Question for people using 2019 DaKine T8 harness.

[JamesHardy]

Just trowing this out but could the problem be the padding DaKine added to the spreader bar is holding the bar in a more downward position then your old non-padded bar? I am using the T-9 slider which came with the padded bar. The padding made the bar sit tighter and stiffer against the harness as well as reduced the ease and amount of slide so I cut the padding off. As soon as I got the padding off the bar it was the same old feeling as all of the other 6 T-series harness I have had. The Padded spreader bar came over from the kite side of DaKine. With the main force of the kite pulling up rather then out like with a sail the pad was needed to spread the load out more and keep the bar from digging into the riders stomach. Just a though!

[theq]

Thanks for your input, JamesHardy. That is a very good thought. I may end up doing what you did and cut that padding away rather than changing hooks. Cheers.

[theq]

Well, it looked good on paper (ether). Your idea would have worked if the non-slider spreader was the same. Unfortunately, it has a couple of extra squared off loops on the clip side that may eventually cause discomfort against the body. I could grind off those loops but there would still be an asymmetrical push on the sides that might mess with something. I guess I'll just spring for the new buckles to use with an old spreader bar. Thanks again.

[manuel]

Ran into this post https://www.instagram.com/p/CFNBw1BIDE0/
He's obviously looking for some control and powered up. Noticed how low he is, yet, driving his weight into the harness with quite horizontal boom lines.

[theq]

My 30" lines are on the way now, along with a new conventional spreader bar and buckle. I think the 30" lines may help, especially if I need to go back to that "improved" padded bar. That said, I borrowed a conventional hook from a friend's backup harness and installed it on the T8. I had no problem unhooking with the non-padded spreader setup. I may end up selling the new padded bar to some unsuspecting...er...more accomplished "unhooker" than I.

Bottom line: Problems with padded spreader on T8 non-sliding design. No problem when using conventional, non-padded, spreader. Your face-plants may vary. Cheers.

[isobars]

I've made it a habit when jibing, especially in waist-high chopswell and when powered way up or in gusty conditions, to exaggerate my unhooking. Rather than the subtle unhooking done to avoid any airflow interruption in marginal winds, I make a distinct but smooth semicircle motion with my hands ... in towards myself to unload the lines, then down to be sure the line falls out of my roller bar pulley, then forward again so the line can't hook in by itself. Only when I forget to do this am I at risk of accidentally hooking in before I'm ready.

The risk is farther mitigated by aggressively flipping the sail very early ... none of the usual scenario of holding ... holding ... holding ... holding onto the sail until the board has reversed course, the wind does all the work, and the plane has departed.

[Wind_Boarder]

I have the same T8 harness and I find that I usually need to use my thumbs to help hook/unhook just to be safe. Don't remember having this level of difficulty with my previous harnesses.

[manuel]

Ooooh... maybe it's caused by the added slack from the sliding system. It takes a bit more effort to unhook as the bar wants to follow the hook dropping down with it.

[theq]

[theq]