Harnesses

Subcategories:

A climbing harness is a piece of essential safety gear that connects you securely to a rope or anchor system during climbing, rappelling, or mountaineering. It distributes force in case of a fall and allows for comfortable weight bearing when hanging or belaying.

Main Purpose of a Climbing Harness:

  • Safety: Catches you if you fall.

  • Support: Lets you hang or rest mid-climb.

  • Connection: Attaches you to ropes, belay devices, or anchors.

Main Parts of a Climbing Harness:

Part Description
Waistbelt Padded and adjustable; wraps around your waist just above the hips.
Leg loops Go around your thighs for lower body support (some are adjustable).
Tie-in loops Where you tie the rope directly using a knot.
Belay loop Strong loop connecting the waist and leg loops; used for belaying and rappelling.
Gear loops Non-load-bearing loops to hold carabiners, quickdraws, or gear.
Rear haul loop     Small loop on the back for a second rope or chalk bag.

Types of Climbing Harnesses:

Type Best For Features
Sport harness Gym, sport climbing Lightweight, fewer gear loops
Trad harness Trad/multipitch climbing More padding, extra gear loops
Ice/mountaineering harness     Alpine or ice climbing Adjustable leg loops, fits over layers
Full-body harness Kids, rescue, canyoning     Distributes weight across torso; prevents flipping upside down

Choosing a Harness:

  • Fit: Should be snug around waist and thighs (you shouldn’t be able to pull it off over your hips).

  • Comfort: Padding matters, especially for longer climbs.

  • Weight: Lighter for sport, more padded for trad/multipitch.

  • Adjustability: Important for layering or sharing gear.

Safety Tip:

Always double back the waist belt buckle (unless it’s auto-locking), and tie in correctly using both tie-in loops — not the belay loop.

Would you like help picking a harness for gym climbing, outdoor trad, or alpine use?