BayAreaKiteboarding.com

Time for a new harness.

Cannot find good user reviews of Manera EXO Harness, do we have anyone who had both or can give an first hand experience on manera?
They both looks great and from specs only I found it's hard to justify premium for ride.
How hard is manera frame, can you bend it inward more then 5inch?

Thanks.

I love my manera harness. Super light and you really feel that plate wrapping around you instead of just pushing you in the back.
You could reach Rebecca or Jane from Boardsports to try one on if you wanted, I'm almost certain that they carry manera since they carry F-One.
Haven't tried the engine ride. I guess you could justify the premium if you wanted a unique harness.
I feel like this is more a debate in the line of: buy a surfboard from a store or from your local shaper?

Go for the Manera EXO! Very well made. Super comfortable and very supportive. The frame is very supportive without being overly rigid and stiff. Doesn't ride up, stays put around your waist. Nice and soft edges, won't dig into your body. Conforms to your body and feels great on my bad back, actually has a therapeutic effect. Great spreader bar pad and tie down system, keeps bar in place and prevents bar from digging into ribs. Been riding mine for almost a year now and definitely my favorite harness. So light and comfortable, you don't even know it's there. It is very durable and still holding up like new after numerous sessions. It works great for wave riding and freestyle. As an added bonus is looks great, comes in many cool colors, two different back heights, and different spreader bar lengths to enable a great fit for everyone. Definitely worth the investment.

http://manera.com/exoen/

http://manera.quivers.com/p/1526

I've been using an Engine.

Can't comment on the Manera.

I will say that with the custom fit of the Engine, I find it damn hard to believe the Manera will be more comfortable.

As far as the premium goes, you're paying for an individually made harness custom tailored to your dimensions. I mean graphics aside, this is a custom fit harness. It's not as bulky, it's super comfy and if anything breaks Coleman's been freaking on top of things. He's based Santa Cruz, so if it's a quick fix, you can often just drop off your gear and he'll mail it back.

Thanks for the info, will have to figure out myself before new season!

Hey guys, my name is Coleman and I design the ride engine harnesses. The Manera is a very good harness, probably the best "conventional" harness on the market. It is however not a shell harness. The "rigid frame" they have is soft plastic with a metallic sticker on the inside to make it look high tech. Its totally floppy, you can fold the whole harness in half. I think having a truly rigid shell really makes a difference. Its a nightmare to build the shells though and nobody else has gotten that figured out yet so they just make it sound like they have in their marketing.

Love my manera. Plenty stiff for kiting and force is distributed evenly. Spreader bar hold down system works great.

I like the idea of the RE harness but I would have to try it to make sure I like it before I spend that much on a harness. I heard that Dakine C1 suppose to be similar idea and local shops might have a demo harness.

From the videos I've seen the Dakine harness does not have its shell rap around to the sides, which is a key part to the Engine not pinching. The 2015 and 2016 North Styler is also a hard shelled/ hard core model that doesn't pinch too much. It's not as stiff as an engine but it did not fit my 5'11" 145lbs frame well.

My advice. Buy an Engine, totally worth it.

I'm really curious to demo these harnesses as well. I see that only Boardsports CA is listed as a local RE dealer. They don't sell Manera though. I'd try to demo both of these harnesses if possible. I've tried on the RE and so far I'm not super impressed with the fit. The Manera I tried on was one size too big, but it felt much better. Granted I only put them on and not under real load (like hanging from a rope or kite). I hope BC will have some demos or have the rep out for a demo day.