I use a cahbrina kite seat harness

I think you can get better mast foot pressure with a seat as well.

Just can't bring myself to loading up and being catapulted from the middle of my back

Alby

i tried both any prefer a seat. i found the waist sliped up around my chest and was bloody annoying. a seat is easy and comfy!

Got both, (only a flat water sailer) seat feels way better. waist harness although a good quality one is a painful bit of gear that tends to slide up at any chance, and end up near your armpits.(have even thought of modifying the thing with straps down under each side to stop the northerly slip, but haven’t yet worked out what to do as it will just then be like a seat harness.
Wind warrior reckons they have perfected a wettie that stops this happening with a waist harness. Will be keen to see what they have when they bring it out.

Most Northern hemisphere mags claim that the waist is the way to go and get out of the seat harness. Cant see it myself.

I went to seat harness a few years back, it took a little while to get used to it but now it feels great. I have even used it for formula gear. No sore back and I've had no problems with mast foot pressure. I also find it allows for easier lower body movement to absorb chop and aid manouverability. I trird out my seat a few times afterwards and it felt like I was going to get lifted out of the straps. SO I guess it's just a matter of getting used to it. I also find it gives your abs a workout, I notice it when I haven't been sailing for a while.
Des

Changing from one to the other takes a bit of getting used to. Barn forced me to change 2 yrs ago as a style-correction measure. If you're not careful you can get into the bad habit of sitting in a seat harness and sailing with bent arms. Your weight is better off outboard as with straighter arms.

I was boa constricted when I first used my old bent arm style in a waist harness. If you want to breathe you have to correct your posture. Apparently I don't look like a gorilla anymore. Ian

hi waveslave,

do the nitrous harnesses work. i never use a wetsuit so i'm safe from the kite look. I would like to try one maybe.

I used to sail with a seat harness for years when I had more slalom oriented gear. Boxy railed boards, cambered sails and upright pointy fins seemed to go well with a low hook where you'd hang you butt off the boom. Changed to a waist harness a few years ago which seems better for a freeride or waveboard. Although it doesn't ride up, I tend to get sore lower ribs after a while, and it does constrict my breathing a bit. The seat was definately more comfortable, but now I think I prefer the waist.

Waist harness everytime in my book, you just can't beat sailing in boardies. I changed to a waist harness after I found out I had a ruptured disk in my lower back a few years ago & it has been totally awesome. There is never any slip factor, I was advised to get 1 size smaller & strap it up nice & tight - they also said lose the gut or it will end up looking like a "manzeer" after 10 minutes. The other misconception is people wear them too low when they first try them, the underside of the harness should sit above your hip bone. BTW mineral1 I have a WindWarrior top & it's as if they designed it specifically to suit a waist harness - nice going lads.
Burn those nappies & undeleg straps & come join the revolution....!

AB...

Like most people I started with a seat harness and honestly if I was teaching someone how to windsurf today it's the last thing I'd recommend. I switched to Waist a few years back and although initially I thought, WHAT THE, since getting used to it I can't go back.

I tried my seat harness last year when I broke out the big slalom sail, I sailed for about 200m and turned around...it was that bad. With a seat you get nowhere near the control or the flexibility as with a waist. When a gust hits you are pulled up onto your toes and it is FAR easier to get out of control (read: catapult) than with a waist harness. Since wave sailing is what I do most it's an obvious choice but trust me I wouldn't use my seat for any type of sailing these days, it's merely an air loom :P