Tech Focus: Manera HALO

The latest exciting product to hit the market is the Manera HALO, a harness that is as eye-catching as it is technology-driven. Julien Salles tells us more about it in this Tech Focus feature!

The new Manera HALO looks like a harness from the future! What inspired the design?

Well, several things, actually! When working on the ECLIPSE a few years ago, we developed the ADAPTIVE SHELL technology, which is pretty much a shell that features stiffness where you need support, and flex where you need comfort. 

We thought that maybe we could separate these two functions into two separate parts; Kind of like a hammock, where the user lies on a comfy soft part held by a stiff structure that maintains its shape. Also, most ergonomic office chairs use a similar technology today, as well as some snowboard bindings.

Gin Kiteboarding | View in Mag

Cabrinha | View in Mag

We pushed the design to be as efficient as possible, and the result definitely does not look like a standard harness!

What were the design goals for the HALO?

First, we must talk briefly about the different types of harnesses. A softshell harness is very comfortable because it is soft and adaptable, but once the kite pulls, it will deform and squeeze your sides and ribs. It provides great adaptability but poor support. On the other hand, a hardshell harness will withstand the kite's power and maintain its original shape but won't adapt to your body while it moves. It provides great support but poor adaptability.

The HALO is essentially a softshell and a hardshell assembled together. The inside skin is soft and flexible; It will provide comfort and adaptability to your movements and morphology. The stiff outside shell doesn't even touch the user's body; It holds the kite's power and maintains the harness shape, so it doesn't squeeze your body. Therefore, it provides great support with maximum adaptability.

With such a unique shape, it's hard to imagine how this harness was built! What is the construction process?

When designing the HALO, we didn't just want to bring the ADAPTIVE SHELL innovation but also re-think the product from zero. We always work to improve our product durability and our brand's service; Therefore, the HALO features no stitching and no glueing at all. All parts are assembled with velcros or SST axis, meaning you can easily change any part. We stock all the different spare parts in our warehouse, and we're able to ship any of them quickly to a customer if he needs a replacement.

Over the years, we've had to completely change some customers harnesses because one of their straps was a bit damaged, which has a high environmental cost.

Gin Kiteboarding | View in Mag

Prolimit | View in Mag

The Adaptive shell parts have been really hard to design and build in the right materials because we needed the right mix of stiffness, flexibility, and durability. It's been a lot of trial and error to achieve the perfect mix.

What style of kiter should consider this harness, and where does it fit into the Manera line up?

We have had dozens of HALOs on the water for over a year now, and very few people prefer an ECLIPSE or EXO over a HALO. We made this harness to fit everyone, from a young freestyler to a foiler or waverider; I can't really say it will fit better to one riding style or discipline.

I guess the HALO will cannibalize a lot of our standard harness sales, but I'm ok with that. Harness innovation has been moving fast in the last few years, and I like to see things evolving!