The Ozone Sublite is an ultralight hike-and-fly racing harness designed for experienced pilots who want to minimise weight while maintaining good flying performance. Despite its minimalist construction, it offers impressive handling, comfort, and usability.

Handling and Weight Shift

The handling is one of the strongest aspects of the Sublite. The harness provides precise weight-shift control and a good connection between the pilot and the wing.

The combination of the split-leg design and foam protector creates a supportive feel around the hips and lower legs. This allows the pilot to make accurate adjustments, particularly when flying in weak thermals.

Despite being extremely lightweight, the harness feels surprisingly playful and responsive without being excessively unstable or tippy. The small footplate does not negatively affect the handling.

Stabilisers and Flying Comfort

The adjustable stabilisers have a noticeable influence on the handling. Tightening them improves contact with the harness and gives a more direct feeling of control.

In rougher air, the harness can initially feel slightly rolling. However, adjusting the stabilisers helps smooth out this sensation and improves the overall feeling of stability.

The Sublite also compares favourably with the Ozone F*Race 2 in terms of comfort. Although the two harnesses feel different, the Sublite provides a comfortable fit despite its lower weight and minimalist design.

Pod Design and Launching

The pod maintains its shape well in flight, and its magnetic closure keeps it securely closed during normal use. There is enough room to move the legs without easily disturbing the closure.

Launching requires some practice, particularly in windy conditions. The long tail can move around in the wind, and getting the feet into the pod may require leaning forward and adjusting body position.

Once the correct technique is learned, getting into the pod becomes easier. Overall, the harness is surprisingly practical for such a lightweight design.

Speed System

The Sublite features a three-stage speed bar that was found to be easy to use. The speed system worked well straight out of the box, without requiring much adjustment.

Its asymmetric, bullet-style design makes it easy to locate with the heel, and applying the speed bar does not noticeably distort the harness.

There is a certain finesse involved in using the speed system and moving the feet in and out of the pod. However, these actions become intuitive with practice.

Glide and Flying Performance

We noticed a good feeling of glide and reduced sink rate when flying alongside other gliders.

The improved feeling of efficiency was noticeable both in climbing and gliding. This is one of the main reasons the Sublite is well suited to performance-focused flying and hike-and-fly racing.

Its streamlined design and lightweight construction are intended to prioritise performance.

Construction and Durability

Despite its ultralight construction, the Sublite feels solid and well made. The stitching and overall construction give a reassuring impression of durability.

The harness uses lightweight Dyneema line construction, similar to that found on the Ozone F*Race 2. More durable material is used on the underside in areas that are more likely to experience abrasion.

The carbon-style footplate is very light and does not clang against the ankles when walking around. Overall, the construction balances low weight with practical durability.

Pockets and Storage

The Sublite has pockets on both sides for carrying small instruments, batteries, a phone, or a tracking device.

Although the pockets are useful, space is limited when carrying several items together. A phone and an instrument can fit, but there is not much room left for additional equipment.

The rear storage compartment is relatively small and is best suited to the essentials for a day of flying. Carrying equipment for an overnight bivouac is possible, but space is very limited compared with the Ozone F*Race 2.

Reserve Compartment

The reserve compartment uses a magnetic closure that extends along the opening. We found the magnet particularly effective and convenient when fitting the reserve.

A Gin UL 105 reserve was tested in the harness and fitted reasonably snugly. We also found the available reserve space broadly comparable with that of the Ozone F*Race 2 and Skywalk Range X-Alps.

The appropriate reserve size and compatibility should always be confirmed according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Protection

The main compromise of the Sublite is its minimal protection. Unlike the Ozone F*Race, which uses an airbag protector, the Sublite has a foam protector.

This design helps keep the harness lightweight and streamlined. The protector is certified, but the overall amount of protection remains limited.

Pilots should carefully consider this trade-off, as the Sublite prioritises performance and low weight over the additional protection offered by a larger system.

Who Is It For?

The Ozone Sublite is intended for experienced pilots who are comfortable with lightweight pod harnesses and have good ground-handling and wing-control skills.

It is particularly suitable for hike-and-fly racing and pilots who prioritise low weight, precise handling, and aerodynamic performance.

It is not recommended as a first pod harness. Its minimalist protection and the technique required when launching make it more appropriate for pilots who already have experience with this type of equipment.

Final Verdict

The Ozone Sublite is an impressive ultralight harness that combines precise handling, good comfort, and a strong feeling of connection to the wing.

Its main strengths are its responsive weight shift, adjustable stabilisers, practical speed system, well-made construction, and streamlined pod design. It is also surprisingly comfortable for such a lightweight harness.

The main compromises are the minimal protection, limited storage capacity, and the additional technique required when launching and getting into the pod.

Overall, the Sublite is a well-designed harness for experienced pilots who want a lightweight and performance-focused solution for hike-and-fly racing. It is not intended to be an all-purpose harness, but for its specific purpose, it offers a compelling combination of performance, comfort, and usability.

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