I couldn’t get any decent reviews on the North Transformer Harness, so I figured I’d write up a review and give this harness the credit I think it deserves.

Some background on me: my back is not great, I throw it about once a year, my chiro thinks it might be a bulge. Since moving to a waist harness a couple years ago, I was aggravating my back kiting. My first harness was a Dakine Fusion harness, which was good for my back, but I found too uncomfortable and restrictive, I tried a few others, then I moved to a Mystic Shadow, which is my favorite harness to date. Anyway I realized I needed to save my back, so I was willing to giver the Transformer a shot which seemed to give far more freedom than a traditional seat harness.

The transformer is a waist harness with a small seat attached to the back. But this seat is not like a seat at all, I would describe it more like super durable shorts, so it’s not as bulky as your traditional seat harness. I find seat section is so tight to your body you can actually wear board shorts over it quite easily. Also, the seat part is minimal and also black, so you hardly notice it if you wear it over a black wetsuit, which is what I usually do.

But when using this harness it’s VERY IMPORTANT to WEAR THE HIP STRAP OVER THE SPREADER BAR. This engages the seat part whenever the spreader bar wants to pull up. This is what will protect your back, it seems to distribute the load on your hips/ lower back and your legs

Since I’ve been using this harness my back does not feel aggravated anymore during and after kiting. My back feels almost 100%.

The only real issue i have with this harness is that the hip strap is too short. Another two inches would be perfect for me. Someone with a bigger gut would not be able to use the hip strap over the spreader bar.

Pros:
- it takes a load of pressure off of my back if I put the hip strap over the spreader bar.
- more comfortable than my seat harness
- Good flexibility, no issues walking and bending (actually I find I hardly notice I have it on at all, unless I jump)
- no ball squeezing or wedgies.
- seat part is minimal and the straps and seat are black, so its discrete
- you can wear board shorts over the seat part of the harness
- it’s a waist harness so you can have a proper stance when riding, nice and straight.

Negatives:
- Hip strap is too short
- Going toe side is much harder
- the hook position is lower than a waist harness (but higher than a seat harness)
- Harder to body drag.

A note on wearing the shorts over the seat. It can be done, but the seat is attached to back of the harness, so your shorts can’t tuck under the harness. My board shorts are black, which camouflage that my shorts are not under the harness. If your shorts are not black it might not look so good. If North were to somehow design the seat part of the harness to actually attach a little higher in the inside of the harness then wearing board shorts would not be a problem at all. IMO the ability to easily wear shorts over this harness would make this harness are real winner for North.

I wish I could still use my Shadow, but considering how good my back feels I’ll take the Transformer all day long. Would be great is North made the hip strap a little longer and attached the seat further up the back of the harness.

Did you ever try out the nitrous shorts to see how they compare?

Jay Factory/Dynabar is working on a new waist/shorts/leg loop hybrid harness that looks like it will be really nice. This concept has been a long time coming and is undergoing rigorous testing before availability to the market. So far it looks very good. I'm anxiously waiting for it to be finished!

Nitrous shorts and others are nice but don't give ANY back support. That's why i didn't buy one.

I have bought a North Transformer and a dynabar. It seems to be a perfect set. All the negatives points listed by Nicor would be avoid with a dynabar.

Nicor, dynabar has a way to pass the hips straps! It is so easy to place, and you can gain one inch as it is positioned under the spreader bar.

We are off season, so i didn't test the kit (trasformer+dynabar) but i am pretty sure it wil be very good!

Nice little review that - thanks

I think Ocean Rodeo also do something similar. Have not test either but from your review they sound like a real best of both worlds solution.

The Transformer is a great Harness I love it!

I only have one concern, if you pass the hip strap over the spreader bar and have a crash or a hard pull from the kite the hip strap can opens alone. It happens to me last saturday two times. I would like that North make a stronger clamp for the strap.

For those that are looking to buy it and need to buy online like me the Harness runs a little big on size, I'm size 32" and I buy the medium size to use it I need to close the velcro all the way. I think the small size can fit to me.

I think the sizing varies from year to year. The 2011 ran small. I'm a 34 and could barely fit into the medium.

though i don't recall the exact model, i had a North harness that utilized the strap over the spreader bar. they used a plastic clasp to hold it there. it broke within a few sessions. they replaced it for me. the next one broke in a few sessions. i then gave it to a friend who was smaller than me, as i believe this setup cannot handle the strain of slightly bigger guys (~210 lbs). i would not recommend this type of setup to anyone, unless North has come to their senses and is now using a metal clasp.

Hi,

I wear 35 and have bought a new transformer, size XL. It has the same size as my Warrior L. And fitted perfectly!

I'm 160 lbs only and as I explain before when I use the strap over the spreader bar the plastic clasp of my transformer harness opens alone during a good pull of the kite, but I don't broke it yet. I agree with you a metal clasp would be a lot better.