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Climbing harness on the water

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RagingGrandpa
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Re: Climbing harness on the water

Postby RagingGrandpa » Wed Apr 11, 2018 7:29 pm

4-yr bump:

I'm a climber turned kiter, and prefer a big wall climbing harness in the water vs a waist harness (but will confess I haven't ridden with a modern hardshell harness- they do feel nice in a storeroom tho). With the climbing harness I feel that I can hold more power without getting pulled into a folded posture / poo stance.

It's not perfect- no spreader bar, so more hip pinch. I use it snowkiting too, but with the leg straps over so many layers of winter clothing, it's difficult to position the harness in a way that doesn't trap the boys...

But I didn't understand the points in this thread about loading your spine. I wear the waist strap of my climbing harness below my iliac spines, so the loads are going in at the hip (or, through the arms). Perhaps other people wear the climbing harness at their waist?

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Re: Climbing harness on the water

Postby matthepp » Wed Apr 11, 2018 8:01 pm

Me too. I snowkite full time in a climbing harness and take a climbing harness for short water kite trips as it packs smaller. Maybe the new gen kite harnesses are better but most older kite harnesses are still rudimentary. Granted, I've been hanging in a climbing harness for decades so I'm used to it.

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Re: Climbing harness on the water

Postby Mossy 757 » Wed Apr 11, 2018 9:12 pm

I have bilateral sacroiliitis from an autoimmune disorder, as well as a bulged disc at L4/L5 and a massive herniation at L5/S1. As I conclude my rehab, I've been talking to folks with similar injuries who kite for the best harness for hydrofoiling without causing pain or instability. A friend who also hydrofoils and runs a kite retail/lesson shop on the east coast has a similar low back injury and has toyed around with getting surgery, as have I. His recommendation was to get a Dakine Vegas seat harness with a Dynabar sliding spreader; I tried it out the other day and the difference from my Mystic Force Shield seat harness is night and day. The Dynabar takes all the torque and pinch off the hips by letting the hook slide to the side the kite is on, very comfortable and a great relief to find a harness that doesn't cause pain.

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Re: Climbing harness on the water

Postby kassak » Thu Apr 12, 2018 5:00 am

Be careful or better yet totally avoid using the harness for climbing again. Climbing harness generally have aluminum hardware which can corrode quite easily especially in saltwater

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Re: Climbing harness on the water

Postby Topaz » Thu Apr 12, 2018 7:36 pm

^^ +1 I'd never climb again on a climbing harness that has been in salt water. I wouldn't have peace of mind.

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Re: Climbing harness on the water

Postby jaros » Sun Apr 15, 2018 7:44 pm

Is anybody using the Black Diamond Big Gun for kiting on water? It seems it could be one of better choices from climbing harnesses...
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alamos_kiter
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Re: Climbing harness on the water

Postby alamos_kiter » Mon Apr 16, 2018 7:28 am

I made myself a kiting harness copying a climbing harness, but set up for spreader. Works a treat for years now.
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Re: Climbing harness on the water

Postby jaros » Mon Apr 16, 2018 7:39 am

Nice!
Is there a reason you are using it with a spreader bar? I see Ozone has two versions, with and without the bar. I thought it is becouse you can not unhook without spreader...

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Re: Climbing harness on the water

Postby alamos_kiter » Mon Apr 16, 2018 7:05 pm

without spreader I can't mount a sliding hook


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