All of the hard shell harnesses we have tested so far have one thing in common - they divided the opinions of the testers. From "fits perfectly" to "pinches everywhere" was the inconclusive conclusion afterwards. That's why we always recommended trying on such hard-shell harnesses in the shop. Manufacturer ION now wants to make it possible for customers to find exactly the right harness shape with the help of a few measurements. The Icon Curv harness is available, for example, from Online surf shop available .
David Mariot from ION explains how the ION Curv harness works.
David, hard-shell trapezes are a double-edged sword. Explain your idea to us.
Hard shell harnesses are unbeatable in terms of performance and support - if they fit perfectly. Until now, the problem was that customers only used their hip circumference as a yardstick to find the right harness size. This is simply not enough, because every back is different. Even with the same circumference, individual back lengths and shapes can be completely different. For this reason, we offer our new Icon Curv in several versions.
How exactly can you imagine this?
As usual, the sizes S/M/L refer to the hip circumference. The second step is to measure your back length. To make sure you measure correctly, there will be measuring tools in our shops and a detailed "Online Size Guide" on our website. In addition, each size is available in a "tall version". This is cut two centimetres higher and therefore offers greater back support. To take the third dimension into account, we supply each harness with two different back pads.
What's the deal with the upholstery?
With commercially available harnesses, people who have a slightly hollow back, for example, always have some air between the padding and the spine. Together with Dr Thomas Fischer, head of back surgery in Bad Aibling and a passionate surfer himself, we have developed an Ergo-Pad that is designed to compensate for different back shapes - straight or curved. Each harness is supplied with two different thicknesses of padding, which can be tried out and exchanged using Velcro. If you have a hollow back, use the thicker pad. Conversely, the thin pad makes sense for a straighter back. The back pad spares the spine, so the pull of the sail is not on the vertebrae but only on the muscles, which prevents back pain. With normal harnesses, when the back muscles tire, the pressure is on the vertebrae. This is not the case with our pad.
Who is the product specifically aimed at?
Everyone can benefit from it. Especially people who don't get out on the water so often and therefore don't have such a well-trained back.
