Why a Ride Engine harness will change your entire kiteboarding experience
Ride Engine was founded on one simple principal: Solve a major problem with a critical piece of equipment.
Dating back to the beginning of the sport, kiteboarding harnesses have had several inadequacies in their function. They were essentially modified windsurfing harnesses, and as such were not designed to handle the different load, angles and pressure points inherent to kiteboarding.
As pretty much anyone who kiteboards will admit, no matter how well a harness fits or how tight it gets, it will eventually ride-up their back, twist around their hips and squeeze their waist as the kite pulls from different angles and directions. Additionally, riders are often forced to rotate their harnesses from side to side to get pull from the proper angle when carving upwind, riding toeside or catching waves. That range of motion requires a looseness in the harness that contributes to the same problems, which can result in an array of drawbacks, from limited performance and range of motion to constricted breathing, physical discomfort and long-term back problems.
Ride Engine’s Hard Shell Harness is a completely unique, kiteboarding-specific design that solves these problems exceptionally well. So well, in fact, that we’re confident in saying, no matter what type of rider you are, a Ride Engine harness will change your entire kiteboarding experience.
THE SHELL:
The core of the Hard Shell Harness is an ergonomic and form fitting shell designed from hundreds of precision molds.
Unlike traditional harnesses that bend and flex, and consequently focus load on certain pressure points, the hard shell contours firmly to the rider’s back and sides, distributing load evenly across the lumbar and hips and locking the harness in the ideal position. It also keeps the connection to the kite at its optimum location- at the rider’s core and center of effort, where leverage, power and control are maximized.
- Industry’s first hard shell: Light, strong, form-fitting
- Low profile: Hard shell design allows for smaller profile and less bulk, which provides increased mobility and range of motion.
- Lumbar Lock: Harness contoured to lumbar and sides, locks into place and doesn’t rotate or ride up.
- Deluxe padding: Upgraded padding material for superior comfort and hold.
- Speed-lock attachments: No-frills, simple and lightweight entry-exit and tightening system utilizing two simple loops and buckles.
Sliding Spreader Bar: With a harness that locks in place, lateral motion must come from the connection between kite and harness, so Ride Engine designed an ingeniously simple spreader bar system that attaches directly to the rider’s chicken loop via a high strength rope running the length of the spreader bar. This allows the chicken loop to slide smoothly from side to side as the rider changes positions and angles of attack and brings the control bar closer the rider’s body, which results in more ergonomic control as the bar’s maximum throw is moved closer to the rider’s body.
Fixed hook Spreader Bar: A standard fixed metal hook and spreader bar is available for freestyle riders who want to maintain the ability to unhook while riding. The fixed hook and sliding rope systems can be swapped-out in a matter of just a couple minutes, no tools required.