Thanks to Jim Gibson, I already have a Libero harness in my possession. I would LOVE to fly with it but I am sure Jim is keen on getting his hands on it. Jim ordered the harness two weeks after it was announced and it was in my hands 4 weeks after that! I snapped a bunch of pics today before I get it out to him.
I LOVE WoodyValley - their harnesses are top-notch - they better be since all they do is make harnesses! They are dominant in the paragliding world for harnesses and have shared their craftsmanship, methods and now innovative materials with their latest hang gliding harnesses. The new materials first showed with the Tenax4 competition harness a few years back and now with their new Libero light-weight harness that was just released about a month ago.
WoodyValley has always been amazing with answering dealer questions super fast and I have always been impressed with their fast lead times on these custom hang gliding harnesses. I don't think I have ever had a slower delivery than 8 weeks from submitting the order to receiving it half a world away!
The only thing they have lacked on is some more pictures and information on their hang gliding harnesses....updating their hang gliding products on their website seems to slip down their priority list. I hope to help them with getting a bit more info out with these pictures I snapped of the Libero because they don't even have the Libero on their site at all! They aren't the greatest pics but we are in the middle of winter here in Canada so they are the best I can do on such short notice.
Who would I say this harness is for?? It is similar in design to their Flex2...I think they will keep both as the Flex2's material is Cordura which is a bit more durable than the Libero's. I would still recommend the Flex2 for a new student as their first harness as they may be a little rough on their landings for some time or for those that are often on rocky mountain launches. I want a Libero myself just for the sleekness, the cool material and how light and small it is. Check out the size comparison with my Matrix (full backplate though)!!
If you do a lot of airline travel and/or aerotowing at airstrips this would be an ideal recreation harness for you. Just look how clean the back is compared any other non-back-plated harness on the market. The close fit keeps any cold air from blowing down your back. Prices are also comparable, if not better than similar entry level pod harnesses on the market and likely quicker delivery times. If students get either a Flex2 or a Libero, they are less likely to even want (or need) a single-suspension harness anytime soon - they are just that streamlined!
Here are the pics:
