Ok, got my new North Transformer harness and tested it out yesterday. I've got to say its actually much better than I thought it was going to be. Here are my initial thoughts:

First of all it is quite comfortable and has very good mobility. Also, its true that there is absolutely no ball squeezing or wedgies.

Second, the seat part is minimal and the straps and seat are black, so if you wear it with a black wetsuit (like me) you barely notice it. However, when I got home I decided to try some board shorts on over the seat and guess what, you can actually do it. You can wear shorts over the seat part of the harness.

Third, its really waist harness, so you get a higher hook position (but its lower than a true waist harness that i'm use to, but better than a seat harness). Also, you can have a proper stance, nice and straight, and not be bent over.

Forth, and most important, it takes a load of pressure off of my back!

But the KEY to this harness is that you absolutely have to wear the hip strap over the spreader bar! this engages the seat part whenever the spreader bar wants to pull up. If you dont the harness will move up just like any other waist harness. (although it will stop at one point because of the seat is attached at the back of the harness, but it will not protect your back).

The only real issue i have 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.

Going toe side is much harder too, because the harness will not spin around.

Its still early days, but I'll keep you posted I want I think after some proper use.

Nicor,

Did you have a chance to ride with boardshorts over the transformer? Did you feel good?

And did you let the straps directly atached on the legs or did you use some neprene shorts?

Thanks

What size in inches or cm are the North harnesses? Or is the L etc sizing 'standardized'?

I have the transformer and its great but the sizing is very small on the model I got. I expected it to have some leeway on me and it just fits (not by a whole lot, if I put on a couple of kg's I am in trouble). I got the 2011 model so the 2012 may be better. I'm a 34 and I got a medium and it just fits so I'd recommend a large for anyone else who is a 34 if you buy the 2011. As I mentioned, I can't comment on the 2012.

Overall, it works well, I've sat in light wind with the kite high and it doesn't pull up at all while standing on the beach although in those kind of environments you do feel a bit of a pull on the leg straps while its holding the harness down. On the water I don't feel anything on the leg straps at all.

mocolombo : I have not tried riding with board shorts over the seat part of the harness yet, only tried it at home to see if I could, and I think I can. It's still wetsuit weather up north so I won't try the board shorts out on the water for probably another month or so. However, I would will still wear neoprene shorts under my board shorts to add some comfort with reagards to the leg staps.

Kamikuza: I just followed the North size chart. M is listed as 32-34 inch waist size. My waist is 32 inches and the medium fits me perfectly (I would say its the same size as my mystic shadow medium). Again the only issue is that I find the hip strap a little to short, so if you have a large belly is might not be easy to get the hip strap over the bar, which I think is critical to get the support for your back.

I try my north transformer today with the hip strap over the spreader bar for the first time and that helps a lot to keep the harness on position, Thanks for the advice..............