Ozium 3

The Ozium 3 is Ozone's lightweight XC pod harness, and the one we point pilots at when they are ready to move on from an open seat.

It replaces the Ozium 2. Ozone took the pod shape and the aerodynamic work from the F*Race 2, shortened it so it fits more people, and sat the pilot more upright than the race harness. That upright position is why it works as a first pod: you can still see your feet and your instruments, and it does not ask you to lie flat before you have the habits for it. Pilots with a few seasons of XC behind them get a clean fairing and a magnetic pod closure borrowed from the Submarine, which lines itself up in the air and lets you get in and out quickly on a messy launch.

Size M weighs 2.65 kg bare and 2.95 kg with everything in the box. That box includes the inflatable protector, a small battery micro pump, an inflating and packing bag, a three-step light speedbar, the cockpit and chest pocket, a removable seat plate and Edelrid Aura carabiners. The protector runs from the thighs to above the lumbar, and you can change its pressure in flight through a valve at shoulder height. The main structure and exterior are 70D ripstop with double coated 20D ripstop in the tail, on 15 mm straps with metal buckles. It will survive being carried up a lot of hills.

Stability is tuned with the ABS system, which has high and low lumbar settings, and the seat plate comes out if you prefer a softer seat. The buckles are quick release and both leg straps open fully, so clipping in is fast, and an anti-forget lock catches the closure you skipped during the pre-flight check. The front reserve container takes any modern reserve, round or square, including steerables, with the handle in plain sight and reachable with either hand.

Storage adds up to more than 65 litres: a 40 L rear compartment, a 6 L zipped pocket on each side, a 10 L ballast pocket under the seat, radio and water bottle pockets left and right, a 7 L nose pocket and a small zipped pocket under the cockpit. Packed down it stays compact because the protector deflates.

Sizes S, M, L and XL in Black/Blue. Ozone is shipping size M first, so that is the only size you can order for the moment; S, L and XL are greyed out above until Ozone has them. We order Ozone gear in for you, so allow some lead time.

Ozone notes that weights may vary by up to 50 g per size with the fabric, and that the S, L and XL weights will be published when those sizes ship.