The Best Climbing Harnesses – [Must Read Before Buy]

Best Climbing Harnesses: You’re in luck because we’re going to instruct you in the complex world of the climbing harness. While it seems easy, it is not! We know that there are many various types of climbing harnesses and choosing the most appropriate one for your adventure is sometimes tricky. But calm, we will help you buy the climbing harness that best suits your needs.

Best Climbing Harnesses

The importance of determining the correct climbing harness can be quite valuable when you find yourself on a rock or in a massive block of ice. The climbing you want to do will determine the tackle that’s right for you.

Climbing Harnesses

Parts of a climbing harness

If you are new to climbing, the first step is to understand the parts of a harness. Lumbar belt seeks to provide comfort with the minimum amount of weight. It has one or two buckles to adjust the strap.

Adjustment buckles: Consist of 1 or 2 pieces of metal to allow double manual adjustment or automatic adjustment respectively. The buckle is usually slightly offset so as not to disturb the anchor point. A harness must have a belt buckle, but it does not necessarily need buckles on the legs.

Leggings

Padded for comfort and adjustable to allow changes of clothes while it remains attached. It is made of different materials.

Material carrier ring

Designed to carry equipment such as scripts and cams. Most harnesses have four gear loops, but specialized harnesses have additional rings to give more materials. The material loops are usually made of plastic. Some harnesses can remove these rings to customize the harness belt to your liking. Warning: These rings are not designed to be used as an anchor protection piece.

Rear ring for auxiliary rope: Located on the back of the harness, this sewn strap is used to connect a second rope or line of transport. Warning: It is not designed as a cargo or protection belt. In the same way, never use this strap to rappel Australian style.

Ventral ring

This is the strongest point in the harness and the only part that undergoes load testing. Anything should be attached to the central ring (for example, a locking carabiner while securing). Warning: You should not tie anything throughout the ventral ring as it causes faster wear and is not designed to be worn in this way. The central ring is made of nylon straps.

Anchor points

These are the 2 rings connected to the central ring. Although they are not tested with force, they are quite strong. Independent studies show breakpoints of 12 to 14 kiloNewtons (1200-1400 kilograms). Any cord, rope or strap must be fixed through the lower and upper tie points. This distributes wear and adds redundancy to your system. Warning: Do not secure with the carabiner attached through the 2 anchor points as it weakens the strength of the carabiner. You must use the ventral ring.

Elastic straps

They increase the distance between the legs and the belt. They are thin belts or elastic straps. If the straps can be removed from the waist, the harness is considered a fall seat harness. Many alpine and traditional harnesses are fall seat harnesses and allow the climber to remove the legs without untying them. Many sports and gym harnesses have durable straps that cannot be momentarily removed. These leashes can be adjusted up and down, altering the appearance of the harness and the feeling when you are hanging on it.

Types of a climbing harness

Here you can to find any kind of, specific climbing harness. It is important to take into account both the activity you are going to perform and the equipment you carry with you. Climbing ropes and carabiners are essential for any type of climbing and depending on the amount we need, a harness model or another will be more appropriate.

Sports or gym harness

They are designed for fast and ultralight trips, either inside the gym or on outdoor sports routes. Typical Properties:

• Automatic or double belt buckle: quick and easy to raise and lower.
• 2 material loops: Only 2, since you do not need much material.
• Slim ventral ring: to save weight.
• Minimum adjustment of leg loops: Many do not have adjustment buckles on the leg loops to reduce weight and create an elegant appearance. Instead, they use elastic materials to adapt easily. Rarely, layers of clothing are required in these activities, so it is right that the legs have minimal adaptability.

Traditional harness

Traditional climbing usually requires much more equipment than sports climbing, so a traditional harness maximizes space, while still being relatively light and comfortable. Typical Properties:

• Adjustable leg straps with buckles: Automatic or double manual.
• 4 or more gear loops: Designed to carry all the equipment needed for climbing.
• Thick and durable padding: Increases comfort as you spend a lot of time in the harness (the introduction of pendants and multitrack climbing require thicker padding).
• Extra lumbar padding: Helps stabilize the back and waist.
• Rear ring for auxiliary rope: To transport a second rope.

Ice harness and mixed

Similar to traditional harnesses but designed to cope with winter conditions. Typical Properties:

• Adjustable leg straps with buckles: Automatic or double manual. Fully adjustable to fit with winter clothes.
• 4 or more material loops: Designed to carry all winter material, such as ice screws and ice tools. One to two slots for carabiners and thus hold the screws and tools.
• Extra lumbar padding: Helps stabilize the back and waist.
• Rear ring for auxiliary rope: To transport a second rope.

Mountaineering harness

These offer versatility throughout the season. Lightweight, adjustable leg loops to put on and take off quickly. Typical Properties:

• Leggings and belt fully adjustable Automatic or double manual. Fully adjustable to fit with winter clothes.
• 4 or more material loops: To carry a minimum amount of equipment. It does not interfere with a package.
• Fine material: Designed to be easily used.
• Slim ventral ring: Saves weight; In some models, it is completely removed from the harness, so you must put it yourself.
• Rear ring for auxiliary rope: To transport a second rope.

 Canyoning harness

• Additional seat protection, usually with water-resistant materials.
• An anchor point that serves as a central ring.
• Thick and reinforced to withstand frequent friction against the rock.

Competition harness

• Elimination of the material carrier rings since no equipment is needed.
• Slim ventral ring, sometimes it does not even take it.
• Designed to feel like you’re not wearing anything.

Wall harness

• Extra wide stuffing to ensure support for many hours hung.
• 2 ventral rings to maximize safety and allow several rig configurations.
• Additional material loops, 6 to 10 in total, to carry a large amount of necessary equipment that is needed to climb large surface walls.

Full-body or rescue harness

• It is usually the combination of a chest harness and seat harness system.
• Provides added body maintenance, which is needed to help carry heavy loads or to stabilize large objects (e.g. a rescue bed, or a large tree branch).
• It is not to climb.

Climbing harness for women and children

Women’s harness

The women’s harness is specifically designed for the woman’s physique, with unique fit features and built-in comforts. Keep in mind that the male version of a harness does not fit like a woman’s harness. Some specific characteristics of the women’s harness are:

• The belt adapts better to the waist of the woman.
• Increase in elasticity.
• Reduction of the space between the legs and the waist.

Child harness

The child harness shares many features with the adult harness but is designed to accommodate a child’s physique.

Young children have a comparatively high center of gravity (due to a more significant proportion of the head to the torso) and must be equipped with a full-body harness. A child’s full-body harness is considered a type B harness and is designed for weights no larger than 40 Kg. The full-body harness for a child usually works best for children five years and younger.

As the center of gravity of the child decreases (due to a decrease in the relationship between the head and the torso), a seat harness becomes the best option. A seat harness teaches children the basic safety of the harness at a young age since a child’s harness, and an adult’s harness is constructed in the same way and must pass the same tests.

How to Adjust and test a harness

Here we indicate how to adapt and to test a harness. However, it is necessary to always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific harness model. Each harness manufacturer knows your product perfectly and provides the best recommendations for comfortable and safe use.

Steps to put a harness

1. First, loosen the straps on both leg buckles (if adjustable) and then the strap that secures the belt.
2. Get in the harness. Pay attention that the legs are not crossing, the ventral ring is not twisted, and the belt is not upside down. The ventral ring should be in front of the harness.
3. Position the belt slightly above your iliac crest, which is close to the level of the belly button for most people. Having the belt above the hip ensures that you do not slip accidentally out of the harness if you fall face down. Once the belt is suitably positioned, squeeze it hard.
4. You must not have more than 2 fingers of slack between the waist and the harness. Make sure that the buckle is bent backward (it is not necessary if the fastener is a double reverse automatic model).
5. A well-equipped harness must have the ability to adapt to a larger and smaller size equally, allowing the harness to grow or contract in diameter. A tackle that is “at maximum” or at the end of its adjustment range is not unsafe. However, it can be difficult to enter or exit and limits versatility.
6. Adjust the legs, first one and then the other. Some harnesses do not have adjustable legs, and you will have to use an elastic part to allow the leg ring to widen.
7. The exact situation of leg loops is less well-known than the belt. It is more a matter of comfort. Make sure that the legs allow mobility and do not pinch you anywhere. L placement of the legs near the groin and having a gap of 2 fingers between the leg and leg is the most comfortable.
8. The tighter the legs, the more comfortable you will be while you are hanging, even if the range of movement is more restricted. Conversely, the looser the straps around the legs allow greater mobility, but they are not as comfortable at the time of being suspended. The harness is safe in both cases, which is a matter of taste that is a more comfortable one way or another.
9. Finally, make sure that the buckles on each leg are folded back and you are ready to use the harness.

Steps to try a harness

1. It is impossible to know if a tackle will be genuinely comfortable without trying it. Many stores have a harness testing station or a rock wall where you can hang it on a rope. When the harness is tight, you should feel relatively comfortable, and it should make it easier to stand upright (like a chair).
2. The belt should not move or move excessively. If it does, press it until it stops moving. You should not feel that the harness is stuck in the skin. If there are obvious pressure points, consider testing a different harness. Also, test if pulling the belt down passes the hips. You should not be able to do it.
3. If you feel that you are using the inside part too much to keep you upright, you may have to decrease the straps of the legs. Each leg has an elastic strap on the back that can be adjusted in length. Adjusting the legs more to the leg helps you sit upright in the harness without making them the too much abdominal effort. If the adjustment does not help, try a different harness.
4. Just remember, each body is different, and not all harnesses fit perfectly.

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