Advance Strapless 4

Feather-light, highly packable, premium quality — now with an inflatable protector.

After 3 years and frequent use, my old harness with an inflatable protector has definitely reached the end of its life. The search for a successor begins. What alternatives on the market are small, lightweight, and above all equipped with an (optional) inflatable protector? 

Advance promptly answers with the new Strapless 4. The lightweight harness impresses at first glance and also after the first flight. Those hoping for a long-term review will need a little patience, but for a first impression it more than delivers.

Unboxing

The set arrives in two small stuff sacks—more like little pouches. Right away, you notice just how compact and lightweight it is. With the fourth version of the harness, it’s clear that, aside from the protector, this isn’t a revolutionary redesign, but rather a thoughtful evolution of its predecessor, refined down to the smallest details.

The Protector

The protector is extremely lightweight and can be inflated quickly with the supplied flow bag. The air inlet is closed using a clamp—while a check valve would be more convenient to use, the system works perfectly well. For those who want to know the details, see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JsVGSlXEcE

In flight

The launch at Montalin, with punchy wind and a 15-minute soaring session, really leaves me impressed. Simply lifting my legs a little is enough to slide into the harness, without having to ‘manually’ adjust myself in any way. Compared to the competition, you sit quite upright. For flying with a heavy backpack, that actually makes a lot of sense to me and is also very comfortable. I feel well supported all around, and those 15 minutes don’t turn into a strength workout.

I left the distance adjuster exactly as it came from the factory, meaning my legs are relatively close together. The harness responds to weight shift smoothly and pleasantly, without ever giving the feeling that you might suddenly tip to the side. Barrel rolls are also possible with a mini-wing and this leg setting.

The speed bar can be secured between the legs before launch using a small Velcro strap, keeping it safely stowed during takeoff. The two stages and the low-friction rings allow for effortless acceleration.

In Conclusion

If you’re expecting a flying couch, this harness clearly isn’t it. As Advance itself markets it, the Strapless 4 is an ‘ultralight mountaineer,’ and choosing ultralight materials inevitably means accepting some compromises in comfort. That said, it’s surprisingly comfortable, and I can easily imagine spending longer soaring sessions in it.

The harness on its own is extremely light (320 g including carabiners and speed bar) and packs down very small. The protector weighs just 220 g. All in all, the total weight is only 550 g and it fits into any backpack. Anyone who has been flying without a protector until now due to weight or packing size no longer has any excuse with the Strapless 4. And if you really need it even smaller and lighter, you can simply take two minutes to remove the protector.