"The Exo Harness is the centerpiece of Manera’s offerings and represents three years of research and development in an attempt to add more than just a new logo to the harness market. Manera’s biggest innovation in the Exo harness is a molded frame positioned on the outside of the harness. This frame pushes against five different layers of multi-density foam and neoprene to deliver a thin but comfortable fit with the torso. The rigid back plate extends around the hips to the spreader bar, which seems to keep the load on the frame of the harness instead of the soft materials, effectively reducing the pressure on the rider’s hips.

I rate this as one of the most comfortable harnesses on the market; it’s not given me any reasons to not love it. I’ve got the 1st, and 2nd generations in the garage both looking exceedingly well used and I expect new one is going to get a similar amount of treatment over the next years."   www.iksurfmag.com  // Rou Chater // UNION "While most of the harness brands are making super high-end products with the new rigid harnesses, Manera have bucked the trend somewhat. The excellent EXO arguably led the charge for a more supportive harness many years ago, and it does a fantastic job. New for 2018 Manera have launched the Union, priced lower than the EXO it aims to make incredible comfort at an affordable price. The look of the harness is very stylish, and the one-piece back plate looks bang up to date in terms of styling, but unlike its carbon cousins out there it is actually soft. The idea is that instead of the EXO’s external frame a single Energy Dispersion Plate is housed inside the foam of the harness. This results in much cleaner look than the EXO but still offers excellent support.

An incredibly light and exceedingly comfortable harness from Manera, at a time when prices for top end harnesses seem to be skyrocketing it’s great to see the Union hit the market. It’s top-level comfort with high-end hold down for a great price, try one on, and you won’t be disappointed!   EXO vs. MANERA comparison by The Kiteboarder Mag: "Last  year, Manera released the Union, a new harness with the same load dispersion technology and comfort but at a much lighter weight. From the front, both harnesses look similar and both feature Manera’s spreader bar system: appropriately sized spreader bars for each harness size (XS/S/M/L/XL/XXL) to reduce warping and lateral contraction along the sides of the harness. Both the Union and the Exo feature Manera’s Down Hold System and Tuck Flap technology. The Down Hold System features an asymmetrical buckle that distributes the pull from the kite downwards in order to avoid the hook from pulling upwards and pulling your harness up into your torso along with it. The Tuck Flaps are extra stiff flaps inserted into the harness that assist the Down Hold System by keeping the spreader bar and buckle connection in place and preventing the harness from riding up. The Union looses the visual appearance of the Energy Dispersion Frame on its exterior but instead has an Energy Dispersion Plate inside. This plate works the same but instead of placing the technology on the exterior, the plate is placed on the interior of the harness, eliminating excess foam and unnecessary stitching, and providing a more durable and long-lasting harness.