Rock Climbing harnesses

Do you need to buy your first climbing harness? We recommend that you go to a good climbing shop, find a member of staff who climbs regularly, try a few harnesses on and hang in them. If the shop does not have any staff that climb or does not have a place to hang in the harness, walk out and find another climbing shop.

A climbing harness essential features are:

• Padding: a rock climbing harness should be padded on the waist and legs because this feature offers more comfort when you are hanging in it - the actual comfort will depend on the amount of padding, the quality of the padding and its shape / size - hence the need for the hanging point.
• Good fit: try the harness with both thin and thick clothing to check it will fit you in both warm and cold conditions.
• Correct rise:check that the harness rise (distance between the crotch and waist) is correct and that it is not too short and drags down the front of the waist belt.
• Symmetry: check that the harness sits symmetrically on you i.e. gear lops are evenly positioned on both sides.
• Gear loops: there should be a minimum of 5 gear loops if you intend climbing outside; they should be positioned so that you can access them easily and should not hang so far forward that gear constantly falls into your lap.
• Adjustable: this is a question of personal preference. Most beginners go for a fully adjustable harness, with buckles on the waist and each leg because this allows fitting clothing for different seasons. Many climbers move to fixed legs with an elastic section as they progress.

Climbing & Scrambling Helmets

There has never been as much choice as there is today, but the key factor is that the helmet you choose must suit your head shape and size. There is no real alternative to trying on a selection of helmets in a good store and seeing which fits best – once adjusted securely on your head try to make it move out of position; if it slips backwards or is easily knocked askew then look at another model. If you are planning to climb alpine/winter routes then remember to also try the helmet whilst wearing your beanie or balaclava.

The construction of a helmet is the main factor that determines its overall performance and intended end use. There are 3 main types of helmet construction:

• Hard shell helmets: these helmets have an internal webbing cradle that holds the hard, stiff shell away from the head. In an impact the cradle webbing stretches, absorbing a lot of the energy of the impact whilst the shell also absorbs energy by deforming. This style of helmet often has the best top impact and penetration resistance plus they are generally durable and tough. The downside of this design is the extra weight, mediocre side impact performance and a helmet that sits higher on the head. These features make them popular for those who give their helmet a lot of abuse (group users) and for those whose main source of danger is likely to be falling debris - alpine/ice climbers and mountaineers.
• EPS – Expanded Polystyrene Foam: their shells are made from in-molded polystyrene. These helmets are often 40% lighter than traditional shell/cradle helmets, sit lower on the head (i.e. you bump your head less on the rock) and have improved side impact resistance. They generally offer less top impact performance, but most importantly are less durable. After one big impact and they should be replaced. These features make them excellent for general rock climbing in less remote environments where the emphasis is protecting the user in a fall rather than on-going protection against rock fall.
• Hybrids: these have plastic shells with shock absorbing inserts. Most popular helmets combine design ideas from both types to give climbers several good features. These helmets tend to be more durable and versatile than the EPS style.