I went initially seat, then waist for 5 years, now back to seat.

I was using a older prolimit waist - it rode up, and I found my lower back would get sore as the pull from the kite was not from the pelvis (imagine hanging off a 'caribina', with a harness that rode up your chest.

So I then used a very old flying objects (9 years old), for a few sessions and no back pain whatsoever and the pull came from the right place (lower down). So I went and bought a new flying objects and it is great.

Now a lot a people will say the new waists don't ride up. They do, maybe not as much, but they do - but they are a lot more comfortable and offer much more back protection now. Also the waist harness is much better for freestyle / unhooking and unless you use a sliding spreader bar on a seat harness much better in the surf as you can twist the harness around your body.

Remember I'm 37 years old and the back can't take the punishment the younger guys take, so please my viewpoint is somewhat biased.

To be quite honest just use what you have got, it's your kiting skill that matters, the gear is secondary.

eppo said...


Remember I'm 37 years old and the back can't take the punishment the younger guys take, so please my viewpoint is somewhat biased.

I'm way older than that and use a FO waist, I find I can kite for hours on end with absolutely no back pain.
I started with a dakine fusion seat that I tried again recently, I loved it when I started kiting but hate it now, it feels so restrictive.

Also for me the only time I have experienced back pain is with the seat, which I think is from the discs in the lower back getting compressed.

We are all different so use what works for you, and if it's not working remember it might not be the style it might be the brand or fit that's wrong.

Waist harnesses only ride up if they are not fitted or tightened properly.........
There are a few exceptions ....
If you have a beer gut it will eventually work it's way under the hook of the harness and therefore push the hook/ bar upwards.

if you are built like Pee Wee Herman and your chest/torso is smaller than your waist it will ride up.

I am still using a mystic warrior from about 4-5 years ago it has a second thinner ' girth strap ' which threads through the spreader bar/ hook and back onto the harness, this provides downward pressure on the spreader bar...... If I dint adjust this tightly the harness will ride up.