Rock Climbing Harnesses

Each (rock) climber needs a harness to guarantee their safety while climbing. This is an important purchase because there are many things to be taken into consideration: freedom of movement, weight, obstruction, protection against rubbing the rock, and price. There are several types of harnesses, and these are all good for several purposes. We will discuss the most common. Hip harnesses
Hip harnesses are mostly used for rock climbing and indoor climbing. Because they only

support the hip and the upper legs, they give you the ideal freedom of movement. One can

"sit" in it while hanging when one wants to rest. The comfort of the harnesses usually

depends on the type of straps that are used at the hip and the upper legs.

Non-adjustable hip harnesses
These are frequently used for rock climbing because they weigh less than adjustable types.

They differ from each other in finish, the thickness of the hip straps and the number of

material loops (these are plastic rings on the waist belt buckle to which material is hung).

Adjustable hip harnesses
These are frequently used for alpine climbing, because they are adjustable, they can be used

by several people, but even more important: they can be worn above the clothing. By

adjusting the straps it is perfectly possible to wear the harness on top of pants. In the

past these harnesses were less used because they were heavier than the non-adjustable ones.

But nowadays the technology has evolved so that they almost give you the same comfort as the

non-adjustable ones.

Here are some examples:
Petzl-Tetrax
This is one of the lightest harnesses that exist. It has a waist belt that is adjustable at

two places. The leg loops can be widely adjusted. Because the tie-in point is just above the

hip band, it makes maneuvering on the rope easier. The Tetrax has two different material

loops.

Petzl-Calidris
The Calidris has a broad and supple waist belt. It is an optimal combination of freedom of

movement and comfort in wearing. It has a different type tie-in point than the Tetrax that

makes hanging on the harness for a long time more comfortable. The Calidris has four

material loops.

Integral harnesses
They are not only worn around the hips and the upper legs, but also around the shoulders.

The harness has to be worn with a karabiner to keep the two parts together. It is not used

for rock climbing much, but rather for glacier excursions, when one carries a heavy load on

the back.

Children’s harnesses
To also give children the chance to discover climbing, Petzl started making children’s

harnesses a while ago (Ouistiti) that function like an integral harness. The straps are

however attached on the back, so that the child itself can not reach it.