If you’re an avid rock climber or even just starting out at the climbing wall, then you may understand the necessity of cleaning and inspecting your ropes and other climbing gear for signs of wear and tear. However, many climbers seem to think that their harnesses don’t need to kind of care that other climbing gear needs. Your climbing harness is one of the ultimate pieces of climbing gear that you own that work to protect you in the event of a fall, and deserves some tender love and care before and after each one of your climbs. So, if you’re not sure about the proper care procedures, as well as what to look for when you are inspecting your harness, here are some great tips to help you out.
Learn how to Inspect Your Harness
This should really go without saying that you need to continually be aware of the current condition of your climbing gear. Regularly inspecting your harness before and after every climb will keep the condition of your harness in your mind, and you’ll know without a doubt just when you need to start shopping for a new harness. When inspecting your harness, be sure to look for signs of wear and tear. If your harness starts showing signs of fading or abrasions, or goes through a severe fall, then your harness will need to be replaced, as it’s integrity may be compromised. When inspecting your harness, you’ll want to particularly pay attention to the stitching and the tie-in points and look for signs of signifigant wear. Over time, your harness webbing may start to look a little fuzzy at the tie in points, but this isn’t somethig to worry about.
Learn the Correct Way to Clean Your Harness
As you climb and inspect your rock climbing harness, you may find that your harness needs to be cleaned. If your harness gets dirty, try rinsing in cool water first. If this does not do the trick, then you’ll need to hand wash your harness in cool water with a mild detergent. Be sure to rinse it well and allow it to air dry in a shaded area. Do not leave it in direct sunlight or heat (which can break down the nylon), and also never use substances such as acids, alkalis, or bleach on your harness.
Other Useful Harness Caring Tips
Be sure to keep your harness out of direct sunlight and heat, and keep it as clean as possible. A harness should last about two years under normal weekend use, but you can extend this time by working the rope back through the tie-in points gently instead of forceful tugging. Forceful pulling will cause the stitching to degrade much more quickly.
Your harness is one of the most important pieces of climbing gear that you own, and you need to treat it well. Just a few minutes before and after each and every climb will ultimately help to keep you safer on your climbs. Always better safe than sorry.
