Alpine/Glacier Harness
Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 1:51 am
I have a BD Momentum AL which is a decent jack-of-all-trades. But, the thick padding and stiff gear loops on the harness don't cooperate with the hip stays on my pack (Osprey Atmos). When cragging or approaching I usually leave the harness off, but I'm going to be doing some bigger stuff with glaciers and intermittent technical sections, so something has to give.
I'm looking for a super-basic harness. Two gear loops up front would be plenty, although I can just add loops to my pack if it doesn't come with any.
Comfort when walking is a big deal, comfort when falling is not. It does need to let me do a full-length rappel or jumar out of a crevasse without my legs going numb or anything, so I can't use a 1" runner.
A belay loop is nice, but I am also fine figuring out runners and tie-ins that avoid cross-loading biners.
The Camp XLH 95 looks too light - I don't like to use a harness for something it's not designed for, although I know people do glaciers in them.
The Trango Mountain Harness looks great. It has a belay loop that threads through the swami belt for easy on/off, only two gear loops up front, and they don't make it anymore. Dammit! Is there anything just like this out there now?
The BD Alpine Bod gets rave reviews, but I think I'd have to chop the rear gear loops, and it doesn't have a belay loop.
The closest thing might be the Mammut Alpine Light. It does everything the Trango does, but with gear loops in the back instead of the front. It has a leg loop release which can be very nice wheen needed, but the buckle looks like my pack might press on it. Ice clipper slots are nice too, but I would put clippers on my waistbelt anyway.
Am I missing any harnesses?
I'm looking for a super-basic harness. Two gear loops up front would be plenty, although I can just add loops to my pack if it doesn't come with any.
Comfort when walking is a big deal, comfort when falling is not. It does need to let me do a full-length rappel or jumar out of a crevasse without my legs going numb or anything, so I can't use a 1" runner.
A belay loop is nice, but I am also fine figuring out runners and tie-ins that avoid cross-loading biners.
The Camp XLH 95 looks too light - I don't like to use a harness for something it's not designed for, although I know people do glaciers in them.
The Trango Mountain Harness looks great. It has a belay loop that threads through the swami belt for easy on/off, only two gear loops up front, and they don't make it anymore. Dammit! Is there anything just like this out there now?
The BD Alpine Bod gets rave reviews, but I think I'd have to chop the rear gear loops, and it doesn't have a belay loop.
The closest thing might be the Mammut Alpine Light. It does everything the Trango does, but with gear loops in the back instead of the front. It has a leg loop release which can be very nice wheen needed, but the buckle looks like my pack might press on it. Ice clipper slots are nice too, but I would put clippers on my waistbelt anyway.
Am I missing any harnesses?