Best Regular Harness for 2011
by Jérôme Daoust, revised 2013/11/20
Please send in comments on your harness. It will help others to shop for their next one.
Unwanted features:
· Footrest / stirrup.
· Front leg fairing.
· Airbag. Prefer always-ready foam multi-cell airbag.
My body: Male, 5' 10" (178 cm) and 168 lb (76.3 kg).
My selection: On 2011/8/21, I decided to purchase a Skywalk / Cult 3 from Torrey Pines Gliderport. For now, the reduced storage volume of an airbag harness is not worth the safety concerns: Impact energy absorption varies too much depending on inflation time (after launch), airflow direction (OK with under seat inlet, not good with side inlet when falling vertically) and if the reserve parachute was deployed (less energy absorption if no longer under seat). So I chose a foam-bag harness from the table below.
2013/4/10: If I had to decide today, I would get the Woody Valley / Velvet 2.
2013/11/20: If I had to decide today, I would get the Woody Valley / Haska.
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Color code: |
Good |
So-So |
Bad |
Unknown |
|
Model |
Talk |
Size |
Revie-wer |
True legs strap (easy on privates)? |
Easy entry without footrest. |
Seat plate material. |
Cupped seating: Reclined seat board + Full back support. |
Built-in speedbar retractor. |
Back protection. |
Side protection. |
Can use quick-links instead of carabiners. Carabiner orientation. |
Storage easily fits rucksack. |
Built-in reserve container. Location? Easy to close flaps? |
Extra comment. |
|
Advance / Success 2+ |
M? |
Jérôme |
No. |
Carbon fiber. |
Hs seat angle adjustment. Needs testing. |
Yes. |
18 cm dual-chamber foam. |
No. |
Yes. Turned TBD°. |
Variable volume. Under seat. RHS handle. |
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|
Gin Gliders / Genie 4 |
M is right size, but shoulder straps almost too long. |
Jérôme |
No. Some separation at seat plate. Ball buster when chest strap is short. |
Yes. |
Wood. Optional Carbon fiber. |
Comfort OK. Has seat depth straps for cupped seating. Good back angle adjustment. |
Yes. X diagonal system under seat. |
15 cm multi-chamber foam. Optional 17 cm. |
Optional. |
Yes, tested. Turned TBD°. |
Yes. Very easy to fit a Nova rucksack. |
Under seat. RHS handle. |
Expensive with all options. Cam-lock buckles for lateral straps. Auto detach foot stirrup (not speed line) on reserve deployment. Nice construction, attention to details. |
|
|
Kortel / Kamasutra 2 |
|
M? |
Jérôme |
No. |
Carbon fiber default or option? |
No. |
Mousse bag 14 cm. |
No. |
Yes. Turned TBD°. |
Under seat. RHS handle. |
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|
Skywalk / Cult 3 |
M is good fit. |
Jérôme |
Yes + Padded. |
Yes. |
Comfy, some pressure at front of seat plate. Seat angle adjusts (good range) with strap to front. Back is rigid, padded, mesh-textured. |
No. But Velcro to hold it. During full speed collapse testing on 2013/6/18, bar stuck under harness 2 out of 3 times. |
17 cm. Access from right side, under reserve bridle channel flap. |
Protexx, blue dense foam. |
Probably, but the 3 connected straps well suited to AustriAlpin Powerfly Inox with wide base. Turned 90°. |
Yes. |
Under seat. RHS handle. Flaps can be very difficult to close due to stacked grommets. |
Simple, clean look. Automatic Separation System for the speed system (problem solved), also works without foot stirrup. Weight without reserve: 5.72 kg (12 lb 8 oz). |
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|
Sup'Air / Evo XC 2 |
M? |
Jérôme |
Yes. |
Wood. Optional Carbon fiber. |
No. |
Bump'Air 17 cm. |
No. |
Yes. Turned TBD°. |
Under seat. RHS handle. |
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|
Swing / Connect 2 |
L? |
Jérôme |
Yes. |
Wood. Optional Carbon fiber. |
Has seating depth adjustment. Needs testing. |
No. |
17 cm foam. |
Optional. |
Yes. Turned TBD°. |
Under seat. RHS handle. |
2+ year old design. Not popular in USA. |
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|
Woody Valley / Exense |
L |
Jérôme |
Yes. But strap can rub inside thigh in flight if too tight. |
Yes |
Polycarbonate. |
Can be very cupped. |
No. |
17 cm foam. |
No. |
Yes. Turned TBD°. |
Yes. |
Under seat. RHS handle. |
Chest strap higher above carabiners than most, so cockpit lid cannot flip back over it. |
|
|
Woody Valley / Haska |
L |
Jérôme |
Yes, if T-LOCK chosen over GET-UP. |
TBD |
Polypropylene with flexible front. |
Seems so. TBD. |
No |
Self-inflating airbag. |
Optional. |
Yes. Turned TBD°. |
Designed to be spacious. |
Under seat. RHS (LHS optional) handle. |
Weight (L) without reserve (claim): 4.15 kg (9.1 lb). Replaces both Velvet 2 models (air & foam). |
|
|
Woody Valley / Velvet 2 |
L is good fit. |
Jérôme |
Yes, if T-LOCK chosen over GET-UP. |
Yes. |
Wood. Optional Polycarbonate. |
Has seating depth adjustment. Tested: Comfy. |
No. |
17 cm foam. |
Optional. |
Yes, easy to swap. Turned 30°. |
Yes, can fit 200 liter Gin rucksack. |
Under seat. RHS handle. Large container & Flaps easy to close (I did a repack). |
Weight (L) without reserve (claim): 5.5 kg (12.1 lb). Replaced by Haska, late 2013. |
|
|
Woody Valley / X-Over 3 |
L? |
Jérôme |
No. |
Wood. Optional Polycarbonate. |
Has seating depth adjustment. Needs testing. |
No. |
17 cm foam. |
No. |
Yes. Turned TBD°. |
Under seat. RHS handle. |
Extra info
Safety problem with airbag harnesses.
Study done for reversible airbag harness, but safety concerns applicable to all airbag harnesses: DHV, 2011/2/2: Safety problem - Convertible rucksack harness.
Open VS pod harness.
Denis Cortella: A few thoughts on pod harnesses (source).
Paragliding Forum: Does a pod harness make sense for me?
