How to Use a Harness for Rock Climbing

All harnesses are not created equal. Consulting with an experienced climber or a sales representative who knows the ins and outs of a particular harness will help you decide which harness to purchase that will best suit your needs and your body. Wearing and using a harness properly will insure your climbing experience is a safe and pleasant one. The harness has evolved with the sport of climbing and has gone from handmade items held together with duct-tape and webbing to high-dollar items double-stitched and rated for safety. The important thing to remember is to take your time and find a harness that is right for you and to follow all the guidelines provided with the harness.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Harness
• Rope rated for rock climbing
• Climbing shoes
• Climbing gear

1. Read all instructions that come with your harness.

2. 
    

   To put your harness on, hold the largest loop that will go around your waist as you would a pair of pants before putting them on.

3. 
    

   Step through the large loop placing your feet in the appropriate smaller loops which will eventually go around your upper thighs.

4. 
    

   Pull the harness up to your waist as you would a pair of pants. Make sure the leg loops rest comfortable around your upper thighs; not too loose, not too tight. Be sure that nothing is twisted and the leg loops are around the correct legs.

5. 
    

   Every harness has a different set up of buckles and straps, the important thing to remember is to tighten and “double back” all buckles and straps around the waist. Always double and triple check to make sure the waist belt is doubled-back before leaving the ground. It is hard to help a climber whose harness has fallen off mid-climb.

6. Some harness will have buckles around the leg loops while others are “fitted” and require no tightening. If there are buckles on the leg loops, make sure they are tightened and doubled back. If the straps are too long, tuck them in to loops provided or tuck them under the strap itself.

Using other parts of the harness

7. 
    

   Gear loops are provided to clip carabineers, chalk bags, draws, belay devices and traditional climbing gear to in order to have them with you as you climb. Each harness has a different style of loop and as you gain experience you will most likely gain a preference for which style works best for you. You should never tie in to the climbing rope through a gear loop, that is not what they are for.

8. 
    

   The belay loop is provided to clip the belay device into. Some people use the belay loop to tie-in to the climbing rope as well, however, it is safer to thread the climbing rope through the two pieces of webbing the belay loop also occupies.

9. 
    

   In the instructions for most harnesses there will be recommended tie-in points, following those guidelines will provide the climber with the optimal amount of safety.

Tips & Warnings

• Check that everything is doubled-back and check your partner’s harness as well and be sure someone check’s yours before you leave the ground. With time many climbers get complacent and are in such a habit of doing these things that they actually forget important safety steps. Never forget to have someone check your harness.
• Rock climbing is a sport that when practiced safely and with the proper training and equipment can be fun for beginners as well as the more advanced. It can also be an inherently dangerous activity when warnings are not heeded and proper training is not sought.
• You should never climb alone.
• Always double check your knots and harness and have someone else check them no matter how experienced you are, everyone can make mistakes.
• Also remember that a well-tied know will not help you if your harness is not fastened properly or doubled-back.
• Never leave the ground until all safety checks have been performed and your belayer is ready with the appropriate technique and equipment.

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