Awn wrote:eree wrote:i really don't care about the graphics, since it is optional. but those ugly cut and glue edges are speaking for themselves. and i don't have to.
i just can not buy this hideousness, no way. we living in the time when people fly in space FGS!
and they put it on their site like that!!!
usually things on the pictures are looking better than in real life. so how bad this stuff is really looks?
look for yourself:
timthumb.php.jpg
sorry not for me...
Also the price is very very high to get a harness will cost you around 500$ after your done adding the things you need. Even if it was the best harness in the world the price is not justified
I can easily buy a slightly used 2012 bar for less than $200 or I can buy a new 2014 bar for well over $500. What do I get out of the new bar that I do not get out of the 2012 bar? Nothing, but a little more useful life span and a few small design improvements to give the marketing dept, something to talk about. There are a lot of kiters that would not think twice about just buying the new bar and own multiple bars. The marginal cost is great and the marginal gain is low for buying a new bar. I would choose the 2012 bar over the 2014 every time.
In general we only see small improvements in gear from year to year. The reason why you are seeing so many people mention the Engine harness on this thread is because of the huge improvement in the one piece of gear that transfers power from the kite to their body. My recent purchase of an Engine Harness allowed me to experience a huge leap in harness performance in my opinion. I had a Dakine Renegade which is a perfectly good harness, but the fit and significant improvement in performance was well worth the extra cost based on my real user experience. I think the Engine harness or the concept of a rigid harness is the single biggest leap in kiteboarding equipment performance we saw in 2013.
I priced out an Engine harness with no custom graphics and added a couple of features you would find on a standard harness.
Harness $300
Pocket for hook knife $15
Third harness hook strap $15
Spreader bar and pad you need to buy elsewhere $50
Shipping
$15
Total $395
Top of the line harness you can buy locally $200
Unlike the bar example above, the Engine harness does provide a significant marginal benefit for the marginal cost based on personal experience. A custom fit harness with real benefits for well less than the cost of a new control bar. I think a reset in perspective is in order if cost is the issue (assuming it is not beyond your budget). The typical kiter will spend way more and only get small improvements with other kite gear.
I get the resistance to how the liner is applied and the finish. I don't think it is attractive either. From looking at it, you do not get the feeling it is applied as well as a factory harness. However, the bottom line is it just works that much better. If the Engine harness only came with pink unicorn graphics, I would still buy it and wear it proudly. Maybe I just think I am cool enough to pull that off.
To each his own, but, I do not see how visual appeal carries much weight in a harness choice when the gain in performance is significant.
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