The new MAD ROCK BETA ($69.95, madrockclimbing.com), a lightweight sport/all-around harness, strikes a perfect balance between weight and comfort. At 12oz, it’s the fully adjustable counterpart to the fi xed-leg-loop Alpha, good for donning atop cold-weather layers and thinner, warm-weather garb. I quickly noticed the waistbelt and leg-loop construction — the webbing and supple padding unite in a single piece, minimizing weight without creating pressure points. The two-piece, autolock buckles smoothly customized fi t, and adjustable rise allowed for a well-balanced hang. The Beta comes with four well-placed gear loops and a reinforced belay loop.

—Justin Roth