TECH HIGHLIGHT: THE PERKS OF USING A WING FOIL HARNESS!

Relieve your muscles by simply putting your bodyweight at work with a lightweight, comfortable harness for longer sessions and faster recovery!

The benefits of wearing a harness in wing foiling are various:

Less fatigue, of course, leading to greater efficiency on the water, as you conserve more energy. The difference is noticeable. Every tack becomes a "resting" tack, whereas without a harness, it would require extra physical effort. This is a huge bonus when you want to enjoy those 5-star conditions for a bit longer.
More precision, especially on long tacks, where you can sit back in the harness and concentrate on steering with your fingertips. Indispensable in race mode, and so much fun to ride upwind in freeride, freestyle or wave riding.
More comfort, as you can free up your hands to adjust a leash, for example. You can also attach your leash directly to the harness with a quick-release system, whether straight or coiled.
More sessions, as saving your energy allows for quicker recovery, meaning you can hit the water again in top shape for the rest of the week or weekend. Why ride hard for just 1 hour when you can go for 3 hours every day with the same effort?

Wingfoiler: Julien, GONG team rider, with a GONG Powerlight harness, a Pulse DP Perf Series, a Racer FSP Pro, a Ypra-S foil and a HM107 mast.

Is a harness compulsory?

Using a harness isn’t essential, but it's a valuable way to conserve physical energy. It's very easy to use, making it suitable even for beginners. As soon as you’re able to ride for long distances, you’re ready to wear a harness.

Riding without a harness is great for sessions with shorter tacks, especially when you have recovery phases in free fly. However, for longer tacks and more physical engagement—whether it's in high-speed freerace runs or constant relaunches in freestyle—a harness offers undeniable comfort. It's a highly recommended accessory with only benefits. The only thing to watch out for is not damaging your board with the harness hook, but you quickly get the hang of it. And with inflatable boards, there's no risk. You can also choose a sliding hook that moves to the side for added safety.

Preventing tendinitis and other injuries

Beyond these quickly noticeable advantages, at GONG, we have a history in wing foiling that allows us to foresee the potential injuries associated with this activity. While riding without a harness may initially feel great for your body, overdoing it can, in some cases, lead to serious issues: tendinitis, various wear and tear, general fatigue, etc. So, if you’re a regular rider, don’t skimp on this essential accessory, as it might save you from having to stay dry during a recovery period.

The performance boost in FreeRace and Race

The harness also allows you to lock in on a tack and go full speed. It’s essential for long tacks in racing mode, where achieving performance often requires being overpowered. The harness enables you to hold a larger wing comfortably, helping you beat your speed records. With your weight supported in the harness, you only need to control your wing with your fingertips to gain knot after knot or improve your angle upwind.

Even in freeride, wave, or freestyle practices, your upwind performance will suffer over distance without the help of a harness for precise control. Inevitably, you’ll need to ease off at some point to relieve your arms. With a harness, however, you can go full throttle all the time.

Wingfoiler: Julien, GONG team rider, with a GONG Powerlight harness, a Pulse DP Perf Series, a Racer FSP Pro, a Ypra-S foil and a HM107 mast.

Which harness should you choose for wing foiling?

Choose a lightweight harness, like our GONG Powerlight harness. This discreet harness is so comfortable that you’ll hardly notice it during phases when you're not using it. It offers all the benefits of a harness without the bulkiness of a kite or windsurfing harness.

Note the absence of a shell, which allows for the flexibility you love in wing foiling. First, it doesn’t constrict you when you get back on the board. Second, you won’t even feel it while pumping or surfing, for example.

The closure system of your harness should be highly practical. On our GONG Powerlight harness, the buckle opens in just one second, allowing you to attach your leashes while still having the option to exit the harness without having to undo a strap.

Spreader bar or sliding hook?

A spreader bar in stainless steel with its cover for a better distribution of efforts.

A plastic hook for a minimalist and secure combo. It’s secure because it won’t damage your board when you step back on it. Reassuring because it will not damage your board by going up on it. It’s a good compromise for your harness debut. This hook also has the advantage of being able to be slid to the side in order to paddle lying on your board.

A harness radically changes your sessions: it allows you to conserve your energy for intense phases like jumps, surfing, and maneuvers, while saving your strength during transfer phases: riding up to the peak, going upwind, and on long tacks.

See also the essential harness attachments for wings with handles or boom wings.