Best Women’s Climbing Harnesses

The harness has been invented to provide protection. Often, harnesses are used by climbers. May it is for leisure or work, harnesses are designed to precisely fit the needs of a particular target group of individuals. 

This is why different types of harnesses are produced and distributed in the market. 

This post, however, is focused on choosing the best women’s climbing harnesses.

But before we go into the details, let us first explore the makeup of a harness, what its parts are, and what the purpose of each component is:

FIRST: Waist belt

This belt supports the waist and serves as the primary element that holds all the other parts of the harness together. There are at least one or two buckles on this belt that you can freely adjust to your fit. 

Women’s and men’s waist belts in harnesses differ in the adjustable measure of this part of the harness. 

A suitable material that makes up the waist belt makes it both sturdy and comfortable at the same time. Remember that this part of the harness will be responsible for carrying the weight of your body as you climb up. 

Based on the experience of some climbers, a waist belt that is made on materials that are too hard tends to feel a little tight and can affect the flow of air once you start moving with it. On the other hand, a waist belt that is too soft may quickly lose its strength and put you in danger as you climb in the long run. 

SECOND: Gear loops: 

The usual number of loops in waist belts is four, two loops on each side. The loops are designed to help carry you through your climb. 

Often, these gear loops are designed to allow for quickdraw and carabiners to be carried along with you as you do your climb. The gear loops make it possible for you to carry on other climbing gears without necessarily adding to the weight that is already being carried by the harness. 

Remember that the strength of these loops does not suffice the needed strength to carry the weight of a human; hence, you should never use this loop to attach yourself to any of the climbing hooks as it will not be able to hold your weight and will certainly put you in danger. 

THIRD: Leg Loops 

The leg loops in a harness are also considered upper thigh support. This part of the harness comes in different sizes and has different dimensions depending on the size fit of the waist belt. 

Most leg loops in harnesses do not have buckles that allow for adjustment of the tightness of the loop. It has been more hazardous to a climber to put buckles in this loop as they may get caught and cause dangerous conditions to the climber.

FOURTH: Tie-In loops

Women’s Climbing Harnesses often have two tie-in loops. These loops are connected through the belay loop. The tie-in loops allow you to tie yourself to the rope for better protection. This loop helps you distribute your weight around the cord and add security if you fall during the climb. 

Remember not to pass a carabiner through these loops. Besides tying to the ropes, there should be no other uses for this loop to ensure it performs its expected function as a vital part of the harness. 

FIFTH: Belay loop

This is the loop that connects the two tie-in loops. It is also considered the strongest component of the harness. 

To belay a climber, the carabiner is attached to the belay loop. This secures the rope to the device and allows the whole setup to pull the climber up and assist with her weight as she reaches the top. 

Remember not to attach anything more to the belay loop to avoid easy wear and tear in the area, which may endanger the climber. 

SIXTH: Rise strap

These Women’s Climbing Harnesses straps connect the waist belt to the leg loops. It is often an adjustable strap and is easily detachable. Often, modern harnesses have easy-to-remove rise straps to allow a person to go to the bathroom quickly without necessarily removing the whole harness. 

These six critical parts of the harness are essential in ensuring that you are safe as you reach the top of your climb. Considering the correct harness to use for your climb can undoubtedly improve how you embrace your climbing adventure. 

At times, harnesses are defined by where they will be used and whether they are for women or men. So what’s the difference between harnesses designed for men and women? 

Points of Difference in Harnesses between Men and Women

In general, there are a few differences in how harnesses for men and women are designed. However, specific parts in the harness may be adjusted according to the female physique, particularly in the pelvic area and the thighs. 

A woman’s harness is often higher in the waist area and larger diameter in the leg loops. 

Nevertheless, these harnesses can fit both men and women, which is why it does not matter who wears a harness in public places. The more important thing is that the individual is safe from falling when climbing. 

What to look for when Buying Best Women’s Climbing Harnesses

Every harness follows standard sizes from extra small (XS) to double extra-large (XXL). Notice that there is no XXXL in the size selection mentioned. There is also a limit to anyone allowed to climb mountains. For the sake of safety, individuals who are too overweight but are interested in mountain climbing sports are encouraged to lose weight to be able to fit in a harness that will keep them safe as they are assisted in their climbing adventure. 

Remember that other health concerns are checked first before anyone who wants to climb the mountain is allowed to do so. Hence, if you would like to embrace mountain climbing as an adventure you would want to try, then try to keep fit, stay healthy, and eat nutritious food to have the strength you need to endure the challenges of this climbing sport. 

If you plan to have your mountain climbing exercises at a gym or an indoor sports station, you may no longer need to buy your harness. But if you plan to bring your mountaineering skills outside, it would be best to have a personal harness that does not only fit your physique but would also fit your style. Take that picture-perfect moment with nature as your backdrop and your harness as your mark for your mountaineering victory. 

So when buying the best women’s climbing harnesses for you or your loved one, remember to have a fitting first. Also, as you take that fit challenge, check on these considerations to make sure everything is suitable for the one who is going to use it for climbing and reaching heights: 

One: it sits Comfortably Snug 

You should be able to move freely and sit comfortably even when wearing your harness. Getting your harness off to sit down is not advisable as it will loosen the safety loops and cause constant wear and tear, which may compromise the quality of your harness. 

Two: It is fit to allow you to move comfortably 

Moving comfortably with your harness includes walking and running with your harness. This is especially necessary if you use it out in the open wilderness, where running and walking are certainly part of the adventure. 

Rescuers required to use harnesses are expected to move fast even with the harnesses already installed in their bodies. Moving with comfort is essential to ensure your safety as you climb or move around for other purposes, such as saving people in an emergency. 

Three: Secured around Your Hips 

As mentioned earlier, the waist belt, which is placed upon your hip area, is expected to carry the whole weight of your body as you go up towards the heights. Other ropes attached to your harness only serve as added protection to your weight. 

So, it is crucial that your waist belt is secured but also comfortable at the same time, allowing you to breathe. 

Four: Has Enough Space at the Leg Loop

You will need to move your leg back and forth as you climb. You would have to be able to spread your legs as necessary even with the harness to make it easier for you to steady your next step towards the mountain you are climbing. It is critical to consider enough space at the leg loop to easily maneuver the situation as you reach the top of the hill or the climbing wall you wish to conquer. 

Types of Harnesses Depending on Climbing Categories: 

Besides wall climbing in the gym, you might want to explore other categories of climbing once you have already started this invigorating sport. If you aim to remain physically fit and enjoy the physical challenges, mountain climbing might be the right sport to explore. 

See-through the list here the type of harness that you might need to consider depending on the category of climbing that you would want to explore: 

Gym Climbing HarnessesGym climbing harnesses are often lightweight and minimal; there are much fewer loops in the harness, and leg loops are usually non-adjustable. 

This is because when in the gym, you usually do not have to bring extra gear and attach them to your harness. 

Gym climbing is also safer. So besides extra padding, when needed, you do not need anything else but a minimal harness to keep you safe as you go up on the wall. 

1. Traditional Climbing Harnesses

Traditional climbing harnesses are fit to suffice the need to protect climbers engaging in multifaceted forms of climbing activities.  

Hence, these harnesses often come with more back support to allow hang time for climbers. It also has increased padding to improve comfort as big and durable loops for gears often characterize climbers using these harnesses. Climbers may need to bring gears for extra protection and function. Leg loops in this type of harness are usually adjustable to allow more room. 

1. Mountaineering Harnesses 

These harnesses are required to protect climbers who also go through the challenge even in the middle of snowy weather. The haul loop is adjusted to let the harness carry the pressure more effectively to provide firm support. More robust haul loops allow jackets or water bottles to be included in the load you clip into the harness. 

So, in search of the Best Women’s Climbing Harnesses, you need to consider three things: 

First: Where Would You Climb?  

Are you going to climb in the gym wall, or are you bringing your climbing adventures outside to the wild? As mentioned earlier, gym climbing activities are safer compared to when you are going to climb mountains out. 

When are you likely going to do your climbing adventure? Do you plan to go out in the snow or during the summertime? If you choose to go through the snow as you climb up the mountain, you ought to choose strong mountaineering harnesses that will suffice to support the pressure of going through slippery slopes in the hill and keep you strongly protected through your adventure. 

Second: What You Would Want to Carry Along with Your Harness? 

Would you want to carry certain gears? Perhaps a water bottle? Or your jacket, cap, or anything else that will help you get the comfort you need as you go higher into the mountain. If you plan to have these gears up with you in the mountain, you ought to look through the gear loops and examine if they fit your needs and expectations if the said part of the harness is met. 

Third: How often would you be climbing? 

Are you an avid climber? If you are, it is most likely that your harness will go through massive wear and tear. Hence, you need to look through the materials and fabrics used to make the harness you buy. 

Accordingly, the more often you climb the mountain, the more likely your harness will be exposed to external elements, the environmental elements that may affect the quality of your harness. Be ready to buy another harness within at least six months if you use it regularly. You can also try to buy two tackles to have something to use alternately to help avoid immediate wear and tear in the harness you regularly use. 

Key Takeaways 

It is evident that when it comes to picking the best women’s climbing harnesses. It would help if you were wary about the three points of consideration noted in the previous section of this discussion. 

In all the information shared through this post, you need to make sure that you get enough time to examine the harness that you are going to buy for comfort, proper fitting, and extra features that certainly fit your demand and expectation you have on the functionality of the harness including its loops that serve as additional load carrier that you can use to put in other essentials that you may need as you climb up. 

If you are opting to buy your harness online, check reviews from past buyers who have purchased the same item. Looking through the information provided by the seller also helps. If you feel you want to know more, do not hesitate to learn more about the item by checking through the seller through chat or email, depending on the communication platform provided by the selling platform you have accessed.