Prolimit Vapor Pure XS 2022
Reviews / Ladies Harnesses
6,739
At A Glance
PROLIMIT has continued to expand their harness range, adding some premium new products and highly requested hardshells to the lineup! For a company that has been in the industry since the very start, we have been waiting to see them drop a hardshell for quite some time, and to see what their take on the hardshell looked like!
The team at PROLIMIT describes the Vapor Pure as a pre-shaped moulded hardshell, which incorporates their Mark VI external loadplate, and promises its user full support. When the long-awaited Vapor Pure arrived in Cape Town, I couldn’t wait to unbox it and see if it looks as good in person as it did in the photos. Long story short, it did.
It’s 3D shape is stiff and features their trademarked Pure composite material, but the inner lining is soft as can be, using Flex-Gen memory foam to complete the package. A nice combination of stiff and soft, and a sure contender to shake up the hardshell market!
The hardshell vs. softshell debate will never end, but we’ve come to understand that there is no correct answer, only preference. What excites me the most is choice, and it’s great to see PROLIMIT add this hardshell option into their lineup. It is a premium product, so there is an element of sticker shock there, but if you’re in the market for a hardshell, you’ll know that that’s the case no matter which brand you look at. One thing we really appreciate from PROLIMIT is that they have included the spreader bar with the product, so you only have one product at one price.
A side note about the spreader bar, PROLIMIT ships the Vapor Pure with the new ALPHA titanium electroplated spreader bar, which is a real eye-catcher. You’ve got to see it in person to get the whole effect, but it’s a wonder what a small detail like a bit of colour in the harness hook does to the visual impact of this harness.
Sizes: XS, S, M
On The Water
Sizing really is everything when it comes to a hardshell harness, and I would suggest that you make sure to follow PROLIMIT’s fit guide to find the right harness for you. Do take the extra time to adjust your sizing on the beach to make sure it’s sitting comfortably and feels good, and I’d even give it a few more adjustments after you get it wet the first time to make sure your webbing straps are really in the correct position. Once it’s set correctly, you don’t have to mess around with the straps again, you can just the easy clip in and fold system on the ALPHA spreader bar.
I gave this harness a try on both a twin tip and wave board, and I will say it suited the twin tip riding particularly well. Lots of support, and it didn’t have a tendency to shift out of position when doing jumps or old school tricks. On a wave board or foil, I would recommend adding a rope to the spreader bar to give you the movement you need without having to move your harness out of position. When it is out of place, you can definitely feel it, especially if you have a short torso like myself and you find that most hardshell harnesses push into the bottom of your ribs or top of your hips. In place, it is super comfortable, but definitely consider a rope if you plan to be moving a lot.
Please note that the spreader bar does not include a line knife, so if that’s a priority, you will want to consider if you can store one in your wetsuit. It should also be noted that it is recommended that this harness is stored with the spreader bar closed when not in use.
I loved the support I got from this harness, and the fact that it has a nice, low profile. The ALPHA spreader bar is also a winner as it is lightweight and designed to not absorb water, keeping the harness light and functional! It’s great to see PROLIMIT enter the hardshell game, and this harness is a definite standout!
Overall
For those who want stiffness and support out of their harness, the Vapor Pure is a worthy opponent, and stands up there next to the industry leading hardshells. As always, fit truly is everything, so I would still say try them all to see which one suits your body type the best, but if this one feels nice in the shop, it should feel nice on the water. I loved this harness and can see this one being my go-to, especially if I’m going for a big air session!
Videos
This review was in Issue 94 of IKSURFMAG.
For more information visit ProlimitRelated
By Crystal Veness
Editor at IKSURFMAG, Crystal Veness hails from Canada but is based in South Africa. When she isn't busy kitesurfing or reporting on the latest industry news for the mag, she is kicking back somewhere at a windy kite beach or working on creative media projects.
