"I've just come back from my expedition in Nepal. I used the Thin Red Line harness combined with a lightweight Edel 8000 glider. The harness was perfect." (Sandie flew from the Himalayan peak Dorje Lhakpa).

Sandie Cochepain, women's world paragliding champion.

Sandie using her Thin Red Line harness to launch from Dorje Lhapka.

 

"Flying feels spontaneous and simple. You sit surprisingly comfortably."

Nicolas Hervy, reviewing the TRL harnesses in Jan 2000 Cross Country Magazine.

"The best way I can describe the feeling of flying with the Scorched Earth harness is that it's like being naked, but in a very good way. I wish all of my harnesses leaned and weight shifted like this."

Will Gadd, US paragliding distance record holder.

Thin Red Line has taken us back to our roots, back to the time when we were amazed at how simple it all was. Remember that? Remember when you first saw a pilot arrive at the top of a flying site? But they didn't look like a pilot, just another day hiker. Their backpack hardly larger than the one you carried your lunch up in. Then it happened....he pulled his gear out of that little pack, launched, and soared with the wind! You could hardly eat as you watched this amazing flying machine. You had to learn how to do this. You did learn how!!

Today. You think back on that first time. Today, as you lumber up that same hill, your 15 pound harness in your overstuffed glider bag. Sweat pours off your face. Your back hurts. Your shoulders ache. Your legs burn. Another hiker passes you comments that "you must be going to camp out here for a few weeks!" A smile, or is it a grimace, crosses your face. What happened to that guy with the little pack. What happened to the freedom of it all??

Thin Red Line takes us back to those simpler days, but theirs is not the gear of yesteryear. NO WAY! Their stuff is beyond today...super high tech. In short, these harnesses are amazing! True works of art!!

Mark recently visited the Thin Red Line production facility in Canada, and spoke with designer, Maxim de Jong:

"It really brought back a lot of memories, since Max was my first instructor. I guess it was kind of symbolic in a way as well, since I remember how light and free the gear used to be. So there I was, in the future, stepping back into paragliding past.

"Max was, and still is, one of the most enthusiastic pilots I have ever met. His energy has been channeled into the design of one of the most incredible pieces of paragliding gear to arrive in years.

"I was absolutely blown away at the attention to detail required to produce a Thin Red Line harness. Each one is hand sewn to exact specifications right there in the shop. As "simple" as this harness looks, the technology and materials required to produce it are no less than extraordinary. Every stitch, every inch of material has been so well thought out.

"'Look at this', Maxim said excitedly as he reached towards a parts bin and produced a small speed system pulley. He handed it to me. It was so light, I wondered if he hadn't put an illusion in my hand. '5 grams with a nylon roller. Made special. Only for our harnesses!' He beamed. '...and here is the material we use for the split leg attachment. Virgin Kevlar, very strong....very light. The best."

"He proceeded to produce binder after binder of material samples, explaining how he had carefully selected the strongest, lightest materials for his harnesses. No stone was left unturned, no compromise was made in his designs.

"One can still be skeptical, though. My god. It fits into a pouch the size of a manilla envelope! Skeptical, that is, until you sit in it!! I slipped on one of his latest designs, the Vapor, and hung in the simulator. The harness felt perfectly balanced and secure, almost like I was held up on a cushion of air. I tried some weight shifting and the harness moved fluidly with my motions. Balanced. I'll use that word again. I asked Max how he achieved this ability to move and control the glider so surely without the use of a seatboard. 'Wellll...I've got to have some secrets. Lets just say it took A LOT of work!' His wife (also a paragliding instructor) Laurie chimed in '...and A LOT of prototypes!' she said rolling her eyes, and recalling the hours upon hours required to achieve the comfort I was now experiencing. It's an ergonomic synthesis he calls 'Body Form Technology'.

"I picked up the harness handbook that lay on the design table. I leafed through its detailed drawings and instructions on how best to use the harness. It is the only harness I've seen that comes with an owners manual. As far as I'm concerned, that should be the case for every harness sold.

"It was time to go all to soon. I'm sure we could have spent hours more talking about TRL gear, though! I left feeling that I had just glimpsed something special...a return to our roots!"

As light as they are, the Thin Red Line harnesses are also very strong. Both the THIN AIR and the VAPOR are certified to the stringent German DHV standards. Even the THIN AIR back protector yoke is certified to DHV standards.

You don't have to be a Sandie Cochepain or a Will Gadd to appreciate the benefits of a lighter harness. Perhaps you are a traveler, tired of lugging that big pack through the airport. You could enjoy soaring the smooth coastal air, and want unencumbered freedom of flight. Maybe your local sites all involve a healthy walk up, and you're tired of lugging that mess up the hill. If so, the Thin Red Line gear could also be for you as well.

You can also be confident you are flying with one of the finest harnesses available....even if you are not aware that you're wearing a harness!!!

THE THIN AIR AND VAPOR BOTH PASSED DHV ON APRIL 10, 2000!

PICTURES OF ALL TRL GEAR CAN BE SEEN ON THE THIN RED LINE WEB SITE. A HOT LINK FOR THIN RED LINE DIRECT IS BELOW.

NEW FOR 2000!!

The THIN AIR:

All new for 2000, the THIN AIR adds all of the little goodies you asked for, while still keeping the weight under 850 grams! This is TRL's "beefy" harness, and includes a removable "deluxe" back protector yoke/integrated storage pocket, and shoulder mounted reserve attachment points. It is built for extensive use with a sturdy grade of webbing, and highly durable inserts in the thigh supports. The THIN AIR comes with stainless steel carabiners, speed system pulleys, cargo "mule" straps, nice compression/storage bag, and owners manual. DHV certified.

As with all TRL harnesses, the chest strap is fixed at the optimum 38 cm. However, this harness is still VERY adjustable. An upper and lower lumbar adjustment, and generous shoulder adjustment means these harnesses can fit just about anybody!

NEW FOR 2000!!

The VAPOR:

Couldn't get any lighter than the THIN AIR? Guess again! The VAPOR weighs in at less than 400 grams.....just under 1 pound!! This was the harness Maxim was feverishly working on when I visited him in December. He made me promise to keep quiet until it was done. It's finished, and now I can finally talk about it!!

Maxim achieved the weight savings by trimming all excess off of his famous SCORCHED EARTH. Narrow webbing, less reinforcement in the thigh supports all add up to a weight savings. That said, the materials on the VAPOR could still be considered overkill. This is the harness for you when every ounce counts. UIAA certification for the VAPOR to double as a climbing harness may be planned in the future. WOW!! Not one to be scoffed at, the VAPOR is beefy in its own right. A beautiful harness!

The VAPOR is for those who want to go really light, and thus DOES NOT accommodate a back protector. If you will be using your TRL harness for other than serious alpine style ascents, we suggest you look towards the THIN AIR.

The VAPOR comes with stainless steel carabiners, speed pulleys, cargo straps, and owners manual. DHV certified.

As with all TRL harnesses, the chest strap is fixed at the optimum 38 cm. However, it is still very adjustable. An upper and lower lumbar adjustment, and generous shoulder adjustment means these harnesses can fit just about anybody!

BACK PROTECTOR ATTACHMENT:

The Thin Red Line back protector yoke attaches a foam back protector to your Alpine 600 or Scorched Earth harness. The very adjustable yoke holds the back protector firmly to the harness. DHV certified. Fits all Sup'Air "Mousse Bag", "Bump'Air", and similar. We at High Plains strongly suggest using a back protector with all harnesses.

RESERVE CONTAINER:

This is a beautifully designed front mount container, and fits all Thin Red Line harnesses. Special light weight and low profile. Fabric matches your TRL harness. Very light, VERY nice.

RESERVE PARACHUTE V-BRIDAL:

VERY NEW, VERY COOL! Bundles of black urethane coated Technora with a specially coated, high abrasion resistance nylon sleeve. Insane strength to weight ratio!! Large 44.12 kN oval carabiner in the center "eye" of parachute bridal for the main connection to the emergency parachute. As always, super TRL quality! Weight is 61g.

TANDEM SPREADER STRAPS:

Made from SK75 specially braided for Thin Red Line. Urethane coated and in a nylon sleeve for incredible UV protection and durability. Weight is only 59 g/pair.

SOFT SPEED BAR:

The Thin Red Line SOFT SPEED BAR consists of a high grade Nylon 6/6 tubing threaded with Dyneema, with joints finished inside the tubing! At each end of the bar are stainless micro oval links to tie the speed cord to. The speed cords are unsheathed 2.5mm urethane coated Dyneema, giving more than double the life of the most durable counterpart found elsewhere. The top end of the speed lines is fitted, and can accommodate whatever attachment choice the pilot prefers. Weight is only 21.5g!