairly but the Mystic has a sprederbar and hook unlike the ozone which counts on a Fixed loop and a caribeaner. Ok if you never do unhooked stuff. Crappy if you do unhooked stuff. Ryan Told me he was carring the Mystic harness at his shop. Support the local guy ya know.....

[Marty Lowe]

Kenny
I have the Blazer. It's pretty good for what you want.
I had it for sale, because I like the hook higher (waist harness)
It is smaller and lighter than my Mystic waist harness,
so I decided to keep it for easier pack down when I use my sled to get to the back country.
I wore it the last two days, and left the leg straps looser than before, to keep the hook where I like it. If I were to glide with it, I would tighten the straps down. You can try it on if you want to. Jon used it last weekend, maybe he can give you his thoughts also.

-Marty

I'm worried that this year has the potential for injury with more kiters gliding on older gear. Don't f$%k around. get new lines often, and check your pig tails, and sewing around contact areas, and your chicken loop. Our area is the pioneering area in the US for gliding. We should self police this. One accident could close down all forest service access for years to come. Hurt your self if you want, just don't affect my kiting future while your at it.
Let's take this to another thread.....

http://utahwindriders.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3287

[windzup]

The Ozone Access XC harness is a very comfortable and lightweight harness, and many snowkiters are enjoying them. That said, it was designed as an all-mountain universal harness, for newcomers and backcountry travelers. The waist straps can be cut and modified to add on a spreader bar to the XC harness... or use a Dakine if you are unhooking a lot.

Neither the Ozone nor Mystic nor Dakine harnesses are currently built to flying standards. Only certified climbing harnesses offer that safety and security (unfortunately they are not the proper geometry and have thinner less comfortable webbing straps.)

For added comfort and to help keep the legs up in proper form, many of us have used just leg loops, and attached them either around a spreader bar, or connected to the primary waist harness via a carabiner.

If you are flying... it is only safe if a complete climbing harness is used, maybe even worn over a dakine style waist harness. (the dakine waist gives the comfort and back support) and the climbing harness gives the structure of a continuous webbing around the back.

Rob and Chasta have used the dual harness system for several years now, safely. Chasta usually has leg loops in his pants and waist harness under his jacket.

Windzup,
Brian