I have already tried the Manera Belt. While it is very comfortable to wear, I think stowing becomes problematic with larger parawings.
In my experience, parawings around 3.5m and smaller are not an issue, but anything bigger feels like a struggle to fit.
A great feature of the Manera, though, is the loop on the belt for the bar; it's because you don't have to tuck the bar under your arm while paddling.
Despite that, I still feel that the Ozone Stash Belt is ultimately the most practical option on the market.
Cheers!

Sheps said..

paskon78 said..
I'm looking for a good parawing stash solution.

Both the Manera Pocket belt and the Ion Jam vest looks interesting.

Anyone tried either of these? I can't find any proper reviews online

I've been trying out the Manera belt last week or so. Overall I like it very much but I also like the Ozone belt. Pros of Manera belt are 1) sail is very secure and doesn't bounce once stowed, great because the ozone can suffer from dirty nappy syndrome and can be tricky in shore break when it fills with water, 2) doesn't loosen and is easy to adjust tightness when on the water unlike the ozone which I found difficult to do especially on long sessions when well powered hooked in, 3) plenty of real estate, leash, hook and holster spread out nicely whereas on ozone if I add a bar clip everything gets a bit close together, 4) stays in place but swivels well when needed, so muscle memory learning is fast and reliable, 5) quality materials, 6) holster works a treat and additional storage area does too, 7) hooked in for a long time it's very comfortably due to wide load distribution. What I didn't like, 1) it's larger and heavier when wet although sail stays dryer in shore break when getting in or out of the water, 2) the sliding hook can get wedged into the holster when riding toe side and difficult to release so I replaced the hook with my own design (ShepsWaterSports), 3) takes longer to stow than the Ozone, 4) it's large/not as minimalistic as the ozone. Essentially I still use the ozone for shorter sessions due to the simplicity and minimalist characteristics and fast stowing, but for longer dw sessions I do like the added secure feel of the Manera. Especially when pumping I love how the sail is held tight and doesn't bounce. The biggest trade off is the extra few seconds feeding it in from the side. The added weight is something to consider too, but it's well comfortable and doesn't move until you want it too. Very happy with it.

excellent breakdown never used the manera but i totally agree with all the ozone stash belt characteristics.

I have the Ion Jam, and I am a fan.

Stash is stupendously easy, and the storage area is pretty huge. There is a little recess at the top and bottom that will hold everything in. It is surprising how much simpler it is compared with trying to get into a waist stash bag, particularly while pumping. It is generally free of catch-points and has a decent size top pocket that will fit a tool, phone, gopro, small novel.

The bar holder doesn't work for me, it just ends up with lines hanging out. It would make an excellent holder for a gopro with selfie stick though, if you were so inclined. I just stash everything in the main pouch which is plenty big enough.

I got this originally to use with two parawings, and it works well for that - I put the ozone stash belt under the Jam on my back, and then clip it through the loops at the front. This keeps the second parawing under the vest so it doesn't fill with water, and I can use the hook on my ozone harness. Its a little fiddly to change out parawings mid session using this technique, but its quite streamlined and its usually only a once-off requirement if conditions are sketchy.

Downsides- it is possible to lose your parawing in a heavy beach entry, particularly if you use the bar holder. Once you're on the board its fine as you're lying on it, but if you are bashing out through dumping waves it can happen. I think I'd prefer this to be entry from one side, which would resolve this issue and mean you can just jam it in without having to centre it in the pouch.

Secondly, you'll still need leash separate, there are no attachments, and same for a harness hook. There is an adapter you can buy for this but I haven't been able to get it in oz yet.

All in all, for the price which is not much different to an ozone belt, its pretty damn good. I am looking forward to the Ozone adventure pack but I still think this will be a better day to day option as its a slim form factor that works especially well for upwind/downwinds where you can stash and redeploy super quickly.

I got the L/XL which is too big for me at 80kg, but perfect under an impact vest (which is how I use it).

paskon78 said..
Great input, thanks!

The main reason I'm looking at Ion Jam and Manera is that they offer a solution to quickly stash the bar (I'm not a big fan of stashing with the bar under my arm). Also they both offer sideway stash which looks good in theory.

Regarding the Ion Jam, does it matter that the lines are hanging out from the bar holder? I envisioned that you put the bar in and then stash the fabric and excess lines in the main storage. But maybe it's harder than I imagine?

Harness hook for Jam: I use a simple velcro strap with a sliding hook. I thought I could just thread that through the Jam and use it as normal, but you are saying it doesn't work without an adapter?

I'll mostly be doing upwind then a few minutes of downwind, so plenty of stash and release. Maybe the Manera is overkill for that and better for longer runs? Also, in relation to Jam there is an extra step to slide it around to stash and then back again to access the hook.

The bar holder just didn't really work for me and added a step, I stash by putting bar under arm and then pack up, and then it would be another step to slot the bar in. You could well be right that putting it in first may work, but muscle memory means it ends up under my arm... I will give it a try and report back. But when I've done it from shore I still personally find the trailing lines annoying.

If you already have a strap with a hook then it will likely thread through the Jam - I don't have a separate strap, only the one on my Ozone stash belt - so to get the hook I need to wear the stash belt (which will thread through the Jam). But then if I'm wearing the stash belt I may as well just take that rather than bring the Jam as well.

The Jam is perfect for the up and down runs, it takes seconds to stash it and then pull it out again at the other end.

My 2cents -

1 - Jam Vest just looks ugly, I also don't think it really solves any issues once you figure out a good technique to stow, in my eyes it maybe even makes things harder as pushing a wing down and in is easier while pumping than pushing sideways. (stroke your stomach pat your head type scenario).

2 - For the same reason as above I'm not a huge fan of the side entry on the Manera belt, I don't think it's better and I think it makes stowing bigger wings much more difficult. I think the only advantage in my eyes is that it collects less water when nothing is inside it if that's a big issue you face. I also don't like it kinda forces you to use the bar holster.

3 - Bar holsters are pointless. I've had one the whole time and I find not only is it a pointless intermediate step for most people but it also tends to tangle far more if left in the holster than simply wedged on top of the wing in a top load bag.

4 - I think the Ozone bag most people have is the right idea but uses the wrong materials. This is why people complain about using it whilst pumping. I have a similar bag but the majority of it is made from stiffer 2mm neoprene with some other stretchier parts and drainage areas and I never have the issue people have with the Ozone.

5 - I really think the simplest and most obvious design (like the Ozone) is all that's needed. The only things that need to be improved in my opinion is a bit more support for using it more as a harness (maybe a positive of the Manera for now).

sir ROWDY said..
My 2cents -

1 - Jam Vest just looks ugly, I also don't think it really solves any issues once you figure out a good technique to stow, in my eyes it maybe even makes things harder as pushing a wing down and in is easier while pumping than pushing sideways. (stroke your stomach pat your head type scenario).

2 - For the same reason as above I'm not a huge fan of the side entry on the Manera belt, I don't think it's better and I think it makes stowing bigger wings much more difficult. I think the only advantage in my eyes is that it collects less water when nothing is inside it if that's a big issue you face. I also don't like it kinda forces you to use the bar holster.

3 - Bar holsters are pointless. I've had one the whole time and I find not only is it a pointless intermediate step for most people but it also tends to tangle far more if left in the holster than simply wedged on top of the wing in a top load bag.

4 - I think the Ozone bag most people have is the right idea but uses the wrong materials. This is why people complain about using it whilst pumping. I have a similar bag but the majority of it is made from stiffer 2mm neoprene with some other stretchier parts and drainage areas and I never have the issue people have with the Ozone.

5 - I really think the simplest and most obvious design (like the Ozone) is all that's needed. The only things that need to be improved in my opinion is a bit more support for using it more as a harness (maybe a positive of the Manera for now).

Agreed

sir ROWDY said..
My 2cents -

1 - Jam Vest just looks ugly, I also don't think it really solves any issues once you figure out a good technique to stow, in my eyes it maybe even makes things harder as pushing a wing down and in is easier while pumping than pushing sideways. (stroke your stomach pat your head type scenario).

5 - I really think the simplest and most obvious design (like the Ozone) is all that's needed. The only things that need to be improved in my opinion is a bit more support for using it more as a harness (maybe a positive of the Manera for now).

The Jam vest is 1000% easier than using the Ozone waist belt. And for a bigger parawing it is miles better again. I have both and use both and can tell you that it is sensationally easy to stow, literal seconds. You can also be a lot more loosey goosey on your packup before you stow, as there is a lot more space. On a 3m, I just do a single fold from the bottom to the ribs and chuck it in.

I tried using the Jam bar holder today as promised and it does not work well, the horns on the Ozone make it difficult to stick in and it undoes all the benefits of the quick shove in of the whole thing.

yeah they missed a trick there as it would have been easy to put a zipped stash on the back for either/or.

or go all in with an impact vest with a harness attachment and storage.

still for only $40 more than an ozone waist belt it is not a bad bit of kit.

that ozone powerpack bag is one of the best ways to carry a second para that I've used, will be interesting to see what their new pack looks like.

NSI belt is pretty good too. It doesn't stretch or bounce like the Ozone belt and the webbing is supportive enough for a harness line (for me at least). Only issue is that the barrel toggle that closes the pouch is a little finnicky to use - it tightens very easily, but loosening it to redeploy is harder. None of these are perfect - I'd wait to see the new gen2 belts (Ozone should come in the next couple weeks) before buying anything if I were in the market.