Choosing the Right Harvestwear Harness — The Key to Comfort, Productivity and Better Picking Results

by Craig Kelly

When growers think about improving orchard performance, the focus is usually on varieties, pruning, irrigation, or labour planning. But one upgrade delivers immediate results across every orchard system:

👉 The harness your pickers wear.

A well-designed harness reduces fatigue, protects the picker’s shoulders and back, and helps maintain consistent quality throughout the day.
A poor harness does the opposite — more strain, more bruising, more breaks and less volume picked.

Harvestwear has refined four harness systems used across NZ, Australia, the USA and beyond:

  • Support+ Harness (YMSHW)

  • Ergo Harness (YMEHW)

  • Traditional Crossover Harness (B28HW)

  • Single Strap Harness (USA market only — available on request)

Each system suits a different style of picking, crop load and working environment.

🟧 Support+ Harness — The Gold Standard

If your crew picks for long hours or in heavy crops such as apples, pears, citrus or stonefruit, the Support+ Harness delivers the biggest performance boost.

Originally developed from technical medical lifting-sling material, the Support+ spreads weight across the maximum shoulder and upper back area. Growers consistently report:

  • Less end-of-day fatigue

  • Improved picker comfort

  • More consistent fruit handling for almost all crops.  

Available in Standard and XL (new for 2026).

Support+ is our recommended harness for 95% of picking situations.

 

🟦 Ergo Harness — Built for Kiwifruit Canopy Picking

Kiwifruit picking is unique.
Pickers work with their hands above their head, carrying weight vertically. The Ergo Harness is engineered to support this motion.

Lightweight, cool and highly breathable, the Ergo is preferred across NZ and international kiwifruit orchards. Some apple growers also choose it for warm days or light-picking tasks.

If your orchard includes canopy systems, this is the specialist option.

 

🟩 Traditional Crossover Harness — Practical & Budget-Friendly

Designed for the Harvestwear regular bucket range, the Traditional Crossover Harness is ideal for:

  • Lighter workloads

  • Shorter shifts

  • Seasonal crews

  • Entry-level setups

A reliable, economical solution.

🔵 Single Strap Harness — USA Market Only

For our USA customers, we also offer a single-strap harness option.
While we strongly recommend the Support+ Harness for comfort, safety and long-term productivity, the single strap is available for growers who prefer that traditional style.

It remains compatible with the Harvestwear bucket range and can be supplied upon request.

🌿 Which Harness Should You Choose?

  • Support+ → Best all-round comfort, ergonomics and productivity

  • Ergo → Best for kiwifruit & overhead canopy picking

  • Traditional → Best for light workloads or budget-conscious crews

  • Single Strap (USA only) → Available on request, though Support+ is strongly recommended

For a full side-by-side comparison, view our harness comparison guide:

👉 Harvestwear Harness Comparison Guide

🍎 The Bottom Line

A harness may be a small part of the gear… but your team wears it all day, every day.
A better harness creates:

  • Lower fatigue

  • Better fruit quality

  • Happier pickers

  • Higher output

In harvest, the small things matter — and harness comfort is one of them.

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