Security
Ounce for ounce, this is one of the most secure and safety-conscious harnesses on the market today. The use of a unique kinetic core construction helps to prevent unnecessary tension on key pressure points and easily distributes a load of your body and equipment throughout the entire harness. In addition, the rear haul loop is rated for 12 kN of energy, so your tag line is always secure.

Comfort
The lightweight design of this harness, as well as the strategic padding, makes it one of the more comfortable ones available on the market today. In addition, the even distribution of weight over the entire harness structure makes it easy to have a full range of motion without too much pinching or muscle strain.

Equipment Access
This harness features four pressure-molded gear loops, with the front two loops being slightly larger to allow for additional materials if needed.

Durability
This harness features a number of aspects that contribute to its overall great durability. First, the waistband and leg loops feature an abrasion-resistant outer shell, and the bullhorn-shaped waist belt helps to prevent unnecessary wear and tear by conforming easily to most body types. And finally, instead of using the traditional webbing, this harness uses Vectran fibers to allow for a stronger, and more even weight distribution.

Security
This harness from Black Diamond offers Kinetic Core Construction with the use of Vectran strands to allow for one of the most stable harnesses and best weight distribution on the list.

Comfort
While most harnesses in this price range have a significant amount of padding associated with the waist belt and leg loops, the Black Diamond Ozone tries for a more minimalist approach, relying on the overall design and even weight distribution for comfort. While this works well, for the most part, most found that the harness itself was uncomfortably small.

Equipment Access
This harness features four pressure-molded equipment loops, strategically located within easy reach to the right and left sides. These loops are fairly large in size, so it’s easy to tie equipment to them to haul up the rock face.

Durability
While this harness is fairly lightweight, it is also fairly durable. The abrasion-resistant shell offers some protection from the usual wear and tear, and the overall shape allows for less strain on the individual parts, leading to a fairly long life.

Security
Like all black diamond harnesses, this harness is reliable and made to support your body as you climb. It offers comfortable support and does not put to much tension on your body. It is also adjustable so you can get the best fit possible.

Comfort
This harness from a black diamond is made from synthetic material and feels great against your clothes or skin. It also has adjustable buckles to ensure you can adjust your harness to be as comfortable as possible.

Equipment Access
Other than being adjustable, this harness does not come with any other notable features.

Durability
This harness is made from synthetic material and will last you many years to come with proper care. Black diamond also has great customer reviews, so if you have any issues contact Black Diamond for quick support.

Security
The Arcteryx AR-395a offers the climber a very secure fit and use by using warp strength technology to disperse the pressure of the body throughout the entire harness, so there are very few points where the harness or the climber is under too much strain. In addition, the harness features easy to see belay loop indicators, and tie points as well, making attaching the belay ropes easy to do and understand.

Comfort
With a superior strength to weight ratio, a climber won’t have to worry about portions of the harness digging into his muscles or skin, and there are a number of small features that add to the overall comfort level of this piece of equipment. The waist belt has a softer, cushioned edge, and the leg loops are fully adjustable as well. Plus the overall harness is so lightweight you’ll barely know it’s there.

Equipment Access
Whether you’re reaching for a chalk bag, a hammer, or a quickdraw, the last thing you want while climbing is to be fumbling around reaching for your equipment. As a climber, you have other things on your mind. Thankfully, this harness provides four reversible gear loops, as well as a rear haul loop made of durable polyurethane, so getting to what you need shouldn’t be a problem.

Durability
While the Arcteryx AR-395a is extremely lightweight and comfortable to wear, don’t be fooled. This climbing harness is about as tough as they come. Created with a burly double weave material and featuring stainless steel leg hooks, chances are this harness will last you for quite a few years of climbing.

Security
This climbing harness uses unique frame construction technology and bias webbing to adequately transfer the weight of the climber and his equipment throughout the entire waist belt and leg loops for a superior reduction in pressure points and a great fit. In addition, the bright green belay belt loop is easy to find and attach to your rope. Also, key areas, including the tie ins are reinforced, added to the overall stability of the harness.

Comfort
Between the ergonomic design, breathable mesh exterior, and the firm yet comfortable foam padding, this harness is very comfortable to wear, even over the longer-term. The mesh provides superior moisture-wicking ability, and both the waist belt and leg loops can be easily adjusted while in use for added customization if needed.

Equipment Access
This climbing harness features four good-sized equipment loops, placed on either side of the waist belt. Although the loops are decent in size, their placement means that hanging equipment might hit on the upper thigh and leg area a little more than necessary.

Durability
Overall, we really can’t complain about the toughness of this climbing harness. It’s well put together and the individual parts are well thought out and made of quality material. While it’s nothing exceptional, it will certainly get the job done while climbing in a number of different environments.

Security
This harness features two belay and rappel loops to help minimize clutter and keep your pitches organize, especially during multiple pitch belays. Also, the reinforced tie in points and overall adjustable rise system allows for superior fit in a wide array of sizes and conditions.

Comfort
While this harness doesn’t have as much padding as some other harnesses on this list, the ergonomic design is easily adjustable, and allows for a great range of motion, especially for male climbers.

Equipment Access
This climbing harness features four equipment loops positioned in a diamond pattern that offers great accessibility and ease of use.

Durability
This harness is certainly tough enough to withstand most climbing environments, and we couldn’t find many complaints about the overall workmanship or toughness. The only complaint we found was that sometimes the reinforced stitching was reinforced too much, leading to places where the belay rope could become hung up, especially in a falling situation. While this may cause an annoyance, with practice it can easily be managed.

Security
Proper safety often means a secure and centralized fit when it comes to climbing harnesses, and the Petzl Corax helps to keep everything in the right place through the use of two double back buckles which make it easy to adjust the harness to fit different body types for personalized weight distribution.

Comfort
This harness is highly adjustable, with the size of the waist and leg loops easily changed as a need to provide a comfortable and customized fit. There is some minimal padding on the leg loops and waist. Although we would have like to see a bit more, for the most part, the overall lightweight nature of the harness overall provides a lightweight and comfortable feel.

Equipment Access
This harness features four equipment loops. Two of them located in the front are ridged, while two more in the back are more flexible, and can hold more equipment. There is also an accessory loop in the rear of the harness for hassle-free carrying.

Durability
Overall the simple construction of this harness and material used lends itself to long-lasting wear. Although the adjustable straps have been known to wear through on occasion, there have been little or no complaints about the harness’s longevity.

Security
This harness provides adequate weight distribution, and the color-coded leg loops and waist belt make it a simple task to put on the harness correctly, even if you are a beginner.

Comfort
This harness can easily be adjusted to small, medium and large sizes, although many customers report that it runs a little on the small size, especially in the hip area. However, once the harness is adjusted, the padding in the leg and waist and the lightweight design make for a very comfortable fit.

Equipment Access
If you’re looking to haul a fair amount of equipment up the rock face, this climbing harness is probably not the best choice for you. The two equipment loops, however, are usually quite adequate for a normal recreational climber or a novice who only carries a few things.

Durability
This harness is very lightweight overall, but still features solid connections between the different parts as well as reinforced tie-in points for added longevity. While frequent inspections for wear and tear are advisable, this harness should last for quite a few years.

Security
This harness provides great weight distribution, so you won’t have to worry about isolated areas of the harness failing due to overstrain. In addition, the personal anchor features Dynex loops that are sewn directly into the harness for added safety when attaching to the climbing ropes.

Comfort
This harness has three separate strands of webbing that are relatively low profile, which means that the harness easily stretches to fit, and allows for a wide range of movement. There is a very good chance that you won’t remember that you’re wearing this harness – not until you need it.

Equipment Access
The Black Diamond Solution Harness features four pressure-molded gear loops placed in strategic locations for easy access to all the climbing equipment that you brought along. The only complaint that we have found was that these loops weren’t strong enough to carry more than what was needed, so hauling up equipment during a pitch might be a little problematic.

Durability
While it won’t win any awards for extreme toughness the overall simple construction makes for a long-lasting harness, provided that it’s properly cared for. While it wouldn’t win any tough man competitions, for most climbers, this harness should last quite a few years.

Security
This harness features wide nylon webbing that is not only easy to adjust, but that also has large quick-adjust buckles that don’t require doubling back. However, because of the design, there is only a single loop that your rope is attached to, so this area should be inspected on a regular basis.

Comfort
The thick nylon webbing is surprisingly comfortable, but there is no substantial padding on either the leg loops or waist belt, so if you require that aspect in a climbing harness, you might want to look elsewhere.

Equipment Access
Unfortunately, this harness doesn’t feature any equipment loops that appear to be standard on most other climbing harnesses. The Vario Speed from Black Diamond is truly built for hassle-free climbing at the gym where equipment doesn’t have to be carried by the climber.

Durability
Although this harness is extremely lightweight and easy to use, don’t be fooled; it’s still fairly durable as well. The nylon webbing that makes up the harness itself is wide, easily adjustable, and is highly resistant to tears and cuts. While we wouldn’t necessarily trust the toughness when out in the wilderness, in a supervised gym setting, it’s more than enough.