How to work out sizes of used Woody Valley harnesses.
Different harness manufacturers work different ways with sizing. Most manufacturers work by physical sizes.
But the most common brand of harness (in the UK at least) is Woody Valley and they work on a sizing matrix. This isn’t a problem if you are buying new as you submit your measurements (ideally taken with the help of a dealer who knows exactly how to measure you) to Woody Valley and they work out what is right for you. But buying used is another matter. How do you know what might work for you?
The height is determined by a number. It is set by your shoulder height above the floor not your head height. So you need to measure your shoulder height (about a finger away from your neck, wearing the shoes you would normally fly in. The sizes on the matrix these relate to are as follows:
1 = 133 - 138 cm
2 = 139 - 144 cm
3 = 145 - 150 cm
4 = 151 - 156 cm
5 = 157 - 162 cm
6 = 163 – 169 cm
When buying used, you can let the shoulder straps out or in a bit and/or pad out the foot area so you can typically make things work a bit either side of ideal. I would only diverge very slightly though as adjusting the length does mess with the geometry of how the harness works and goes in/out of prone. New you would obviously get one that was perfect.
Then they assign a letter for the chest/waist. The chest should be measured around nipple height. The waist should be measured around the buttocks (IE this is NOT your trouser size!). You should measure over light clothes. These matrix sizes look as follows:
XS = 80 - 86 cm
S = 87 - 93 cm
M = 94 - 100 cm
L = 101 - 107 cm
XL = 108 - 114 cm
XXL = 115 - 121 cm
These sizes are a range so if you wanted a tighter fit you would want to be at the top end of the range. Or if you find you are just in the bottom end of a size range you could go for the smaller size. If you wanted a loose fit you would want to be at the bottom of a size range (or again, one size up). Remember though that if you live somewhere that gets very cold in winter, you might struggle to get a harness on with full winter gear, that was perfect with summer clothes on. So bear this in mind. For those lucky to fall nicely in the lower end to middle of a range winter clothes are usually not a problem.
Once prone a tight harness will be ok, it is being able to put it on and do it up whilst standing that is the limiting factor! A correctly sized harness should be a little bit of challenge to get the zip together and started when standing. This way with your weight in it prone it will be exactly as the designer intended in terms of comfort and streamlining.
How you measure (for both height and width) is critical so it may that if I as a dealer measure you, I would find you are a few CM either way of what you thought which would change my recommendation over what you might think you wanted. It is best to use a builders type metal tape measure for height and a soft dressmakers type measure for waist. You will get errors if you try either with the wrong type of tape!
If you see a harness that has a ‘+’ after the number (3+L for example) that means the length is a half-size longer than stated. So a 3+ would be halfway between the length of a 3 and a 4.
Some people have a waist that is a lot wider than their chest. This is fairly typical with tall skinny people. So the waist might fall in XL and the chest in an L. When this happens the size matrix code of the harness changes with a ‘+’ after the letters. (3L+ for example). The chest will be the size stated and then the hips one size larger. So the 3L+ will have L size chest and an XL size waist.
Of course you can have a ‘+’ in both length and waist so may even see something like a 3+L+ for sale.
Woody Valley make customs harnesses for people who fall outside of the matrix. So these do come up for sale used occasionally as well. Typically though, if you are an odd (unique!) size/shape, you may need to order a new harness to get one that fits properly.
If you see an ‘S’ in the harness designation that stands for Signora which is Italian for it being a ladies harness.
You might also see the word ‘Biposto’ or ‘Biplace’ written inside the harness next to the size. This means it has an extra large parachute container for a tandem rated parachute. Modern solo chutes are far too loose in these container so they tend to only work for a heavy pilot with a huge older Mayday or Conar as these are much bulkier chutes.
It is possible to get into and initially feel ok in a very incorrect sized harness in a hang check. Many people do this thinking all will be ok. But a harness needs to support the body properly along the whole length and its size is critical for this. So what might feel fine in a hang check (even a prolonged hang check) WILL give grief in flight. Many people have come to me saying that they wanted to give up the sport because they thought their body just wasn’t cut out for hang gliding. And then once we get them into the right size harness their experience is transformed! And it isn’t just comfort that suffers from an incorrectly sized harness. Getting into and out of prone and your ability to flare correctly are also hugely affected. So I do strongly recommend that you work out what size harness you should have and then hold out for the right size to come up on the used market. It takes some patience but is well worth it!
The Libero size matrix is slightly different just to confuse things! So ignore the above when it comes to Liberos. You tend to have to have a number and letter one bigger in a Libero than in the standard matrix. I’m a 4M or L (I fall right on the border at 100.5cm chest/waist!) in the normal matrix but my Libero (which is my favourite harness ever and fits like a dream) is a 5L but has no ‘extra’ in either height or chest.
A bigger issue in choosing a used Woody Valley is which model. This depends on your level of skill and is a whole ‘nother discussion!
Fly Safe!
