Hard shell harnesses comparison

[Da Yoda]

Was totally going to get the new Majestic X till I saw the price. 400 bucks?? WTF, for that I think I'll go Ride Engine.

Apples to apples:
Ride Engine Carbon Elite = MSRP @ $408 with their spreader bar
Mystic Majestic X = MSRP @ $430 with their spreader bar

For the extra $22 you get the Clickerbar 4.0 locking spreader bar and an alternative fit option to the RE harness. I prefer the Majestic X fit much better vs RE's. Having to only spend $22 extra is negligible since good fit is paramount when it comes to harnesses.

[ktflyer381]

I was skeptical of the hard shell harnesses, I figured it was a fad. I have been using the Dakine Pyro for 11 years without any issues. Anyhow, I tried on the Dakine C1 and was initially underwhelmed, but then I hung back off the rope in the store and as soon as my weight was on it I was surprised at how good it felt. I have had four good days on it and it has felt incredible and doesn't ride up on me at all. More lumbar and back support than the Pyro for sure. I am very happy with my purchase.

[Da Yoda]

There really needs to be a clear distinction amongst these new generation of hardshell harnesses. As of right now only three manufacturers are making a true hardshell harness that's designed to resist collapsing or pinching the body when loaded...
Ride Engine, Mystic Majestic X, and the new NP Atom for 2018.

The rest of the "hardshell" harnesses should be more accurately referred to as a "hybrid" or "mediumshell" harnesses since they're either semi-ridged in design, or are a segmented design with a ridged back panel combined with more flexible side panels.

Here's a test video that was posted. It's not great, but it does show how the RE is the only one in the test that is truly a hardshell.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8lUhZi5jfs

[Adventure Logs]

Was totally going to get the new Majestic X till I saw the price. 400 bucks?? WTF, for that I think I'll go Ride Engine.

Apples to apples:
Ride Engine Carbon Elite = MSRP @ $408 with their spreader bar
Mystic Majestic X = MSRP @ $430 with their spreader bar

For the extra $22 you get the Clickerbar 4.0 locking spreader bar and an alternative fit option to the RE harness. I prefer the Majestic X fit much better vs RE's. Having to only spend $22 extra is negligible since good fit is paramount when it comes to harnesses.

That is true but I was able to buy a carbon elite for under 200 on cyber Monday so I’m hoping it works out. If not I’ll sell it and bite the bullet and get the new mystic.

[lindseym]

I haven't cared to even try the Ride Engine as I don't like to be running along with the herd and there weren't any other brands hard shell harnesses to try on locally.

Anyhow, overall - I was very happy with the CS (got the Medium for my 33 waist). I'ts not supper-stiff, but it's very firm, sits really nicely - almost locked-on - on my rather waist-less torso. Only pressure points that I've developed after a week of fairly agressive riding - came from the spreader bar working into the rib cage - which I still have to fiddle with and adjust the straps properly. I've also noticed that it doesn't want to slide around whenever riding toeside - I'd be looking into the WAVE model if I was into hardcore surfing. And it still creeps up along with jumps and tricks - perhaps a notch or two less than some other harnesses which I owned in the past. Hey, not everyone is born with Apollo's waist!

Speaking of the spreader bar, the one that comes with CS-harnesses seems more compact than these supplied with 2018 Vertex and Apex models.

Excellent review !! I will soon be switching from a Large Mystic Worrier to an Apex Select. I too have about a 32 / 33 waist but ride harnesses a bit different than most. I like as much surface area behind my back as possible and I like to let the harness move around freely...not too much but enough so that when I go toeside or blind the harness will rotate a bit. After so many years of harnesses moving around its just something i am used to and I definitely did not like the RE.

[alexeyga]

I like as much surface area behind my back as possible and I like to let the harness move around freely...not too much but enough so that when I go toeside or blind the harness will rotate a bit. After so many years of harnesses moving around its just something i am used to and I definitely did not like the RE.

You gonna feel right at home with the Apex Select. I was kinda skeptical about the cabling in my previous '17 Vertex Select but it does work quite well and adds another degree of freedom for the spreader bar to slide around. I should've gone with the Apex as well back when I got my previous Vertex. Cheers!