Windsurfing Harness Bars

Windsurfing Harness Bars: Get Hooked On Quality!

Hey there windsurfers! One thing that can really help keep you shredding longer is a windsurfing harness bar. This little gadget attaches to your harness and allows you to hook your waist to the boom harness line, kick back and enjoy the ride.

Not only does a harness bar make it easier to stay balanced and in control, but it also lowers the center of effort on your body from your shoulders to your waist and allows you to use your body weight to steer the board and adjust the sail. This can be especially helpful in strong wind and wave conditions when you need to make quick adjustments to keep your balance.

Windsurfing harness bars look like a short T shape where the top of the T is the “spreader” component of the harness bar, which is often called a spreader bar because it spreads the load across your hips so you your sides don’t get squeezed when the rig pulls against you. The bottom of the T shape is the hook that hooks you in and out of the boom harness line loop. Harness bars may be as simple as a single stainless steel piece or may come with clips and other ergonomic features to reduce twist and increase comfort, safety, and accessibility. 

The Best of the Best: Windance's Selection of Harness Bars for Windsurfers

Here's a rundown of the different types of harness bars you'll find at Windance:

1. Stainless Steel Spreader Bars: These bars are designed simply to distribute the load evenly across your back and hips and allow you to hook in and out safely and efficiently.
2. Ergonomic Bars: In addition to the stainless steel spreader bar component, these harness bars may include additional padding, rigid wings to reduce bar twist, and a variety of locking/unlocking mechanisms to allow the bar to be secured or released safely and easily. They're ideal for advanced riding and comfort during long sessions, allowing maximum comfort and performance.

Note: Some harnesses are windsurfing-specific and can be lighter than a typical kite harness because they don’t need to sustain the same loads or have as many kite-specific safety features. There are also harnesses that can be used for multiple sports by simply changing the harness bar. So if you’re a multi-sport enthusiast, rather than having two harnesses for kiting and windsurfing and another for winging, you may want to consider using a single multi-sport harness and simply carrying different harness bars to swap out for the sport of your choice. 

When to Use A Harness Bar For Windsurfing

What skill level do you need to use a harness bar? 

A harness bar is a handy little gadget that attaches to your windsurfing harness and gives you a way to hang onto the boom almost hands-free so your fingers can focus on steering in much the same way as a guitar strap holds a guitar in place leaving your fingers free to shred. It's especially useful for intermediate and advanced riders who want to get radical with their windsurfing, cruise long distances, achieve blazing speed, and maximize upwind performance.

While a harness can provide a little floatation and protection, being hooked to your boom harness line with a harness and harness bar helps windsurfers stay balanced and in control while planing at high speeds, but can add complexity and get in the way when taxiing at slower speeds. For that reason, it’s not recommended for beginners.

If you are planing off and sometimes riding in the foot straps of your windsurf board, you’re ready for a harness. 

Shop The Best Windsurf Spreader Bars at Windance

So whether you're a seasoned pro or a total newbie to the sport, a harness bar can be a valuable addition to your windsurfing setup. Check out Windance’s full line of windsurf harness bars.