Gear Review: Harness
Company: Black Diamond
Product: Long Haul
You all recall the Big Gun harness by Black Diamond (BD)…a very thick yellow and silver big wall/trad harness that marked your transition into being a trad dad. Virtually every trad dad out there owned that harness. It seems to have disappeared, but fear not: a new harness is in town. The Long Haul harness has you covered for both short hauls and long hauls.
I’ve gotten to a point in my climbing where I know that the reason I don’t send harder has nothing to do with my gear and all to do with my climbing ability (strength, mindset, etc.), so at this point, I’m all about comfort. I don’t need crazy downturned shoes or a harness as light as air. I want to feel comfortable so that I climb more and thus become a better climber (and enjoy it too??). So, sure, the Long Haul is a little bit heavy (compared to air), but I still prefer it to most harnesses. Why? Because it is so comfortable. Every time my climber takes a fall, I say, “no rush getting back on, I could sit here all day.” The crazy thing is that that’s not an exaggeration. I really could sit in that harness all day. I doesn’t dig in; it doesn’t chafe. It just supports.
The Long Haul has a thick waist that is thick all the way around with spacious gear loops around the entire way. Even more, these loops are reinforced and jut out slightly so that it’s not exactly flush against the harness. Why is this nice? When you’re trying to get the right gear on and off the wall, it’s nice to easily find and clip your gear in without worrying whether you actually clipped it or not. Next, the leg loops are also very wide and padded all around. For those of you that are extra fancy, there’s a second belay loop, too.
From the gym to the 20 pitch granite face, the Long Haul harness will offer you support and comfort. It’ll make you confident and at ease when you climb, and to me, that’s all you really need.
Recommendation: All levels
Specs: 615g; 5 molded gear loops; rated haul loop; ice clipper slots
MSRP: $139.95
thedihedral.com 