Pretty much nailed it. But there is only some truth in that first statement as you will get even a few pros to admit that they know of "someone" who wears a seat for regular riding, but puts on a waist when the cameras come out. Some good evidence for the seat being superior (in a way) to the waist, is the styles that use it. Beginners need something that they do not have to fuss with. A definite +1 for a seat for everyone. Racers need the highest performance and comfort. Big boosters going for high numbers on their Woo, tend to utilize a seat harness, again - when the camera is off. This gives you a range of use from horizontal pull only (racing) to straight up vertical pull (boosting), the extreme's of a kite's directional pull, that favors the seat.jumptheshark wrote: ↑Tue Jun 26, 2018 1:10 pmThe comment above about comfort vs cool is a pretty insecure and self centered one from an obvious seat fan! Plenty of seats are uncomfortable and unsuitable for many who don't really care much about what is and isn't cool. Shows how people are pretty sensitive when it comes to discussing body type and riding styles. In the real world the divide goes something along these lines. Racers and anyone whose body shape is widest through the core as well as older demographics whose priority is to jump tend toward seats. Novices may prefer a seat as it ensures a low harness position even when the kite is flown quite high in the window..... they don't ride up, but they can give a pretty decent wedgie.
Wave, free ride foil and TT riders along with anyone who unhooks, rides a lot of toe side or has a waist narrower than their chest tend toward waist. As mentioned the biggest draw back is when they ride up and even when seated properly are harder on the abdominals when jumping.
In the end its personal and depend on both how your built and what you like to do.
The biggest piece of evidence that a waist is the least comfortable of the two, is that EVERY YEAR we hear that "this new model is finally comfortable enough to not ride up, or crush your ribs". I mean, they don't even change the wording on the advertisement - it is just word for word. So if every year to this day, waist harnesses have been "fixed" to be finally comfortable, then you are assuming we are in the year that this dream finally comes true.
My advice is to try a seat. Yes, you should try to modify your bar first, but you would be doing yourself a huge disservice by not expanding your horizons. And make sure you give a big change like this some time. Too many times in kiteboarding have I tried something once and hated it, only to realize I did not give it enough of a chance, and then loved it in the end.