There are different types and designs of climbing harnesses; your safest harness is determined by how you plan to utilize it.
Various types of harnesses are designed for other industries and applications, so it’s vital to comprehend the differences.
We’ll learn more about different types and how to put on a climbing harness.
1. Small-body harness
- EASY ON: Simply hold and shake the orange dorsal point to make it easy to put on your child.
- COLOR-CODED CONSTRUCTION: Semi-rigid structure is color-coded with a gray foam interior and blue exterior.
- DUAL-ADJUST: DOUBLEBACK buckles on the shoulder straps and back of the harness ensure a perfect fit and remain out of the child's reach.
- CONVENIENT DESIGN: Connectors do not need to remain fastened, allowing the harness to stay on in between climbs.
- COMFORTABLE: Quilted closed-cell foam structure on the leg loops, positioning waistbelt, and shoulder straps keep your child comfortable.
Last update on 2024-12-19 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
Small-body harnesses are great for babies under the age of three years.
They have a greater center of gravity and much less noticeable hips than adults, depending on their development level.
Furthermore, the body straightening reflex is not yet fully developed during a fall.
It’s a chest, and hip harness explicitly intended for small people.
2. Full-body harness
- DURABLE MATERIAL: The 8003 harness is made out of wide, flexible, and high-strength polyester webbing.
- ALWAYS A PERFECT FIT: Fully adjustable shoulder straps and leg loops for precise fit.
- DESIGNED FOR COMFORT: Featuring two flexible equipment loops.
- LIGHTWEIGHT: The 8003 weighs 580 grams, with a waist belt at 60-95 cm, and a leg loop range of 42-62 cm.
- ADVENTURE READY: This full-body fall protection harness is ideal for glacier travel and classic mountaineering.
Last update on 2024-12-19 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
The full-body harness is primarily used in mountain climbing; that’s how people used to do it in the past or industry access climbing.
They’re not used for sports climbing or other activities because the hanging position of a climber, and falls, are very uncomfortable.
However, because falling is an aspect of sports climbing, you will be doing yourself a disservice by purchasing the full-body harness.
3. Sit harness
- Pre-threaded Speed Adjust waistbelt buckle
- Bullhorn-shaped waistbelt built using Dual Core Construction
- trakFIT adjustment for easy leg loop customization
- Adjustable rear elastic riser
- Four pressure-molded gear loops
Last update on 2024-12-19 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
Sit harness is the most popular form of harness, which you can find in any climbing gym.
Adults could use the sit harnesses for various activities, including alpine climbing, sports climbing, mountaineering, and ice climbing, Via Ferrata.
And suppose the harness meets the UIAA and EN standards; there isn’t much that could go wrong besides it doesn’t feel comfortable.
4. Gym and competition harness
- MAXIMUM ADJUSTABILITY: Two DOUBLEBACK buckles on the waist belt enable perfect centering of the belay loop and gear loops around the waist, and adjustable leg loops enable precision fit, even over...
- SIZED FOR EVERYONE: Two sizes fit most customers, making the CORAX an easy harness to size.
- BUILT BETTER: Petzl’s FRAME technology pairs a time-tested design with superior modern materials, making the CORAX one of the most durable and comfortable harnesses in its class with performance EVA...
- READY FOR ANYTHING: Designed for great performance from gym climbing to trad multipitch and ice climbing; two rigid gear loops in the front are angled to easily rack and access gear, and two roomy,...
- LEGENDARY PETZL QUALITY: Petzl’s fifty years of experience with materials and manufacturing means that the cost-efficient “every climber” design is still made with high-quality materials and...
Last update on 2024-12-19 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
Gym and competition harnesses are lightweight, free-moving harnesses, designed for difficult sports routes, competition climbing, and gym training.
They have slender leg loops and a light waistband with foam for falls, belaying, and hanging dogging.
For the most part, they are unsuitable for general climbing.
5. Alpine or mountaineering harness
- BUILT FOR MOUNTAINS AND SNOW: Designed to be put on with your feet (and crampons and skis) firmly on the ground, the ALTITUDE boasts a feature set that makes it a great fit for most ski and...
- DISAPPEARS WHEN WORN: Petzl’s WIREFRAME technology helps the harness feel weightless and breathable, allowing you to focus on the climb.
- SUPPORTIVE AND FLEXIBLE: Individual strands of high-modulus polyethylene (HMPE) spread pressure out over the entire shape of the harness, keeping it comfortable and supportive without impeding your...
- CARRIES YOUR ALPINE GEAR: Two traditional gear loops, vertical loops for extra capacity, and ice screw keepers on the leg loops mean that you can carry all the gear you need for the mountains.
- TRULY PACKABLE: Includes a protective carry bag, and a foam-free design helps the ALTITUDE fold down to smaller than a water bottle.
Last update on 2024-12-19 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
These are suitable for all seasons.
Leg loops that are lightweight and customizable for quick on and off.
The harnesses are bare-bones, lightweight harnesses that are easily fully adjustable over a wide range of bulky clothing layers, as alpinists frequently change layers of clothing.
How to Put on a Climbing Harness? (Step by Step Instructions)
Plopping a harness is equivalent to wearing a pair of pants.
One loop goes around the waist, and the other goes around each leg.
Step 1: Unscrew all of the buckles
Loosen the three buckles on the waist and every leg loop, though don’t fully remove the straps from their clasp or metal.
Step 2: Remove the twists
Three loops for the legs and waist make up a climbing harness.
Look for the orange webbing just above Black Diamond on your harness.
The loop it’s tied to should be your waist loop, and it goes above your belly button.
Step 3: Place the leg loops and buckles in front of you on the harness
You either hold it in front or put it on the ground as you gear up to wear the harness.
The waist belt on the harness has a set of buckles that go onto the front of one’s body.
Also, it has a pivotal loop, also known as the belay loop, that connects the leg loops and the waist belt that hangs beneath it.
Turn the belt around so that the belay loop is away from the body but in front of you.
Step 4: Put the legs through into the leg loops to move through your harness
It’s the same as wearing a pair of slacks.
Ensure your leg loops are somewhere under the waist loop so you can walk through both.
After that, put the left leg through your left leg hole and the right leg via the right leg hole.
It’s simple, but disentangle your harness and attempt again if you mess up.
It would help if you fastened the waistband.
Begin by threading the webbing via the square hole. Also, tighten it up.
Step 5: Fasten the buckles
Pull the tail end of the waist strap to tighten each buckle, starting with your waist strap.
The harness needs to be below the height of your belly button.
Stiffen the harness to match every leg after your waist loop is secure.
If you can’t spin the harness sideways with two fingers in between it and your body, it’s tight enough.
Step 6: Double-check for safety
Ensure each harness piece is pulled, taught, and untwisted to the body.
Double-check that every buckle is double-backed and secure.
Verify if the waist and leg straps have about two inches of slack.
Check your mindset to see if you’re ready for a fun day of climbing protection.
If not, remove the harness and return to step one.
Note: Because no two climbing straps are alike, you could perhaps read the instruction book for your particular harness to learn how to do it properly.
What Are the Different Ways to Use a Climbing Harness?
Here are the different ways you can use a climbing harness;
1. How to Use Canyoneering Harness?
These harnesses are designed specifically for canyoneering and aren’t particularly enjoyable to ascend in.
Showing up at the climbing gym in this kind of harness would be embarrassing.
2. How to Use Chest Harness?
The chest leash is designed to keep the climber from tossing over head first during a fall.
Adults, particularly women, usually have an ideal gravitational pull roughly at the navel level.
As a result, the chances of you falling head-first are extremely slim.
3. How to Use Harnesses for Big Walls?
Big wall harnesses are large, sturdy harnesses designed for multi-pitch paths on large walls that can take a few days to complete.
Frequently Asked Question
We have gathered the most frequently asked questions about how to put on a climbing harness.
Where can I buy a climbing harness?
You can buy a climbing harness from sporting goods online stores such as REI or Amazon’s outdoor recreation store, among others.
How much does a typical climbing harness cost?
A typical climbing harness costs an average of $50.
How can I maintain my climbing harness?
You can maintain your harness by rinsing it first when it gets dirty.
Avoid laundry detergent or other solvents like degreasers or bleach if it doesn’t remove the grime.
Only use gentle soaps like body or face soap.
After washing, wash the harness thoroughly without the use of pressurized water.
Allow a damp harness to air dry completely before taking it out for direct sunlight.
Aside from the climbing shoes, the harness is the smelliest gear equipment you will ever own.
It soaks up body sweat and odor, which is especially useful if you’re ascending in a humid and hot environment.
As a result, you must wash the harness regularly to keep your climbing companion from looking for another partner.
Because the climbing harness keeps you connected to a rock, checking for excessive wear every day is crucial.
If you doubt that the harness would be unsafe, get rid of it immediately.
Where do you clip a climbing harness?
You clip a climbing harness in both the waist loop and each leg loop.
What are the loops on a climbing harness called?
The loops on a climbing harness are known as gear loops.
How do I take off a climbing harness?
To take off a climbing harness, it’s only right when the instructor gets permission from you.
The instructor can either show the climbers how to do it or mirror their actions in slow steps.
How to adjust a climbing harness?
To adjust your climbing harness, it must be snug enough to prevent it from sliding down the hip but flimsy sufficient to prevent pressure points or hot spots.
Also, ensure the leg loops are tight enough that just four fingers can fit between your leg and loop, though loose adequate to allow full movement.
What are the components of a harness?
The harness parts come in various shapes and sizes to suit multiple applications.
These elements are listed below.
- The Waist Belt: It’s a thick webbing slab that wraps around the waist.
- Buckle: The harness has either a single or two buckles attached to the waist belt front.
- Leg Loops: They are two broad, padded webbing loops enclosing the upper thighs.
- The Loop of the Belay: It’s a type of webbing loop used to secure leg loops to your waistline. Also, the belay loop is used to secure carabiners for use during rappelling or belaying.
- The Haul Loop: It’s a loop that transports goods. The haul loop is a webbed loop found behind the waist belt that should be reasonably solid. You haul a second rope in the haul loop in case of big walls or high climbing.
- Gear Loop: The loop, which is attached to your waist belt, is either a rigid or soft loop, and is used to record the climbing gear, such as nuts, quickdraws, and cams, to the harness for easy movement while climbing.
- Leg Loop: The cross piece is indeed a size of webbing that connects the front of your harness’s two leg loops.
- The Tie-in Loop: The front of your waist belt has a tie-in loop, which is a strong and rigid webbing. To ensure that your buckle is safe, you attach it to a belay loop.
