wldkrd1 - 9-15-2016 at 12:34 PM
Question...I have a rock climbing harness I'm pretty happy with. Any chance I could repurpose this for flying with handles/strop line?
BeamerBob - 9-15-2016 at 12:51 PM
It will work and many of us have done it. One issue is that the direction of pull might not be so comfortable due to intended design. Also kite
harnesses have a spreader bar that helps prevent the kite power from squeezing your hips.
wldkrd1 - 9-15-2016 at 12:54 PM
That's good to know...anyone have pictures or video of a setup like this in use? Thanks!
bigkid - 9-15-2016 at 12:57 PM
You can get a new inexpensive harnes for about 50 bucks, or a used one for about the same.
Bite the bullet and get a real kite harnes. You wouldn't go to Home Depot and buy some cheap rope for your kite line would you?
WELDNGOD - 9-15-2016 at 01:52 PM
https://vimeo.com/142196854 I'm wearing an Ozone base harness , it doesn't use a spreader bar. I don't know how much you can get from it so here
are pics.
![ozone_base_harness-2[1].jpg - 134kB](http://www.powerkiteforum.com/files.php?pid=313268&aid=11955)
![ozone_base_harness-3[1].jpg - 62kB](http://www.powerkiteforum.com/files.php?pid=313268&aid=11957)
![ozone_base_harness-4[1].jpg - 63kB](http://www.powerkiteforum.com/files.php?pid=313268&aid=11959)
![ozone_base_harness-5[1].jpg - 57kB](http://www.powerkiteforum.com/files.php?pid=313268&aid=11961)
nate76 - 9-15-2016 at 02:39 PM
I picked up the Mammut Ophir 3 rock climbing harness last winter as a lightweight harness option that packs up small and as something I felt more
secure in if I was going to start hill gliding. I ended up really liking it and it became kind of my default harness last winter. You can pick one
up at REI for about $55.
I thought it was just about as comfortable as the Ozone Access harness (which I also have), all-the-while being stronger, lighter and cheaper. The
good thing about going to somewhere like REI is that you can try a bunch of different harnesses, hang in them on their wall and see how they feel/bind
before you buy. I probably tried on 4 different ones before deciding on the Mammut.
John Holgate - 9-15-2016 at 02:54 PM
I've been a rock climber and tree surgeon, so they were the first harnesses I tried when kite flying. My climbing harness is roughly equivalent to
the Ozone Access but probably a bit less comfortable. The tree surgeon type harness with the sling seat are very comfy when seated but have a habit
of riding up when standing and they'e usually pretty heavy. If you've already got one, sure you can use it and just hook in with a 'biner. But I
wouldn't buy one specifically for kite flying as the hook/spreader bar combo is much more user friendly and comfy for our use.
bigkid - 9-15-2016 at 03:13 PM
Email sent
bigkid - 9-16-2016 at 08:45 AM
Email sent
bigkid - 9-16-2016 at 08:45 AM
stupid iPhone .......
robinsonpr - 9-16-2016 at 04:21 PM
Like Nate I got a climbing harness as a lightweight option when I'm travelling. I do find that I end up with bruised hips after buggying with it
though, where it's squeezing me or pulling laterally. It's OK for a short session but from my experience no substitute for a proper kiting harness
with a spreader bar!
bigkid - 9-16-2016 at 06:41 PM
Robin- good man for your answer.
I was one of those that tried to use my climbing set up also. After a moment of thought I decided to get a real buggy harness. I got one from the guy
I got my 18m Raven from. It was free with the kite. Only problem was I could not sit down, it wasn't designed for sitting. Ok, bought a HQ strap setup
that wasn't any different than my climbing setup.
Here's what I know....
A harness for climbing is basically for fall support. It is not supporting your weight continuously as in kiting. The straps dig in on the waist,
legs, and hips from the pull that doesn't let up.
A harness designed for kiteboarding on the water or land is support while standing up, not sitting down. It is also much larger in size due to the
padding making it hard to get a buggy seat large enough to accommodate a few extra inches of padding.
Of course this is not carved in concrete and it's all about personal taste and available cash. If at all possible I would recommend asking anyone who
buggies that has a harness if you could try it on and sit in the buggy.
Aside from the sales pitch you will get from the owner of the harness it's about fit, comfort, and cost. I have worn out 2 harnesses and ripped 3 of
the major brand names and I settled on a 50 dollar setup that will be replaced in about 2 years. I went with comfort, strength and then cost.
I put the climbing harness away with the rest of the climbing gear and use it for climbing only.
Wonder how the buggy harness would work while climbing 
nate76 - 9-17-2016 at 07:04 AM
Its probably worth noting that I've been primarily using the climbing harness for winter where you have a little extra padding just by the nature of
wearing snow pants and extra clothes. I haven't used it much for buggying which I think was the intent of the original post, so it'd probably be wise
to go with Robin and Bigkid advice in that regard.
A spreader bar definitely helps to disperse the load. The Ozone Access harness I have is the one that did not have a spreader bar - just a loop (like
the one WELDNGOD shared pictures of). At the time I thought it would be a better option since I could put the Chicken Loop right through the main
connection loop on the harness and keep everything as short as possible. I was also wanting a harness where I couldn't foul-hook the chickenloop and
accidentally have it come unhooked. I think the end result is that it rides up a lot like a normal climbing harness. I imagine the version that uses
a spreader bar would be more comfortable.
volock - 9-17-2016 at 12:12 PM
I have a climbing harness that gets used for winter in one of two ways. Either it's thrown in my pack, so if I'm going to go long distance, I have a
backup (that's tiny and weighs nothing) if something happens to my actual harness so I can get back. The other use I find for it is if I'm having
issues with my waist harness riding up, as sometimes you just can't get it tight enough/to stay put with that many layers on.
I've only used it twice while buggying / landboarding, and that was mostly to make sure it'd work well for if I ever actually needed to use it as
backup. If I'm going to cruise 10 miles away from my car in deep powder, I don't want to have to walk back (if wind still exists) because my harness
develops an issue.
skimtwashington - 9-17-2016 at 07:03 PM
Although a back up harness is a good idea for all-especially in long tours or extended outings...... a backup harness is more critical for a depower
setup if harness failure occurs.
A FB set up I can fly without a harness.