by Scott McCrea » Aug 25, 2012 7:40 am
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.