I've got one. Really happy with it. I chose the C1 over the ride as I liked the fit better (in the shop only - haven't tried the ride on the water). For me the Ride rubbed on my ribs too much. The C1 is a slightly different shape so its definitely worth a try.
I have the maniac spreader bar which again I like. Nice compromise between hook and slider but allows you to tether launch - unlike just a rope slider - and also to swap kites (which I tend to do with my mates a fair bit).
Nice and light too. I have come off a North Airstyler which has a fairly small back shape so I didn't want a really broad back shape. Both C1 and Ride have a nice short back cut. The harness hardly rides up at all, although the hook can twist a bit if you spend too long chatting to people on the beach with the kite in the air.
Bottom line: I think its great. Its about 40% cheaper than a ride where I live which buys a lot of petrol for trips to the beach. Try both if you can as they have slightly different fit. If both seem comfortable - buy the cheapest 
I ride with one. It feels awesome, it never rides up and is super firm in the back and sides. I like to wear my harness loosish. The C1 allows for this. This way my harness can swivel on my wetsuit. The Engine's are about being a super tight fit.
Id say when choosing, if you want a super tight fit, go the engine, but if you unhook and surf then choose the C1.
I ride with a fixed bar on my ride engine and also like my harness to be a super tight fit.
The reason I like it, is because it has such a small shell and whether I'm hooked or unhooked, doesn't constrict me in any way.
My back is also f*&ked so having that support from the molded shell is a blessing from baby jesus
I've got the fixed hook on my ride engine and used to use it for jumping...Now I've gone back to my manera.
The ride engine is good for waves, but not so for jumping. Too much load causes the buckle to slip, which I'm hoping to fix but as of yet haven't got a response from ride engine...If I can't do this I'll consider getting a C-1 as I won't be shelling out another $600 for a 2017 harness that may have fixed this problem.
The C-1 has a rigid area against your back but doesn't wrap around your body like the ride engine so you may not feel as supported, however the price is substantially lower.
Keep in mind 2017 gear is due soon so some other manufacturers may be releasing similar harnesses.
Select to expand quoteAshley27 said..
I've got the fixed hook on my ride engine and used to use it for jumping...Now I've gone back to my manera.
The ride engine is good for waves, but not so for jumping. Too much load causes the buckle to slip, which I'm hoping to fix but as of yet haven't got a response from ride engine...If I can't do this I'll consider getting a C-1 as I won't be shelling out another $600 for a 2017 harness that may have fixed this problem.
The C-1 has a rigid area against your back but doesn't wrap around your body like the ride engine so you may not feel as supported, however the price is substantially lower.
Keep in mind 2017 gear is due soon so some other manufacturers may be releasing similar harnesses.
Can you tuck the strap end back through the buckle? There's a picture by Terry in one of the harness/hook threads...
Yeah I did that and it slows the release, but doesn't stop it. Doing this make it a right c**t to try and re-tension it when it comes loose. The single small buckle seems too small for the load its expected to take.
Have you tried marking the webbing with a white ink pen and checking whether it actually is coming undone? Could be that it feels like it loosening because you are exerting yourself so much when you jump/crash?
I'm on my second one now, the first carbon elite lasted about 10 months before something gave way inside the lining in the back of it and created a very uncomfortable lump, the importer replaced it immediately. So now I'm on new webbing, but it still does not slip.
Is it only one side that slipping? Have you perhaps got sunscreen on the webbing?
Nope I haven't checked with a white marker but I do it up tight when I start and after awhile I've got the spreader up into the ribs. The harness will stay in place for a while with a levitated spreader but give it more time the harness itself will move up my back. So I "assumed" it was becoming loose.
Yep it's only one side that's slipping, the side used to tighten.
Nope I don't have sunscreen on the webbing.
Could it possibly be that the buckle is too small?. Someone else on the beach has one and says he loves it, but at a guess he's 75kg. I'm 105kg so could the increased load inposed on the buckle cause it to slip?.
Select to expand quoteAshley27 said...
I've got the fixed hook on my ride engine and used to use it for jumping...Now I've gone back to my manera.
The ride engine is good for waves, but not so for jumping. Too much load causes the buckle to slip, which I'm hoping to fix but as of yet haven't got a response from ride engine...If I can't do this I'll consider getting a C-1 as I won't be shelling out another $600 for a 2017 harness that may have fixed this problem.
The C-1 has a rigid area against your back but doesn't wrap around your body like the ride engine so you may not feel as supported, however the price is substantially lower.
Keep in mind 2017 gear is due soon so some other manufacturers may be releasing similar harnesses.
Would anyone know when Dakine release their new 2017 gear? Keen on seeing any improvements to the C1 Harness.
I sent Dakine (USA) an email this week asking the same question, this is the response:
Thank you for your interest in Dakine! The C-1 was actually just released this summer. It is one of the newest and most modern harnesses on the entire market. That being said, it will be receiving some updates for next season, but that information isn't out yet as to what exactly will be the changes. Hope that helps you out!
So I may as well have not bothered asking...this response is useless information for me.
I dunno what part of the globe the aforementioned summer is supposed to be in ???, but from memory it was released before the Ride Engine which may have been October, or earlier sometime in Australia? (the retailers will know exactly). If its updated annually then I'm hoping it should be due soon.
I also posed the question to Kitepower back in July, this is the response:
It will stay the same for 2017 but we don't even take shipment of those until August of 2017 so over a year way. The C1 is great and I have all sizes in stock now.
Looks like no changes...surprising given Ride Engine has already put out the details on updates for their harness as their production models are nearly one year old.
Maybe Dakine don't update every year?
Select to expand quoteAshley27 said..
I also posed the question to Kitepower back in July, this is the response:
It will stay the same for 2017 but we don't even take shipment of those until August of 2017 so over a year way. The C1 is great and I have all sizes in stock now.
Looks like no changes...surprising given Ride Engine has already put out the details on updates for their harness as their production models are nearly one year old.
Maybe Dakine don't update every year?
Thanks for the prompt update Ashley. I can understand if Dakine don't update every year....How any company makes money doing this I have no idea.... I tried the C1 on a few weeks back and it almost had me sold. I just didn't like the double fastening straps each side. It's time consuming and isn't any more efficient compared to a single strap system imo. Secondly, the retailer i visited wanted to charge me extra for swapping the fixed hook for the maniac sliding hook. Nothing against the retailer as it's probably stipulated by the distributer. I have noted on the US Dakine websites the C1 comes inclusive of the maniac sliding hook. I guess I assumed if it's designed primarily for surfing then the sliding hook should come as standard.......Silly me
I don't think the double straps are an issue, once you have them set correctly you just fold them up & stash them in the side cover/pocket.
Whats the charge for the slider ? I saw $10 listed on the net.
I have a Renegade atm & think the C1 will be my next harness with my custom rope slider, looks like KP have them on back order waiting for stock.
Select to expand quotetoppleover said...
I don't think the double straps are an issue, once you have them set correctly you just fold them up & stash them in the side cover/pocket.
Whats the charge for the slider ? I saw $10 listed on the net.
I have a Renegade atm & think the C1 will be my next harness with my custom rope slider, looks like KP have them on back order waiting for stock.
The double straps was not a deal breaker, just a personal preference. Cost of the Maniac Sliding hook was $80AUS. You can get a sliding hook webbing replacement for around $10 you may have it confused with. Your custom slider rope sounds interesting Toppleover. Any pics?
I'm hoping a retailer could clarify the slider issue if any read this.
I must have been looking at an OS site, there was only $10 diff between ordering a C1 with the hammer head & slider ( at least that's what I thought I read). Even Dakine are out of stock ?
Its just an old cut down Dakine bar (the new ones have a smaller metal loop & don't let the rope pass through), the wear on the rope is from when I didnt have the pulley on.
let me know when your up this way again mate. 
I saw the updated version in the shop last week.
The new C1 has an extra tie down strap to stop the spreader bar from rising. Different colour scheme. I didn't notice any other changes compared to my version.
Can't say that the extra strap is worth it unless you spend a lot of time with the kite parked at 12.
Anyone go from a Renegade to a C1 (surf style with slider) & care to share what differences they have found ?
Nice job Toppleover!
I found this interesting as well...
kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=158&t=2392991&p=935635&hilit=Dakine+C1
^^^^That will get around the smaller metal loop issue, personally I wouldn't bother with a sliding safety.
The pulley also makes a huge difference, I've tried CL straight to rope & the ring to rope - also had a dyna V8.
I currently use the dyna V8 As well. Also tried ring to rope but this wore the rope to much. Tried CL to rope but found it didn't slide and wore into my Naish CL. The dyna is functional but it rides up a lot on me. My ION hammer doesn't have a hold down strap which which is probably the prime culprit. I'm looking at the C1 for these reasons. Could you word us up on where you got your Rontan pulley from? Did it come inclusive with the metal ring for your CL?
Whitworths, at Kawana they have it all there - rope/pulley/rings.
No the ring doesn't come with the pulley, bought it separately.
Select to expand quoteAshley27 said..
Nope I haven't checked with a white marker but I do it up tight when I start and after awhile I've got the spreader up into the ribs. The harness will stay in place for a while with a levitated spreader but give it more time the harness itself will move up my back. So I "assumed" it was becoming loose.
Yep it's only one side that's slipping, the side used to tighten.
Nope I don't have sunscreen on the webbing.
Could it possibly be that the buckle is too small?. Someone else on the beach has one and says he loves it, but at a guess he's 75kg. I'm 105kg so could the increased load inposed on the buckle cause it to slip?.
I'm pretty certain that if you feed the webbing back through the buckle it cannot slip. I think that when you are jumping, due to exertion and load from the kite, your body shape changes slightly and the spreader can move just enough to feel like the belt has slipped.
I've just returned from Sydney and from a demo with the North guys, so I tried on a lot of harnesses, but did not try any of them on the water. I like the Ion Vertex Select, the Ion wave harness, and the C1. The Mystic majestic does not feel comfortable on my back, but the warrior still does, although I found it rode up too much and swapped to a ride engine over a year ago and that is by far the most comfortable harness I've ever used still (with rope slider)
Putting the RE on is super quick and easy, getting it off is a little slower to work the webbing loose, otherwise the single buckle and webbing works perfectly for me.
Well...I'm pretty certain it's slipped cause when I'm looking at the spreader up at nipple height, with the harness still in place in my lower back the only thing that could have happened was the belt slipped...I didn't set it at nipple height to begin with. I took it to the sail shop get it modified and the first thing he said was that the buckle/strap is too small. I'll post the results of that in the ride engine thread when it's done.
I used the C1 (fixed hook) today for a couple hours on both a TT and surfboard. This is not a true rigid like the engine as it has 3 'stiff' pieces joined together which are somewhat still flexible, more noticeably at the joints. I could still feel the harness squeeze me in at the sides so the fit is not comparable to the engine...the engine is far superior in this aspect as the rigid support comes around the sides. The C1 did move up after awhile and I found I couldn't lock it in by looping the webbing back through the buckle as the buckles are covered and the're too far around your back to do this easily, some more time spent doing this before I got to the beach may have helped here. So far as the comfort level goes I think my manera harness is more comfortable than the C1.
Good comparison. Cheers for that. I'm not unhappy with my C1 but good to know how it compares to the others out there.
I recently bought a C1 altho the retailer did me a favor and let me swap out an Ion Apex spreader bar/pad instead of Dakine's spreader bar. I love it!
The two thick small straps beat out the old single fat strap systems as it keeps it in place from two angles, helping with fit and from riding up. I ran the spreader down strap thru the middle of the Ion hook, works ok.
The C1 backing is good albeit not as good as the Ride Engine solid plate. The main issue I have with the Ride Engine is the connection of the hook/bar to the rest of the harness - that thin strap covered by PU tube is a joke. Shame, the fiberglass/carbon/kevlar backing is fantastic but you are stuck with that garbage connection to the hook or slider. Dont try big jumps with strong kiteloops on the RE is my advice, prob great for wave style though.
I decided on picking up a new C1 after a few test fittings between the RE and the C1. The C1 felt more comfortable in the shop so I went with it in the end. I've been searching the net for ideas on slider mods so thought I would contribute by posting my own in the name of safety. I removed the Maniac Sliding Hook as I am very use to the slider rope set-up. If this doesn't work out then the hook takes about 10 mins to re-install.
The two ropes are 4mm Dyneema. Each are Brummel spiced at one end (top one is for emergency back-up). The core is buried the length of the spreader hence it looks thicker. The other end of each rope is tied off with a Double Davey knot. Deciding on the knot was difficult but after hours of research, I couldn't find a more appropriate knot that was simple, small and didn't work loose. The D shackle is from a Marine shop (12mmx50mm-ish) and allows the CL to face up at me instead of a side view (which I tried before but didn't like). The Nylon roller is from my old Dynabar hook (these can also be purchased from a Marine shop).
I haven't used this setup in anger yet but I need something to keep me occupied when there is no wind. Will report back once I do.
I would be keen on others thoughts on the rope tie-off knots in particular or other similar set-ups.
Cheers
Nice job, I used figure 8 knots on mine - also I think you will find it will has less tendency to try to flip if you have your slider running in the top rope.
I like this idea, if you could get the right fit.
& this
^^^^ Antal rings are the go if your connecting CL directly to the rope. As for the knots, I opted to tie off the dyneema directly onto the spreader bar. The dyneema rope I've used is to skinny compared to your spectra and would slip through under load. I will take your advise though and switch the D-shackle to the upper rope. I was expecting a heap of stretch on the lower one. Cheers for the info
riddim1
this is my set up. I use a figure 8 knot but am about to change to a slightly larger Antal ring. Am going to use a stevedore knot next time as I think they are easier to undo when replacing the rope.
kiteforum.com/download/file.php?id=72922&mode=view
