The Ride Engine Momentum windsurfing and kitesurfing harness is a model with a soft and comfortable shell. We tried it recently, and, in this article, we report the results of our test.

 

Windsurfing harness, test: Ride Engine Momentum V2

 

Important premise

 

Ride Engine is a brand that produces harnesses, and which is very popular lately. But the models produced are really very different from each other. They are almost all designed to adapt very well to the rider's abdomen, but some are designed to distribute the load more on the hips and throughout the waist, others to concentrate it on the back, on the lumbar part, or even on the upper part, and, in general, considering the stiffness of the whole, they do it very well indeed. Therefore, we strongly advise you not to buy without infos, but to inform yourself very well before, and if possible to try them in the water too. And that is why this review can be very useful to you. Don't rely on general advice and opinions.

 

After testing the Lyte V1, a harness with a quite rigid shell (read the article with the results of this test), we tried the Ride Engine Momentum V2 in the version with the Unity webbing connection, i.e. the linking system to the bar made by usual fabric straps. The bar with hook is universal and can also be used with the Direct Connection system (with rigid plastic bands).

 

 

 

  

 

Impressions about the construction

 

  I

The Momentum has a much less rigid and more padded shell than the Lyte (or other harnesses of this brand), and does not remain stuck on the abdomen as the Lyte, but offers more comfort to your back, and places the traction of the sail more on the hips , than on the lumbar part. For me, suffering from back pain, it was a necessary choice, accepting a slight mobility of the shell around the waist (the Lyte, from this point of view, is unsurpassed). The harness has a greater weight than the Lyte, even when dry. The weight we measured (with a 10-inch bar) was found to be 1700 g. As we will say shortly, the shell of this model absorbs water, being quite padded, and the weight increases quite a bit during use.

On the Ride Engine website, this harness, in size M, costs around 119 US dollars. The cost of the 10-inch bar is approximately $125. In other countries, the harness is, however, sold at higher prices, generally.

The brand describes the product like this:

The Momentum is our best-in-class soft shell harness, built for those riders who want the locked-in fit of a Ride Engine hard shell but also want maximum freedom and flexibility. The Momentum offers the same scientifically engineered back support in the lumbar area. The Momentum connects directly to our Unity bar for flawless connectivity.

With a shape scientifically backed by over 1000 custom molds, the shell fits and cradles your lower back, back and sides and locks the harness securely in place, without it sliding from side to side or riding up.

The Momentum is designed to be used with our Unity Spreader Bar but can also be used with an old-style webbing-closure spreader bar if desired.

 

Using impressions 

 

The harness was tested extensively, in multiple sessions during my recent trip to South Africa in 2024, with several consecutive days of use.

The feeling is very comfortable, although the shell is compact (not as high as that of my previous Dakine T8). The adjustment, with the Webbing connection, is less precise than that guaranteed by the Direct connection that I tried with the Lyte model. However, once the straps are tightened, the shell remains firmly on the abdomen and does not rise. As mentioned, the harness exerts good lateral pressure, and after several consecutive days of use, I experienced slight discomfort in my hips. However, nothing unbearable. I had no back pain problems (like with the Lyte) after the sessions.

The harness, as already mentioned, absorbs a lot of water (thick padding), and becomes heavier. Consequently, it takes a few days to dry completely, at least in winter, at temperatures below 10 Celsius degrees. Lyte almost does not absorb water, and dries within a few hours (and this is one of its great advantages).

 

 

Even with this model, it is quite difficult to release the bar after use by acting on the bar lock levers (even more, if your hands are cold). To solve the problem, it is possible and advisable to loosen the webbing connection straps, first, so that the levers are subject to less lateral effort, but, doing so, you lose the adjustment set with respect to your body size and the wetsuit used. But when you wear it once more, just tighten them easily again, until the shell adheres well to the body. I found it useful, to release the lever more easily, to rotate the harness on your abdomen, and bring the lever to the center of your belly (the hand works more easily and effectively).

In conclusion, I consider the Ride Engine Momentum a valid product, comfortable and compact, with some details that could be improved.

Hang loose. Fabio