Who owns the Aquata Equipe XT and can give a review?

Does the quick release system work well?

In the $150 range is there a better harness for the money?

Also having a hard time finding a clean link to the Aquata site.

My wife just bought (and is now neglecting <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> ) her new Aquata equipe harness. The quick release is hard to reset and if you use it you will lose the hook. Not a big deal if you absolutely need to get out of it but I don't know how expensive the replacements are. I am not sure how easy it would be to release under pressure either. BTW, a friend just bought a set of Dakine kitesurfing shorts with the harness built in and he absolutely loves it.
Watch me regret saying this but I don't think the quick release hooks are really necessary.

I have 2 of them. Love them! Easy to fit , comfortable to wear. The bar release works very well under pressure, not sure why you would ever need it though. Have good lumbar insert. Very comfy on the wire once properly adjusted, also good back support with the straps cranked down. Bar can be released from either side with the flick of a lever. The people at Aquata were great to work with, I bought direct.

I bought the equipe xt before the quick release came available. The harness is well made and comfortable when well adjusted. My problem was after going in and out after a couple of hours it needed serious adjustment. I decided to go a different route and got the Dakine Nitrous windsurfing shorts and I'm amazed how comfortable and easy to use they are. the only reason i use the equipe now is for very long distance races when i know i'll want the extra shoulder support.

Along the same lines of this post....I had my girlfriend out on the boat last week for the first time, and she took to it like a champ....Out on the wire, hoisting, flying, and dousing the spin. Everthing. But she was extremely uncomfortable in the harness (and aquata half harness). I was thinking she may be more comfortable in one of the old stlye harnesses without the spreader bars. Any female sailors out there care to chime in on what they feel is most comfortable for them?

I would venture a guess it wasn't the spreader bar that was uncomfortable, but rather the leg straps. The spreader bar is what keeps the seat harness from making your waistline/pelvis hurt.

Try hanging from your belt buckle a few times and you'll get what I mean.

Any other options for those crotch straps? That's what usually bothers me....

Magic has slightly redesigned their quick release within the last month or so. The hook and spring assembly is the same but the velcro tab that you pull is now on the top of the spreader bar and the lines are exposed so it is easier to put the hook back in (it still takes some practice though). Magic has been on the leading edge of the conversion to quick release harness hooks, they were the 1st ones ready when the ruling was announced to make them a requirment. My guess is the reason this rule keeps getting pushed back is that there is some other large manufacturer that is not ready.

2 deaths in the Tornado class in the last few years that I know of is certainly reason enough to make this a great saftey requirment. I was once trapped under the tramp of a Hobie 14 that pitchpoled and turtled immediatley. I could see where if I were hooked into the trap it would have been nice to have a quick release.

I've personally have 2 Magic Marine pro harnesses I still use, one has lasted me 10 years, the other 7. Totally worth the money and IMO the best harnesses out there, just find the one in their line that is right for you.

It recently occurred to me that having dyneema trap lines adds another benefit to carrying a safety knife- you can cut the line if necessary.