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CAMP USA Alp 95 harness

Alp95 Sometimes when I'm alone at home I like to put on the SheFlogger's thong. It helps me feel special. Now I can get the same feeling on the mountain with the CAMP Alp 95, a butt-floss of a harness for low-angle alpine and adventure racing use.

The Alp 95 weighs in at 3.5oz, about as much as a locking carabiner. An upgraded version of CAMP's XLH 95, the Alp adds a tie-in point and an adjustable waist belt. There is a loop on each side if you want to add a 'biner to rack gear, but the Alp really shines underneath a pack. The Alp lived under my Mchale hip belt on Denali this year and was not even noticable, as long as you don't get the little pad behind the buckle underneath. And make sure the waist belt lies flat before putting your pack on.

I didn't spend much hang time in the Alp for obvious reasons, but properly adjusted it is comfortable enough. The leg loops run small, and that can present a sizing problem; measure your thighs first if you're ordering online, because you might have to move up a size. That will mean you'll have to crank the waist down all the way. I'd like to see the leg loops an inch or two bigger for each size. Other than that the Alp really cuts down on weight. You see a lot of climbers sporting pound-plus harnesses on routes like Denali's West Buttress and Rainier when the Alp would do just fine.

$39.95 at CAMP USA

July 07, 2009 in CAMP, Denali Approved, Harness | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Mad Rock Venus women's harness

Venus I got your Venus, I got your fire... when Bananarama goes climbing, this is how they roll. If you want to be the goddess on the mountain top, check out the Mad Rock Venus women's harness.

She Who Must Be Obeyed was barking commands at her belay slave in no time as she hung comfortably, yet stylishly, from an autolocking, offset buckled, contoured, thermo-molded waist belt. The tapered and angled leg loops with embroidered pink flowers kept her regally upright, and the four plastic gear loops kept all her gear at her once-manicured-but-now-destroyed-by-granite fingertips.

The Venus is fully SheFlogger compliant with its slick good looks and top-end performance and comfort. It's a great working woman's harness: you get a lot for the price - three buckles, four gear loops, molded waist and shaped legs - and even a little style to boot, if you don't mind climbing with pink flowers on your no-doubt shapely and toned derriere.

$40.00 at Eastern Mountain Sports

June 24, 2008 in Harness, Mad Rock, Women | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Black Diamond Blizzard harness

Blizzard_harnessBlack Diamond is not afraid of Dairy Queen's trademark lawyers, and to prove it they continue to pump out products named Blizzard, in this case a harness designed for ice climbing and technical alpine routes.

I've climbed this harness for a full season and I generally like it. It has a shaped molded waist belt that is quite comfortable during extended use, and unlike my partner it does not retain water. It has slots on the belt to take up to nine Ice Clipper screw carriers (one included), a copy of the Petzl Caritool, that make racking and access to screws a breeze. For mixed application there are four solid gear loops.

The bright orange belay loop is easily seen and checked by a partner, and only causes a problem when said partner regresses to apelike behavior and thinks the bright loop exhibits readiness to mate. Depending on how much you like your partner that may or may not be a problem. Overall, a nice system with the Ice Clippers if a bit overbuilt for fast and light alpine use.

Note about belay loops: yes you should use them to prevent triaxial loading of the carabiner. I've seen many people who should know better clipping through the waist belt because they "just don't trust the belay loop." Get a clue.

$79.95 at Backcountry.com

July 13, 2007 in Black Diamond, Harness | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Mammut Alpine Light harness

Alpine_lightOK, I won't waste your time: this harness is here because it just plain works, and it weighs only ten ounces. For comparison, the Black Diamond Bod is almost a pound, and even the Alpine Bod is almost a quarter-pound heavier.

No, it's not a big cushy cadillac, so if you're planning on spending a lot of hang time in your seat get something with padding. For glacier travel, vicious sport routes or other occasional-use scenarios, this harness is light and right.

$34.95 at MountainTools

July 07, 2006 in Denali Approved, Harness, Mammut | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)