This is a quick update for the ShoulderX Harness from SuitX.com. We did a previous blog about six months ago covering version one. Click here to get fully caught up with our Video Mantis Coverage!

This past February 4th, there was a fun event at Wilcox Sound in Los Angeles. Eric Leek of Hide-a-Mic put on an Easy Miking Seminar for anyone who wanted to come out on a rainy day! Well guess what? Over 50 people put on their rain coats and boots to come out for what turned into a spectacular event! After the event, Mark from SuitX got up to talk about the updates they have done to their ShoulderX Rig.

Preventive Maintenance

If there is one thing that is certain in our industry, it is that Production can literally wear your body out. It doesn’t seem like much, getting in and out of a Camera Truck, while jumping off the lift gate. That can do loads of damage to your feet and knees. This is one example of how preventive maintenance (don’t jump off lift gates in your 20’s) could help prolong your knees.

But what about your upper body? As a Sound Utility and Boom Operator in the Union, I am always coming home stiff and sore (especially as I get older in life). It is very important to do stretches before and after jobs to help with the recovery process.

What about our Shoulders From Booming?

What if all these continual hours that we spend with our arms in the air cause damage that would need to be looked at later in life? I have many boom operator friends that have shoulder replacements because of extended booming throughout the years. It is very wearing on your body, and gets more and more difficult as years progress. Cameras have gotten smaller, cheaper, and can roll for extended periods of time. This means that boom operators have to potentially hold our poles above our heads for unrealistic amounts of time.

Welcome the ShoulderX

That is wear SuitX comes in. I got the chance to get to know personally over the past few months is all about safety and ensuring the worker can do their job safely. They have a product, the ShoulderX Harness that they have been working on for many years. The whole point is to help add resistance to gravity. The best way for me to describe the sensation is to talk about the Assisted Pull-up Machines at your local fitness center. They will allow you to “remove” body weight which decreases the resistance and makes it easier to pull yourself up because you will weigh less.

The ShoulderX is very form fitting, yet extremely breathable and comfortable. Version 3 has updates to make it smaller profile as well as remove noises that could cause issues on set. There is one thing for certain, SuitX.com listeners to their customers, and more specifically, their boom operators. For that, I raise a Boom in your direction! Thanks SuitX for making such an incredible product!

Try One Out Yourself Soon!

If you want to demo one of the ShoulderX Harnesses, stop by Wilcox Sound in Los Angeles to try one out soon! They are going to place at least one of these bad boys in their Rental department!