I love harness lines. In Darwin, we use oversize wings due to light tropical wind, and gusts can be a handful. Plus, when charging hard upwind to gain ground, or settling in on a long reach, harness lines are worth their weight in gold. The only time I’m not using harness lines is in ultra-light 8 knots with a big 7m wing.

The harness line could be a length of Dyneema line tied on with some plastic tubing over it. It could be an old windsurf line or it could be a dedicated Ion Vario ‘wing harness line’. I like a harness line length similar to what I used windsurfing which is around 26″-28″, but this comes down to individual preference.

The 2022 and 2023 Duotone Units have a symmetrical handle layout so I simply unscrew the handle mounts and slip over each end of a 26″ fixed harness line. The 2024 model has the long front handle which is excellent for manoeuvres but one end of the harness line has to go over the soft grip and can rip up the grip.

Variable harness lines have velcro straps on the ends which makes for quicker installation and removal. I tie up any excess strap to keep it out the way. These work great on a boom and allow for on-water adjustments.

There are a variety of harness line hook options from jackets and vests to belts. Yes, the hook can rip up the deck grip.

Of the three options pictured, at $550 the Ion Rush is expensive but useful in surf or pulling tricks when you need the Kevlar protection. The other options can be found for< $150.

The Wing Belt is a light weight option with a sliding ring on the back and comes with a bungee cord to attach to your board, and you can slide the hook to the side when mounting the board.

The Flow Neo vest offers padding protection and is a 50N rated life vest. The hook can be tucked into a loop (as shown in photo) to keep it out of the way when mounting. I find the hook on the Neo sits slightly higher and for me it is perfectly positioned such that hooking in is a reflex action. With the others I have a lower success rate when I try and hook the line.

Note that the 2025 model WIP Wing Belt 3.0 has larger back support and wing attachment points on the front. Similarly, the Ion Rogue Wing Foil Waist Harness provides enhanced back support. Both options are around $250. A windsurf or kite harness could be used but the stainless steel spreader bar will ding up the board.

If you haven’t tried a harness line yet it is truly a gamechanger.