A climbing harness is a piece of equipment that distribute force across a person’s body during a fall, and the size of a climbing harness dictate how effectively a climbing harness can distribute that force. If a climbing harness is too large, the climbing harness may shifts under a load, which can cause the climbing harness to press against a persons abdomen or cause the leg loops of the climbing harness to slip off. If a climbing harness is too small, the climbing harness may restrict circulation when a person hang in the climbing harness.
Manufacturers design climbing harnesses based off waist and thigh measurement because the waist and the thighs are the points that anchor the load of the climbing harness. Most adult climbing harnesses can handle up to 310 pound, and childrens climbing harnesses has lower weight limits to match the smaller frames of children. To find the correct size for a climbing harness, you must take accurate measurements of your waist and your thighs.
How to Choose and Fit a Climbing Harness
You should use a flexible tape measure to measure your waist at the top of your hip bone, which is known as the iliac crest. You should not measure your waist at the belly button because measuring at the belly button can result in an incorrect size for the climbing harness. You should also measure your thighs at the widest point of your thighs while you are standing in the clothing you intend to wear while climbing.
These measurements will allow you to select a climbing harness from categories that range from extra small to double extra large. Many manufacturers also provide womens sizing for climbing harnesses, and womens climbing harnesses is often designed to be narrower in the hips to ensure the padded waist belt of the climbing harness sits low enough to transfer weight to the skeletal points of the body. After you have obtained your measurements, you must test the fit of the climbing harness in person.
You should put on the climbing harness and buckle the climbing harness so that there is only enough room for one finger to fit under the waistband of the climbing harness. The climbing harness should be tight enough to stay in place, but the climbing harness should not pinch your skin. The leg loops of the climbing harness should hug your thighs, and the leg loops should not ride up or sag when you bounce or hang in the climbing harness.
You must check the buckles of the climbing harness to ensure they are positioned at the hip level and are not twisting. You should always double back the buckles of the climbing harness to ensure the buckles are locked secure. You should also verify that the belay loop is centered, because a centered belay loop allow you to clip a device or thread a rope through the tie-in points of the climbing harness correctly.
There are different styles of climbing harnesses, and you should select a climbing harness style based on the type of climbing you perform. Sit harnesses are common because sit harnesses only wrap around the waist and the thighs, which make sit harnesses lightweight. Full-body climbing harnesses encircle the torso in addition to the waist and the thighs, and full-body climbing harnesses is essential for small children or for rescue scenarios.
Chest harnesses can be paired with sit harnesses to add security to the upper body, and some climbing harnesses combine multiple component for alpine climbing. The specific discipline of climbing will also determine which climbing harness is appropriate. Sport climbers often use lightweight sit harnesses that has four gear loops, and sport climbers may prefer minimal padding to reduce the weight of the climbing harness.
Trad climbers require climbing harnesses with six or more stiff gear loops to hold equipment like cams and nuts, and trad climbers often need extra foam padding for hanging during multi-pitch climbs. Big wall climbers require climbing harnesses with eight or more gear loops and maximum padding, and big wall climbing harnesses often include haul loops for heavy bag. Beginners in a climbing gym may use simple climbing harnesses with two gear loops because simple climbing harnesses are easy to put on and take off.
The anatomy of a climbing harness is important for safety, and you must understand the different part of the climbing harness. The belay loop is designed to take the force of belaying and rappelling, and the belay loop is rated to at least 22 kilonewtons. The tie-in points are the loops at the waist and the legs that you use to thread the rope through the climbing harness, and the tie-in points help to spread the force of a fall.
Gear loops are used to carry equipment, and you should inspect gear loops for any cuts caused by sharp edge. Padding provides comfort during long periods of use, and buckles must function correctly to ensure the climbing harness remains secure. Haul loops are located at the back of the climbing harness and are used to carry extra equipment.
You must perform regular safety inspections on your climbing harness to ensure the climbing harness remains safe to use. You should scan the climbing harness for pulled stitching, and you should check the webbing of the climbing harness for damage caused by ultraviolet light or abrasion. You should also check the buckles of the climbing harness for any malfunction.
You should retire a climbing harness after a major fall or after the climbing harness has reached ten years of age, and you should cut up an old climbing harness so that no one else use the old climbing harness. You should wash a climbing harness gently by hand and allow the climbing harness to air dry. You should also look for climbing harnesses that have certifications, such as CE EN 12277, to ensure the climbing harness meet safety standards.
You should of checked teh harness for any signs of wear alot more frequentley.
