How to Put on a Climbing Harness

Naomi Judd

Putting on a climbing harness quickly becomes second nature. But until you get to that point, don't guess at how you are supposed to wear your harness---an improperly adjusted harness puts your life in danger. Follow these simple steps to keep yourself and your climbing partner safe.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Climbing harness
Climbing harness

Step 1

Loosen the two leg-loop buckles, the waist buckles, and any Velcro. Starting out with everything loose enables you to easily step into the climbing harness without having to loosen a leg loop while you're pulling it up.

Step 2

Make sure the harness is facing forward and that the leg loops are not twisted or turned upside down. Hold onto the waist belt and step into the leg loops as if you were stepping into a pair of pants.

Step 3

Tighten the waist first so that it isn't falling down as you adjust the leg loops. The waist belt should rest comfortably just above your hip bones. Do not try to wear it far below the navel, like a low-rise pair of jeans. If you flip upside down for some reason, you want your hips to prevent the harness from slipping.

Step 4

Tighten the leg loops next. They should be tight enough that they aren't flopping around, but not so tight that they cause discomfort. They should gently hug the girth of your thighs.

Step 5

Double back all the buckles if you haven't already. This means threading each strap through its buckle one more time, passing it over itself in the buckle. Always check that your partner's harness is double-backed and have them check yours.

Article Written By Naomi Judd

Naomi M. Judd is a naturalist, artist and writer. Her work has been published in various literary journals, newspapers and websites. Judd holds a self-designed Bachelor of Arts in adventure writing from Plymouth State University and is earning a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from the University of Southern Maine.

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