After climbing a Life Time Fitness rock wall, some novice climbers may think its time to invest a little more in this activity.
Second to climbing shoes, a new climber will probably look to invest in a personal harness for the numerous ascents they plan to make. But purchasing a new harness can be a pretty daunting task with such little climbing knowledge at hand.
That’s why novice climbers should make sure they talk with experienced climbers about harnesses so they find the right one, said Brian Barth, rock wall supervisor for Life Time Fitness in Overland Park, KS.
To start, a novice needs to find the right place to purchase a harness. Barth said most climbing equipment stores are owned by individual entrepreneurs, but there are some large name retailers. Barth said a novice should talk to an experienced climber — or maybe a Life Time Fitness rock wall supervisor — to find out one of the better places to go.
When in doubt, Barth said, go to the retailers who specialize in climbing and most likely participate themselves because they’ll have the best knowledge about the harnesses.
Before going to the store, Barth said, a climber should also wear the same type of clothing they usually wear when climbing to guarantee a better fit.
“For a climbing harness, after safety, comfort is key,” Barth said. “You will be falling/hanging in this thing so it should be comfortable."
Barth said retail harnesses have wider waist & leg loops to distribute weight over a larger surface area to make falling and hanging more comfortable. He said a novice should try on many different harnesses to get a feel for them.
Most places that sell harnesses, Barth said, should also have a rope from which climbers can hang from to test a harness.
“You wouldn't buy shoes without walking in them a bit, so why buy a harness in which you haven't hung?” Barth said.
Different climbing harnesses also have different features to accommodate the different types of climbing, which could also make the harnesses vary in price, Barth said.
Below are some harness features Barth thinks climbers should be aware of:
Buckles: Life Time Fitness supplies harnesses that have auto-locking buckles. They allow easy entry and exit from the harness. They can also be loosened and tightened between climbs without much effort.
Other harnesses have manual double-back buckles that require more attention when first used. When used incorrectly, they have been the cause of many climbing accidents. No matter the buckle type, climbers should always double-check the buckles before every climb.
Legloops: The types of climbing a climber plans to do will determine whether adjustable leg loops on a harness are necessary or not. Cold weather climbing requires more bulky clothes. So if a climber plans to climb outside in all weather conditions, then adjustable leg loops are a good idea. Non-adjustable, however, have two fewer buckles to worry about.
Padding: Beginner harnesses will have enough padding to keep a novice more comfortable in a fall and allow for hanging a bit more. However, more padding means a heavier harness.
Gender-specific harnesses: Over the past decade, harnesses specifically designed for women have come onto the market. These are designed with the different hip proportions for women in mind. However, a lot of women still climb in gender-neutral harnesses.
Purchase packages: Some companies will sell harness packages that may include a belay device, locking carabiner, chalk bag and sometimes shoes. These packages can save a novice a few bucks in the long run.
With all the options, Barth said, it is imperative that a novice obtains all of the information before purchasing a harness. And they should also learn how to use it properly, he said.
“With any piece of climbing gear, read the instructions that come with them as well as having someone show you how to use it,” Barth said.
“Your life depends on this gear. You should know how to use it correctly or the results can be catastrophic.”
