Ask Martin Chester – Ski touring harnesses
Fall Line’s Backcountry Editor and British IFMGA Guide Martin Chester answers your off-piste puzzles
Question:
I’VE BOOKED A HUT-TO-HUT TOUR NEXT SPRING AND A HARNESS IS ON THE KIT LIST. WHERE DO I GET ONE AND HOW DO I CHOOSE?
Answer:
Outdoor shops usually display a dazzling array of different (and bulky) climbing harnesses. Worry not – most of these are way beyond our needs, so the choice becomes instantly easier! Ski touring harnesses are way more lightweight than mountaineering harnesses. We rarely haul ourselves over and around rocks, so they can be less hard-wearing. In addition, we almost always(?) ski-tour with clothes on – so we need less padding on the harness. Lastly, we carry less climbing hardware, so we need fewer loops and gizmos. All good news for keeping weight down!
Ski harnesses have come on in leaps and bounds lately. One consistent feature is that we may take them on and off whilst on skis – so they tend to have a wraparound fit. This style moulds to the shape of the wearer and is less fixed (in terms of angles of straps and height of leg-loops) so they tend to be unisex (or unishape). The only size to consider is your waist (including layers).
I’ll call the two main types ‘alpine’ – more for mountaineering (using the harness for scrambling and abseiling); and ‘pure ski’ – purely ski touring (wearing in the hope of not using it, just in case you fall in a crevasse). Choose which is for you, then pop to your local quality shop and find the most comfortable from the following…
ALPINE HARNESSES
Alpine harnesses are more substantial with more padding to give day-long comfort. They offer a few more gear loops and features (like ice-screw keepers). To choose, try them on, but three class options exist:
PETZL TOUR
Available in three sizes, the Petzl Tour weighs 215g (medium) but provides a fully featured alpine harness. Cunning two-tone webbing helps to avoid twists and the glove-friendly buckle is easy to use and adjust (great when changing layers).
BLACK DIAMOND COULOIR
The BD Couloir is an excellent staple ‘all-year-round in the Alps’ harness that has been recently upgraded to make it even better. Clever use of fabrics gives more padding where you want it, but saves weight elsewhere, so it still weighs just 215g.
BLUE ICE CHOUCAS
The Blue Ice Choucas provides ample comfort with soft Dyneema straps, and is the lightest of these at only 180g. A chunky glove-friendly buckle and bright red tie-in loop avoids easy blunders.
SKI HARNESSES
The pure Ski harnesses, derived from ski-mo racing, provide minimalistic performance in a super-light (and small packed size) package. These would not be comfy to hang around in, but who expects being in a crevasse to be comfy? Thankfully, there are some great realistic options for the weight-conscious ski-tourer:
BLUE ICE CHOUCAS LIGHT
The award-winning Blue Ice Choucas Light weighs in at 89g for my medium and comes with two gear loop and two ice screw keepers (to stop them misbehaving and getting damaged). The two-loop closure system saves the weight of a buckle (just don’t get it wrong)!
PETZL ALTITUDE
Race-tech weight with full features. The Petzl Altitude bridges the gap at 150g, but a conventional buckle system and security make it feel (and perform) like a regular harness in use.
