Climbing Harnesses

The lifespan of your climbing harness depends on how often you plan on using it, so it’s important that you take these figures as a rough guideline.

If you’ve never used your harness, it will last the maximum amount of time as set by the manufacturer (usually 10-15 years).

If you’ve only used it once, it will last 5-10 years (depending on the brand).

If you’ve used it monthly, it will last around 5 years.

If you’ve used it weekly, it will last around 3 years.

If you’ve used it daily, it will last no longer than 1 year.

Most importantly – if you feel like something is ‘off’ or your climbing harness feels a bit too flimsy for your liking, we strongly recommend that you replace your climbing harness ASAP.

There are many factors impact the lifespan of a climbing harness, so it’s always better to be safe than sorry. After all, it is your life on the line (quite literally!).

The two main types of climbing harness are:

Sit harnesses – these can be used by adults for an array of tasks, including sports climbing, ice climbing and mountaineering. A sit harness consists of a waist belt and two leg loops which will allow you to sit comfortably in them when hanging.

Full body harnesses – these climbing harnesses can be quite uncomfortable for sporting. This is because they are more restrictive than sit harnesses. However, children will sometimes need to use a full body harness for safety reasons.

Sit harnesses are often recommended for rock climbing, but always check your individual harness and the regulations of the place you are climbing. Most importantly, ensure your harness is certified to relevant safety standards.

Rock climbing and work at height are very different activities, so you'll need a different harness depending on which you are doing. One big difference is that recreational climbing harnesses aren't usually full-body harnesses, but sit or waist harnesses. Waist harnesses usually work better for recreational climbing because they provide more freedom when climbing and are less likely to cause a spinal injury if you fall at an angle. However, children may need a full body harness for rock climbing.

Full body harnesses offer more balance, so are generally better for work at height. In these instances, you will often only be climbing with your feet and will need your hands to work.

There are other differences, like the placement of attachment points. You should also check for differences between certifications and regulations for climbing harnesses compared to industrial harnesses. Always make sure that you are following regulations and using a harness that is safe for your task.