Whether you’re climbing Everest, big walls, ice or sport routes, your harness represents a crucial piece of equipment. New climbers often call a climbing harness a climbing belt, but the correct term is climbing harness. Lightweight, durable synthetic materials such as nylon and closed-cell foam make up the construction of a climbing harness.
Significance
You wear a harness primarily for safety, for tying into a rope and belaying. Padding and ergonomic design make modern climbing harnesses comfortable as well as safe.
History
Before the invention of the modern climbing harness, climbers tied the end of their climbing rope around their waist. In the 1960s and 1970s, Swiss seats, an impromptu harness made out of rope, used 1-inch-wide tubular webbing to create the waistbelt and leg loops. In the 1970s, the first commercial harnesses used a swami belt: webbing that wrapped around the waist four to six times, with optional leg loops.
Features
A webbing strap and buckle hold the 3-inch waistbelt snug. Leg loops provide a comfort aspect for extended periods of time in the harness. A belay loop attaches the waistbelt and leg loops together. Although called a belay loop, for safety climbers attach the locking carabiner through both the leg loops and waistbelt of the harness. Gear loops made of nylon and covered in plastic hang around the edge of the waistbelt for attaching pieces of climbing equipment to your harness.
Types
Climbing harnesses are tailored to specific types of climbing. A streamlined harness with only a few gear loops serves for sport climbing. Traditional climbers need a sturdier harness to hold more gear. Additional padding makes a big wall harness more comfortable. To save weight and bulk, an alpine harness has minimal padding. A multipurpose harness, as its name suggests, can be used for different climbing applications.
Considerations
When purchasing a harness, consider the type of climbing you will do. Make sure the harness fits properly. The waistbelt fits above the hip bones, at the smallest part of your waist. Leg loops sit snug around the top of your legs so they don’t slide down when you are climbing.
Warning
Inspect your harness for wear. If you use your harness frequently retire it after five years. If you use your harness only occasionally, it should have a longer lifespan, up to 10 years. Check for wear in the stitching, webbing damaged by abrasion, buckles not working properly or chemical contact with the fabric. Retire your harness if any of these are present.
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