Mystic Shadow Harness: 2011
Price: 139.00
Size Tested - M

First Impressions:

Out of the box, this harness has all the hallmarks of a Mystic design.
The Shadow is the little brother to the popular Warrior series and this year’s
Warrior 3. However don’t let this put you off, this harness is as good and as
versatile. First impressions are of a solid build quality and as you would
expect with Mystic, the normal technology applies. This year sees the
harness being sported by Aaron Hadlow so there must be something going
for it.

Goods:

As already mentioned, out of all the harnesses on the rail this one
stands out immediately as one that has a bomb-proof build quality. The Battle
belt is as usual very solid and would without doubt be capable of taking on the
harshest workout (several seasons). The smaller back profile than the Warrior
3 feels good and will suit the slighter rider who does not want a high
supporting back design. For the budding freestyler who wants as little clutter
on his person then this could be a great asset. In the same vain one thing that
you will notice about the harness is it’s no frills design and this simplicity
again is a huge positive. Combining the technology that has become
synonymous with the Mystic brand whilst keeping the design to a simple and
ergonomic style will definitely mean that this harness gains a following. When
hooked up to a kite, the Spreader Down System and the snug fitting Spreader
Protector work in tandem to keep the ribs at bay from the bar riding up.

Bads:

There are always some, and despite this being my favourite of the
harnesses that I tested there are some downsides. As mentioned about the
Warrior 3, the Clickerbar 2.0 design (the locking system for the spreader bar)
whilst being exceptionally secure could be an issue in cold weather when
coming in off the water with cold hands. Coupled with this, the handle pass
system whilst being simple does not have a quick release. Just be sure to
have a good release on your leash. Finally, and this is really a matter of
preference, the spreader bar hook is very shallow and whilst accommodating
those who ride with the donkey dick plugged in constantly, does not really
give much room for a slack chicken loop when re-launching but conversely is
great for unhooking so its more something to be aware of.

Overall:

Overall this harness in my opinion is a worthy adversary to its big
brother and the simplicity of design and slimmer feel definitely gets my vote.
The same hardcore Mystic construction and low wear materials coupled with

the light feel make it a dream to wear. Oh and did I mention style! The
monotone colours used are great. In fact I think I might just get one myself!

Words: Toby D