[TowerTalk] Best climbing harnesses

[Dick Green WC1M]

I like the Petzl work harnesses. The design is excellent, they're
comfortable, and generally lighter weight than other brands.

The chest ring is used to attach an ascender / fall arrestor when using a
safety cable system. It's not the right place to attach a fall-arrest
lanyard. Use the back D-ring for that.

The double-lever activation snap requires you to press a release on the back
of the hook in order to activate the latch. Otherwise, the latch remains
locked. It prevents the latch from opening unintentionally (e.g., when you
brush against something.) It can be a little tricky to learn how to use it,
but you'll get it with practice. I wouldn't use any other type of hook.

73, Dick WC1M

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jim McDonald [mailto:jim at n7us.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 10:27 PM
> To: TOWERTALK at contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Best climbing harnesses
> 
> I bought my climbing belt with butt strap 30+ years ago.  It was the
> best I
> could find at the time.  Now there are federal safety standards, and
> the
> body harnesses have not just two D rings on the waist but two more on
> the
> butt strap, one of the back for fall arrest, plus maybe another one on
> the
> chest (why?).
> 
> Specific models are mentioned on the reflector from time to time, but I
> wonder if we could get a quick series of posts of recommended
> harnesses,
> fall arrest lanyards (one or two pieces?), and positioning lanyards.
> Steve,
> K7LXC, sells one, and a Google search will turn up lots more to the
> point of
> being confusing.
> 
> I don't know what a double-lever activation snap is.  What's a capstan
> or
> mule operator?
> 
> Even if a good system is $400, the cost is irrelevant in my opinion.
> It's
> like the joke about no one on their deathbed saying they wished they'd
> spent
> more time at the office.  It's about priorities, and not creating hams'
> widows.
> 
> Specific recommendations?  I think now is a good time with this wake-up
> call.
> 
> Jim N7US
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>