The last thing we want to be doing as a climber is questioning the safety and quality of our harness as we set off up a route. In a previous article, we discussed some of the best climbing shoes and climbing pants for women. Today, we’re going to focus primarily on the best women’s climbing harnesses in the market catered to a lady’s build as well as performance while climbing. From proportion fit to comfort to material and design, we’ll introduce to you some of these best women’s climbing harnesses.
What are the Best Women’s Climbing Harness?
Below you’ll find the list of the top 5 Best Women’s Climbing Harness. We compiled this list from women’s climbing harnesses we have used, asked others about, and researched further to give you the best possible roundup. With many years of experience with climbing harnesses for women you can be assured that this article will give you what you’re looking for.
We also wrote a buying guide and answered some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) at the end of this article.
1. EDELRID Sendero Climbing Harness
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| Price: 💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 0.9 pounds (0.41 kg) Number of Gear Loops: 5 Adjustable leg loops: Yes User Weight Capacity: 175 lbs |
The Edelrid Sendero is a Jack of all trades and a master of all of them! Although primarily marketed as an alpine harness, we think this ticks all the boxes for a great all-rounder. This is supported by five XL gear loops for maximum gear carrying capacity, as well as ice clipper slots and a haul loop. It’s also such a comfortable harness. The waist belt and leg loops are fitted with strips of webbing and are padded with 3d mesh. The result is excellent weight distribution and a truly comfortable harness for climbing or hanging in. It’s probably a bit higher tech than a beginner would require, and can get a little uncomfortable if you’re belaying for long periods, but otherwise, it’s a truly great product.
Pros
- Top marks for comfort,
- Versatile and multifunctional,
- Large carrying capacity
Cons
- Belaying for long periods can get uncomfortable,
- An expensive option
2. PETZL Corax Climbing Harness
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| Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 1.1 pounds (0.5 kg) Number of Gear Loops: 4 Adjustable leg loops: Yes User Weight Capacity: 310 lbs |
Through four reinforced buckles, the PETZL Corax can be fitted to clkimbers of any size or shape. The deisgn, though visually traditional, has been refined for maximum comfort and performance with a thick, padded waistband, wide leg loops and soft, fabric inners. The varied gear loops provide plenty of options for storing your entire array of equipment needed to safely send the route.
Pros
- Four points of adjustment to completely tailor the fit of the harness.
- Wide and comfortable padded waistband.
- Four gear loops – two pressure molded and two flexible loops
Cons
- Leg loops prone to uncomfortable twisting when putting on,
- Buckles can create unnecessary pressure points when falling
3. KAILAS Airo Lightweight Climbing Harness
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| Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 0.86 pounds (0.39 kg) Number of Gear Loops: 3 Adjustable leg loops: Yes User Weight Capacity: 250 lbs |
Kailas brings a budget-friendly harness option that’s worth considering! It’s not just for rock climbing but versatile enough for various outdoor adventures. While Kailas might be a lesser-known brand and not one we’ve had a ton of experience with, their harness is UIAA certified, ensuring it meets international safety standards.
We tend to have a trust with well-known and seasoned climbing brands, but it’s always refreshing to see what the newcomers bring to the table. Kailas’s harness is not only affordable but also comfortable and lightweight, making it an excellent companion for your outdoor pursuits. It’s packed with features like ample gear storage and a rear haul loop, making it a functional piece of equipment for a range of activities.
Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight yet durable
- Comfortable design
- Versatile build
Cons
- Limited adjustablilty of leg loops
4. Wild Country Session
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| Price: 💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 1.1 pounds (0.5 kg) Number of Gear Loops: 4 Adjustable leg loops: Yes User Weight Capacity: 310 lbs |
In a sport where often even unisex equipment seems tailored to men, the Wild Country Session has been tailored to fit woman crushers. With an extra wide and supportive lower back, thick padding and multiple adjustment points, it seamlessly hugs your body while providing all the protection and mobility you could possibly require. The gear loops and tie-in loop are colored bright orange to stand out clearly from the rest of the harness, making them easy to spot, even in your peripheral vision.
Pros
- Designed to comfortably fit a woman’s waist.
- Extremely lightweight harness.
- Ventilated padding
Cons
- Many moving parts and loops – can be a little tricky to use
5. Metolius Women’s Safe Tech Deluxe SB Harness
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| Price: 💲💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 2.47 pounds (1.12 kg) Number of Gear Loops: 4 Adjustable leg loops: Yes User Weight Capacity: 310 lbs |
The Metolius Safe Harness has been designed to cover every conceivably realistic misuse of the product, and to protect the climber regardless, while maintaining the ability for climbers to execute maximum mobility. It is hard on the outside but soft on the inside, and the wide design has been implemented to maximise comfort and provide excellent support. The harness may be a little counter intuituive to use, but it is unbeatable froim a safety perspective.
Pros
- Fully adjustable on the legs and wait.
- Very wide and well padded design for comfort.
- Excellent support on the lower back
Cons
- Double central loop can get confusing,
- Inconsistent gear loops can also be unintuitive
Verdict
Based on all of our experience with climbing harnesses for women, we found that EDELRID Sendero Climbing Harness is the best women’s climbing harness available today.
Our Premium Option is Metolius Women’s Safe Tech Deluxe SB Harness with all the best features and high-quality materials, but that’s only if you have more money to spend.
However, if you are on a slightly tighter budget, you can also consider the KAILAS Airo Lightweight Climbing Harness as an affordable alternative.
Our other reviews you may find useful in your research:
What You Should Know Before Buying women’s climbing harnesses
Key Features of Your Climbing Harness
It is essential that you know your way around your harness – understanding the different key features and what they are (or aren’t!) used for will keep you safe and happy on the wall. Thankfully, rock climbing harnesses tend to follow a standard design.
Any harness on the market will likely comprise of an adjustable waist belt and two leg loops all linked together by an elasticated cord. At the front, connecting the waist and leg loops is a loop of thick cord known as the belay loop. At the top and bottom of the belay loops are two smaller loops of material – these are known as the tie in points. These tie-in points and the belay loop are the parts of the harness that are rated –or built to withstand force. Thus, they are usually the point at which you are attached to the system.
Other features on a rock-climbing harness will vary. Some harnesses will be built to be ultra-lightweight, while some will be heavier and more geared towards comfort and support (ideal for long days in the mountains multi pitch climbing). Almost all harnesses will have gear loops – for helping you transport your quickdraws, trad rack, or just belay device – but the number and size will also depend on the harness’s intended use.
Caring For Your Harness
Like all climbing personal protective equipment (PPE), climbing harnesses must be treated with care and protected from damage. Suppliers are legally obliged to include information on how to clean and store your harness on purchase (usually in the form of an information tag). This information can also be accessed on the supplier’s website. Regardless of the brand, some key behaviors remain the same: your harness should always be stored dry, away from direct sunlight, and safe from any chemicals or corrosive agents (e.g. bleach). If your harness comes into contact with seawater, you’ll need to wash it: a gentle spin with NO cleaning agents does the trick. Oh, and NEVER modify your harness in any way!
How to Use and Wear a Climbing Harness
Before you can use it, you need to learn how to wear and use your climbing harness. Climbing harnesses should be tightened to fit snugly around the waist (above the hips). The leg loops tend to be left slightly looser around the legs. Make sure the gear loops point downwards and the leg loops are the right way around – I can’t believe how many people I’ve seen wearing upside down or tangled harnesses at my gym! If in doubt – ask another climber for assistance.
When tying in, the rope should be fed through both the attachment points and the belay device should be attached to the belay loop. Remember – the belay loops and tie in points tend to be the only parts of the harness that are rated to withstand force – so make sure you’re tying in and belaying from the right points! Again, a buddy-check with your climbing partner before you set off should be a regular part of your routine.
Questions and Answers About women’s climbing harnesses
How do you tighten a climbing harness?
Tightening a climbing harness is pretty easy. This is different for different makes/models, but most harnesses will tighten with a single buckle at the front, which is tightened A double buckle can be a little bit more finicky but is the exact same in practice – just tighten one side at a time.
How should a climbing harness fit?
Your climbing harness should fit snugly around the waist and legs. A well-fitting waist strap is most important. A good rule of thumb is that you should still be able to fit two fingers under the waist belt when it’s tightened, but NOT a fist.
1 Comment
Brian and Dawn
March 18, 2022 at 6:51 pmDear Lydia, Thank you for your climbing harness reviews. Especially love the pro con lists. I’m wondering if you might provide me some more specific information however. My husband Brian has recently designed a climbing harness that is not only much more comfortable than most of traditional styles on th market but with other unique qualities. One fine aspect of his design: no more awkward strap slack but yhe best part of his vision is to make harnesses based on the individual climbers specific measurements providing them with maximum comfort. The symmetry in his design provides even distribution of weight on the climbers legs. Much more balance than other harnesses. Also being tailor made streamlines gearing up to simply stepping in and clicking 3 buckles. His prototype speaks for itself. Shoot I didnt even know he could sew lol but he did a great job and it really is a unique fantastic design. Anyway, if you have any thoughts or advice in this matter anything at all to provide some direction or insight as we would love to make this available to climbers world wide, but it’s just the two if us here in Death Valley not many options pitching it locally. Anyway, your thoughts would be appreciated if you have the time. All the same though, thank you again for what you do. Sincerely, Dawn🏜