Your rock climbing harness is an important piece of your rock climbing equipment. Your harness secures you to a person, a piece of rope or some other type of anchor. A simple harness can be constructed from a length of rope that ties around the waist and is attached to the rope usually with a carabiner. A more complex harness is designed to give the rock climber greater security and comfort and provides you with more ways to carry your other equipment. A rock climber should never attempt a new or difficult route without first putting on their rock climbing harness.

A sit rock climbing harness is made up of a waist belt and two leg loops. These are usually connected to the front of your hips through a belay loop or by using a carabiner. These kinds of harnesses are used commonly for recreational use for activities like abseiling or rock climbing. You can stay safe and still have a wide range of movement when you use this type of harness.

A chest rock climbing harness is worn around your shoulders. You usually use a chest harness with a sit harness to provide an extra attachment point that is higher up on your body. This can be valuable because it lets you balance better when you are carrying a heavy backpack. It is also useful if something should happen to the climber and they cant keep an upright position.

A full body rock climbing harness is usually used in a rescue situation or for industrial work. It is a combination of a sit harness and a chest harness. These two harnesses are attached either permanently or semi-permanently to each other. They often have a large and extensive range of attachment points to allow for the safe placement in many positions.

If you are a beginner rock climber, it is important you dont fashion your own harness. Buy a commercially produced rock climbing harness that you can use because it is not only safer, but more comfortable than one you have made yourself.