What's next best harness similar to DaKine XTSeat?

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

The problem is the Power Belt’s powerful elastic. Even in my XL size, their biggest, it starts getting tight enough to impair breathing at about 33”, its minimal setting, which I left behind in high school. My old XTSeat had a non-elastic waist strap which I liked much more; set it to max expansion and go play. All-out wind sprints can be fun, but not while wearing a powerful elastic double band around the lower lobes of one’s lungs. One prolonged run in good swell and my only thought is where to find more air; I waste a lot of good sailing time floating in the water trying to breathe.

My solutions so far:
• Start hunting a new harness. http://tinyurl.com/4lrt2ab shows 12-15 options including the ones you guys are recommending.
• Scour the Hood River shops (I hate to buy something so personal without fondling it) for them, and consider buying unseen if necessary.
• Lengthen my Power Belt with surgery or a double-sided Velcro extender (that sounds simplest).
• Lower my body fat, but even at a svelte 12-14% my waist was challenging this harness. Heavy elastic just isn’t designed to facilitate heavy breathing.

carl · Joined: 25 Feb 1997 Posts: 2674 Location: SF bay area

The power belt doesn't take any load, it's just there to provide support shape. The straps connected to the harness hook carry all the load.
A velcro extension would probably work fine as there really doesn't need to be much tension on the belt.
The old XT had a small buckle instead. It really didn't do much. I set it loose most of the time. I'd bet the power belt could be set loose too with no ill-effect.

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

Wind-NC.com · Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 9:06 pm Post subject:

Another option is to get a Dakine Fusion. It's basically the same harness as the XT seat, just optimized for kiteboarding. There are minor differences, like the leg straps are not quick release, and there's a silly handle on the back in case you start to fly away. But the most important difference for you is that they offer the Fusion in a XXL. Could be worth at least locating one and trying it on.

Otherwise, I like the idea of the velcro extension strap for your current harness!

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

You would think an accomplished aerospace engineer could craft a workable harness modification. Cut the elastic band off, and design yourself an alternative solution incorporating greater adjustability. I'm sure that a recognized Gorge hero could easy hire a local American worker to fabricate it and sew it all together.

carl · Joined: 25 Feb 1997 Posts: 2674 Location: SF bay area

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

Arrgh · Joined: 05 May 1998 Posts: 864 Location: Rio

Bite your tongues!

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

coachg · Joined: 10 Sep 2000 Posts: 3550

Iso,
Low body fat does not hamper endurance. Most distance runners hover between 5-8% body fat. In my kinesiology class my underwater weighed body fat was 4.5%. That was at a time I was playing, practicing or conditioning for football 2 hours a day, 6 days a week and it did not affect my endurance. Granted, under 5% is not healthy, especially over a long period of time, but there is absolutely no evidence that low body fat affects endurance.

The affect of body fat on each person is different based on a person’s physiology. For you, under 10% may be unhealthy and affect your endurance. For me, anything over 10% would worsen my endurance as I would start to look and feel like Humpty Dumpty.

Coachg