Your climbing harness is your greatest tool, companion, and little buddy; it’s your rock climbing lifeline. Without a harness, you’d revert to wrapping the rope around your waist like in the olden days.
The olden days were a glorious time for rock climbing. Large hiking boots, massive hammers, pitons, and body belaying were formidable years for the sport. But rock climbing technology has improved dramatically from the days of leading with static ropes.
Today, climbing harnesses are even made for specific styles of climbing. A mountaineer’s harness will differ from a sport climber’s, much like a big wall harness will vastly differ from a gym harness.
How do you know what to look for in a good climbing harness? Well, your first step is determining what you’ll be using it for, and ‘climbing’ isn’t enough of an answer.
What is Your Style of Climbing?
What kind of climbing do you enjoy? Are you a trad climber who needs plenty of gear loops? Or maybe you’re a gym climber who only clips their Gri Gri and belay glasses to their harness. The difference between these two types of climbers is what they need their harnesses to do for them.
You won’t need five gear loops, a rated haul loop, and an extra wide hip design if you only plan to carry enough quickdraws for a single sport route. And if you plan to spend all day in a harness climbing long multi-pitch routes, you’ll want something comfortable to sit in.
Plenty of harnesses are available, and choosing the right one can be overwhelming! Determining what you’ll use your harness for will help you narrow your choices and simplify the buying process.
Key Aspects of a Climbing Harness
Look for a harness with certifications from reputable safety standards such as the UIAA (International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation) or CE (European Conformity). These certifications ensure the harness meets rigorous safety requirements and is up to industry standards.
You should consider other aspects of a harness before choosing it, too. Ask yourself the following questions when browsing for a new harness:
Gear Loops – How many gear loops do you want/need?
Leg Loops – Adjustable or fixed?
Foam – Will you sit in it all day or remove it periodically?
Weight – Does it need to be as lightweight as possible?
Haul Loop – Do you need one?
Ice Clip Slots – Do you do any ice climbing?
Write down your answers and refer to them when you start your shopping experience. The only necessary thing to look for in a good climbing harness is to make sure it meets safety standards. The rest is up to your preference and what you’ll use it for.
Where to Buy a Climbing Harness
You have two options for buying a climbing harness: online or in person. Consider the pros and cons of purchasing online or in person.
Online – When buying online, you can choose from a broader range of climbing harnesses and companies. The drawback is that you can’t try it on before you buy.
You’ll need to know your measurements. Most companies don’t allow returns or exchanges on safety devices like harnesses and belay devices. The company doesn’t know if you used the device or what could have happened between the purchase and return dates.
In-Person – When buying in-person, you can choose from climbing gyms, local outdoor gear stores, and big box stores that carry climbing equipment. You get to try each harness before you buy to ensure it fits and is what you’re looking for.
The downside to buying a harness in person is that you may not always have the best choices locally. You’re at the mercy of what stores near you carry.
Consider Your Future Wants/Needs!
While you want to buy a climbing harness for the style of climbing you enjoy right now, consider what else you may want to do with it. If you’re a beginner gym climber who aspires to climb longer routes outside, you should look for a harness that can do both!
The same goes for anybody buying their first harness. If you only plan to climb indoors, your choices are quickly narrowed. However, considering what you may want to do with the harness before you purchase can prevent you from buying two in a single season.