Rear line on Harness: Question

WindLogik · Since 09 Feb 2009 95 Posts Hood River

All,

Is the rear line (the line that you connect your leash to) on a harness strong enough to drag/rescue another person? Anyone ever had one break from this kind of a thing?

DownStream · Since 18 Apr 2007 381 Posts Obsessed

there are a lot of different harnesses out there .... but we have used that handle / line many times to drag (and be dragged) back in. ripped some stitching on a few occasions, but never ripped one off (yet)

leash to the back not recommended for beginners or anyone that is not comfortable being drug backwards/on their back by out of control kite. It is difficult to get the release, or otherwise get on your chest and climb the leash back to the bar to try to sort things out. (done it a bunch, definitely hard). mount the leash to the side/front of the harness if you can't handle the back drag.

kiterbiker · Since 12 Jun 2010 65 Posts

I think those are pretty strong. Theres not a ton of force from another rider holding onto it if you are just towing someone in at a reasonably controlled pace. I towed a guy in after he lost his kite in the middle of the river a few years ago, seemed to work fine for that.

DownStream · Since 18 Apr 2007 381 Posts Obsessed

btw the towing experiences i was referring to were not at a "reasonable controlled pace." they were pretty much full on, hard as we could. also towed riders on lines attached to the handle thing too. and still havent ripped one off all the way, but im not saying its not bound to happen eventually.

actually now that i think about it more, i definitely remember switching the grip from the handle to the actual harness during a couple of those experiences (hooking hands into back of harness from the top) because it seemed like the handles were getting worked too hard and ready to rip.

A.K. · Since 01 Jul 2006 190 Posts Stoked

But where would you connect a leash to the front of your harness. I wish there was a good place. Unfortunately anything up front leads to the leash getting tangled up in the spreader bar hook..

DownStream · Since 18 Apr 2007 381 Posts Obsessed

side mount: many harnesses have a fixed ring attachment point on each side. many harnesses with only a strap across the back have a loop or ring at either end of the strap (near the side of the harness) that the leash can go to which will keep it from sliding to the middle of the back, where it is awkward to be pulled from and difficult to reach.

side leash is good, it is not hard (relatively) to stay on your chest or access your leash line and leash release when getting drug from a side mounted point.

front is weird, but many people do it: there are straps to loop around the harness bar with a ring to clip leash to, webbing connecting the harness bar to the harness is also somewhat legit. you can use a short leash if it runs to the front of the harness so it isnt dragging between your legs.