Cavechat.org

So, I am fairly new to caving and vertical rope work. Every piece of gear I decide on has feature after feature to decide on. This is a considerable slow and challenging process. Well I am now considering my seat harness for repelling and climbing. I am getting tired of borrowing gear all the time, even just to practice with. But my issue is, determining the difference between a seat harness and a climbing harness. I understand that the ascension system I use will have a bearing on the harness I ultimately decide on, but there is so little information about all the different models that I'm not exactly sure what I am specifically looking for in the design that makes it a seat harness rather than a climbing harness. I also plan to try on the different models before making an actual purchase. I just want to have a few in mind so I can alleviate time with research. Any help would be much appreciated.

climbing harness = rock climbing. NOT caving. While you can make it work, it sucks

Right! But, what is the difference between the two, is my question.

Most caving harnesses are basically the same. Low d ring attachment in the center of your pelvis. Rock climbing harnesses have sewn loops for the attachment point. If you frog you need a caving harness witha d ring. You should get a d ring harness regardless for caving. IMO.

As for the different harnesses they are all about personal comfort and style. Like anything else.

I use the onrole1 Goliath expedition harness. I like it. It's my first caving harness. When I wear it our I'll get another.

Chad covered the basics and I'll add that climbing harnesses are principally designed to keep you upright during a fall on belay. Caving harness are primarily designed to be used in conjunction with a climbing system and as such it is easier to flip upside down in them. Some caving harness are designed to be minimalistic so they may be worn in cave, but they also may be made out of heavier materials to withstand the abrasion in caves. A lot of caving harnesses hold tighter to the pelvis than climbing harnesses.

A harness is a harness though and there's a lot of crossover depending on the mission application.

Climbing harnesses are designed to protect you when you fall (catch a fall), caving harnesses are designed to prevent you from falling. That's a generalization but mostly true. Caving harnesses will catch falls but they do it as efficiently or comfortably.

Caving harnesses are designed to be durable and abrasion resistant. Climbing harnesses are designed to be light and comfy.

Caving harnesses are designed to be low-profile, with few things to get caught on stuff. Climbing harnesses are designed to have lots of places to hang things conveniently.

Caving harnesses have low points of attachment, like the D ring. The lower it is, the more efficient the frog system is. Climbing harnesses have a hight point of attachment, to keep climbers more upright while sitting or after a fall.

D'oh, shibumi said most of this while I was typing.

Thanks for all the help guys. It makes more sense to me now. I did go through a lot of threads trying make sure this had not been addressed previously before posting. I have now found a thread someone posted that actually has names and pics of the different caving harnesses. That is very helpful as well.

chynabear wrote:I have now found a thread someone posted that actually has names and pics of the different caving harnesses.

Would you tell the rest of us where this thread is?

Bob Thrun wrote:

chynabear wrote:I have now found a thread someone posted that actually has names and pics of the different caving harnesses.

Would you tell the rest of us where this thread is?

Most likely this thread: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=9329&start=15#p77803