| Nearly every rock climber who has been climbing just | | | | manufacturers ensure their climbing harnesses meet |
| about more than a few months can tell you a fall | | | | rigorous safety standards, but it's always essential to |
| story, particularly if he or she has been climbing | | | | pay attention to your gear and check it for any wears |
| outdoors. While a number of gym climbs are | | | | or tears. For instance, if the nylon webbing of your |
| top-roped, which only allows falls of a few feet, those | | | | climbing harness is a little fuzzy from wear that's okay, |
| climbing sport or trad routes can take some pretty big | | | | but if it has been either torn or if there are any other |
| falls. I remember my biggest fall was about a | | | | visible damage, then it's time to get a new harness. |
| twenty-five footer, which eventually ended with my | | | | There are all sorts of climbing harnesses as they are |
| head hanging only five feet or so above a set of | | | | available in a range of sizes and designs, and it's tough |
| jagged rocks. And to answer the question; as to why | | | | to get climbers to agree on what climbing harness is |
| didn't I hit the ground? Well I didn't get my head | | | | the best. However, there's one thing that all climbers |
| knocked on the rocks because my belayer got a hold | | | | agree on: for a climbing harness to be safe, |
| of me and because all of my gear worked the way it | | | | comfortable and effective, it must fit the climber well. |
| was supposed to, this includes one of the most | | | | Whereas an ill-fitting harness is at best uncomfortable |
| important pieces of gear, my climbing harness. | | | | and at worst dangerous, and before buying a climbing |
| In short, a climbing harness allows a rope to be safely | | | | harness it's imperative to try it out first. If you are lucky, |
| and comfortably secured to a climber, thus stopping | | | | your gear store may allow you to attach yourself to a |
| the climber's fall before he or she hits the ground. The | | | | rope and allow you to hang in the harness for awhile |
| rope passes through one or two webbing loops | | | | to make sure it's not only comfortable to walk around |
| (depending on the harness), and these loops are one | | | | in, but also should be comfortable to hang in. Beyond |
| of the most important parts of the chain of protection | | | | that, you can find stripped-down ice climbing harnesses |
| that stops your fall, including the rope, rock protection, | | | | made to be worn over layers and layers of insulation |
| and belay device. These webbing loops also allow you | | | | to bulky, padded harnesses which you could sit in all |
| to fasten a belay device to your harness, allowing you | | | | day; no matter what style you go for is completely left |
| to belay your climbing partners. Every climbing gear | | | | up to you! |