Advance Lightness 4 size M.
The lightness harness series from ADVANCE is famous for its highly comfortable seat-less sitting position and its light weight of around 3 kilos. ADVANCE released the Lightness 4 in June 2024, and many pilots wonder if the Lightness 4 will also be an enhanced product over the Lightness 3. Let's find out...
The Lightness 4 is created with a rear moderate-size fairing in a nice light blue color with a relatively good space inside the back pocket.
At first sight, the construction quality seems close enough to the Lightness 3.
The side zippers of the pod are small, and perhaps a bigger one could be sturdier as I was in a hurry to sit in it, I didn’t check the pod's main left attachment point that wasn’t inserted inside the left carabiner, and as soon as I pushed on my leg the left zipper snapped. It was my mistake, not to check it, at first. Check yours!
The Lightness 4 as its predecessor is a seat-less harness without having that seat-board feel even from the underneath foam protector.
Some harnesses deliver a similar seatboard feel with their still protector, like on the Arrow P. Having said that the overall feel of the Lightness 4 is very similar to the Lightness 3 which many pilots cherish and use. The side adjustments can be fine-tuned in the air. The seat adjustments are better fine-tuned before flying with a new metal adjustment part that was added for durability and replaces the old rounded plastic adjustments.
Seating position comfort:
ADVANCE added a thick pad on the back sitting position to enhance comfort.
I have sat and flown the Lightness 4 in different conditions and under different gliders from B, C, and D gliders.
Here’s my personal opinion which mainly depends on my specific body measurements. (As I always mention: Every pilot must try a harness before they buy, just because everyone has a different body shape) .
Let’s break down the sitting position into two parts:
From the lower back to the upper back and shoulder area, I think I was even more comfortable than the Lightness 3, which is probably due to that new thick comfort foam. That part is the most comfortable in a harness light or normal similar to my Impress 4.
The other part from the lower back to your sitting position resembles Lightness 1 or 2 a bit more. In the M size, with my back perfectly comfortable, the sitting position covers 3/4 of my thighs with moderate to good comfort. There are two lower straps from each side, a bit thick, (see pic) that put a slight pressure on the Pelvic area just on the top of the Femur. So perhaps I might need a Large size.
The legs are naturally supported, like sitting on a sofa.
Underneath the sitting position, I found out that you could insert a small seat plate (Type Forza2) and a bit longer one that could reach the ballast pocket (Width 30X30 cm). And that could give, the seatboard lovers, about +50 % more reaction and feel. I was happy in that configuration, but that only concerns my personal feelings...
The ballast pocket under the seat can easily fit a 4 kg water ballast.
On the other hand, the Arrow P M size, and only when using the foam protector (not with the inflatable) has a more direct seat-plate feel and position support from the lower back to your thighs. From my personal view, I would say, If only I had the sitting position of the Arrow P and the back of the Lightness 4 mixed in one harness :-)! But for 90 % of pilots, who are looking for seat-less feel, the overall sitting position of the Lightness 4 will be considered as (very comfortable).
And to be clear on the comfort it delivers, I can confirm that the Lightness 4 hammock style harness is one of the most comfortable to sit in, much like the Lightness 3 in that matter.
Roll comfort:
Having flown the Lightness 4 with different gliders I feel that the roll is slightly more tamed than the Lightness 3 and slightly less tamed than the NK Arrow.
Comparing it with the Woody Valley GTO 2 Light, I would promptly say that the Lightness 4 is much more roll comfortable.
I also felt that the ABS configuration is quite balanced and offers a very nice turning behavior. For example, flying the Lightness 4 and NK Arrow or the NK Arrow P, on the same glider with the same weight, gave me that slightly tighter radius on the Lightness 4 which gave me a high-quality flying time in thermals!
Having said that, tight turning those thermals, I thought what a harness it would be if the seating position gave slightly more authority on the outer thighs for that pressure you long for as if you are sitting in a seat harness, or probably on a slightly harder sitting position like on the Arrow P for example.
But that concerns only me who is addicted to precise weight shift authority which logically can be delivered with a hard seat sitting position.
Cockpit:
The Lightness 4 has the nice feature of opening the cockpit and reaching its contents as the one found on the Arrow. There are some magnets and also a center clip. For that kind of light harness, I found that the space inside it is quite enough though it is half the size of the normal NK Arrow.. There’s a place for your power bank.
The angle is somehow steep, but sometimes it is preferable to prevent at some specific daily hours, the reflection of the sun in the instruments into my eyes.
I just have one remark to make for the cockpit, It needs a center clipping system on the main strap, that will prevent it from swaying down when I push the bottom on my instruments. I need a stable cockpit. But that can be easily fixed if anyone adds some kind of clip.
I saw that ADVANCE updated it with a strap. But a simple carabiner will do ( see pic)
Packing:
The Lightness 4 can be packed quite small even with its foam protector, but surely any light harness with an inflatable protector would logically pack smaller.
The rescue pod is large enough to accept a Rogallo-type rescue system which I have already installed.
I also felt that the Lightness 4 delivers a lighter pressure on the speed system over the Arrow.
Chest strap:
The Lightness 4 chest strap's tighter position is around 45 cm between the carabiners. If you choose, you can release it 3 cm with a better roll. But if you release more, the result would stay the same as it wouldn’t affect the ABS. It can be easily adjusted in the air.
After take off it is easy to enter the pod with the use of a small ball or hook inserted in your shoelace. ( see pic)
Conclusion:
The Lightness 4 delivers good roll comfort for a seat-less harness. The comfortable seating position is very good, and the turning authority could be enhanced depending on your current harness.
This is a written test, but I strongly suggest that you make the effort to try and harness it before buying, and don’t rely only on any tests…They will only cover a shallow layer of the actual product. Harnesses are based on your body structure. I am just writing you one half, you have to cover the other one by a test flight.
Happy and safe landings.
Ziad
