Polarized Climbing

Best uses

Most climbing harnesses are versatile enough for indoor climbing or outdoor multi-pitch routes, while some are more specialized for mountaineering or ice climbing.

• Sport or indoor climbing: Stripped down for fast travel and feature minimal gear loops.
• Trad climbing: More gear loops since climbers place their own protection. Comfort and padding are key, as you may spend hours on a route or hanging in your harness.
• Mountaineering: Designed for long approaches and all-season versatility
• Ice climbing: Designed to perform in winter conditions

Key features:

• Padded waist: Thicker padding or a broader surface area helps distributes pressure
• Adjustable leg loops: Fit different body types and clothing layers
• Gear loops: Typically two to five loops for racking gear
• Droppable leg loops: Leg loops unclip at the back for easier bathroom breaks

Women-specific harnesses

• These typically feature a higher rise, a larger leg-to-waist ratio and a shaped waistbelt
• Choose a women-specific harness if it better matches your body type.

Assisted braking or none?

• Manual (also called tubular or tube-style) devices do not provide any assisted braking

• Simple, lightweight design; easy to use
• Work with many rope diameters and can accommodate single or double ropes
• Some find them slow for rappelling
• Assisted braking devices are designed to lock down on the rope when a sudden force is applied
• One type relies on its design or geometry to provide braking assistance
• Another type uses an internal mechanical camming mechanism to help lock the rope when a fall happens; these are heavier and designed for single ropes

Other considerations

• Suitable for rappelling: Many belay devices also double as a tool for rappelling during descents
• Fits rope size: Consider the thickness of the rope you're using and make sure it fits