The Best Climbing Harnesses of 2025

If there is one piece of gear that will make or break your mood during a long day on the wall, it’s your harness. Sitting in a hanging belay in an uncomfortable harness is a surefire way to squash stoke. In an effort to find the best available, we put a range of climbing harnesses—from fast-and-light alpine options to feature-heavy big wall offerings—to the test this year, taking them on trips from the cold Canadian alpine to the steep walls of Devil’s Tower to overhung sport routes at The Red. After plenty of whips and hours spent projecting, six emerged as the most comfortable, functional, and breathable climbing harnesses currently available.

Updated April 2025: We added three new picks to this list, including our new favorite all-around harness, the Arc’teryx AR-385a/AR-395a. We also updated info and pricing on previously tested harnesses that we still highly recommend. 

At a Glance

• Best All-Around: Arc’teryx AR-385a/AR-395a ($160)
• Best Value: Ocun Twist Tech Eco ($80)
• Most Inclusive Sizing: Petzl Corax ($80)
• Best for Projecting: Mammut Sender ($90)
• Best for Redpointing: Arc’teryx Skaha ($180)
• Best Big Wall Harness: Singing Rock Dome ($120)
• Other Harnesses We Tested
• How to Choose a Climbing Harness
• How We Test
• Meet Our Lead Testers

Don’t miss: The Best Climbing Shoes of 2025

Best All-Around

Arc’teryx AR-385a/395a

$160 at REI (385a) $160 at REI (395a)

Weight: 13.9 oz (women’s)
Size: XS–XL (men’s and women’s)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Great back support
⊕ Versatile
⊗ Expensive, like most Arc’teryx products

The Arc’teryx AR-385a (women’s) and AR-395a (men’s) is a do-it-all harness that can handle sport climbs as well as gear-intensive trad and ice projects thanks to four large, oblong gear loops and four ice clipper slots. While the AR-385a looks pretty barebones—it has no padding whatsoever—it’s remarkably supportive and comfortable thanks to its Warp Strength Technology, which equally distributes weight from edge to edge. The waistband, which is thicker in the rear, perfectly contours to the small of your back. One tester wore it for 12 hours straight during Horseshoe Hell, an endurance climbing competition, and reported she didn’t experience any uncomfortable rubbing or pinching.

The biggest downside to this harness is the price. Like most Arc’teryx products, the AR-385a/395a costs a pretty penny and was one of the most expensive options we tested. But you get what you pay for: I’ve worn this harness four days a week for eight months straight during gym training sessions and have noticed next to no wear or tear (I am 5’6”, weigh 140 lbs, and regularly belay climbing partners 40 to 80 lbs heavier than me).

A note on fit: Some male testers (who normally wear a small or medium harness) tried both the 385a and 395a, and preferred how the women’s version fit their waist and hips, so we recommend trying it on before you buy.

Best Value

Ocun Twist Tech Eco

$64 at EpicTV (Women’s) $80 at Amazon (Men’s)

Weight: 14 oz (men’s M/L) / 13.4 oz (women’s M/L)
Size: XS-XL (men’s) / XS-XL (women’s)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Sustainably made
⊕ Comfortable
⊗ Flimsy belay loop
⊗ Heavier than other harnesses

Ocun’s Twist Tech harness, made from 82 percent recycled and bio-based materials (including recycled polyester and polyethylene and bio-based Dyneema), proves that sustainability does not have to come at the expense of performance. Testers caught whips from climbers 50-plus pounds heavier than them, and found that the substantially thick and padded waist belt supported their lower backs well.

Despite being rubbed against rough sandstone on chimneys and off-width climbs in Jackson Falls, the Twist Tech showed no noticeable signs of wear and tear. One ding: The thin belay loop got twisted when testers were tied in while wearing personal anchor systems. Trying to thread rope through chains and untie a figure 8 knot with a belay loop that shifts or turns in on itself made cleaning routes a challenge.

Still, if you’re looking for a solid, all-around harness at a reasonable price, the Ocun Twist Tech Eco is a safe bet: It’s supportive enough to be a projecting harness, but light enough to wear on redpoint attempts.

Most Inclusive Sizing

Petzl Corax

$80 at REI $80 at Backcountry

Weight: 16.5 oz (size 1)
Size: 1 (25-38″); 2 (30-42″) (unisex)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Highly adjustable
⊕ Fits a range of body types
⊗ Not very breathable
⊗ Heavier than most other harnesses

Many brands fail to offer well-made harnesses for larger bodies. Petzl’s unisex Corax, however, has one of the widest, most inclusive size ranges of any harness we tested. As someone whose body and waist size can change depending on whether I’m training endurance, strength, or power for my sport project, I appreciated how adjustable the Corax was. Two buckles—one on each side of the waist—meant I could dial in the fit on this harness like I would on a backpacking pack. With substantial padding on the leg loops and waistband, the Corax was also extremely comfortable. I appreciated how evenly the harness distributed weight while I sat and hung as my much-heavier climbing partner worked his beta on a project.

That said, the Corax isn’t the kind of harness you wear for projecting at your limit: All of its cushy padding and buckles means it weighs 3 to 8 ounces more than most other harnesses we tested. We also dinged it for its lack of breathability: The recycled polyester and extra padding tended to trap back and leg sweat even when we climbed on cloudy, 60-degree days in Colorado.

But thanks to its adjustability, this harness would be a great choice for younger climbers who are still growing. The Corax’s hard and soft points (the parts of the harness that receive the most strain and force) feature thick, reinforced nylon for enhanced durability, so it will also last younger climbers for years to come.

Best for Projecting

Mammut Sender

$90 at REI $63 at Backcountry

Weight: 11.3 oz (M)
Size: XS, S, M, L, XL (unisex)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Available in wide range of sizes
⊕ Comfortable to hang in
⊗ Only available in one color

Mammut’s Sender harness offers a surprising amount of support for its low weight. The blend of nylon and elastane is flexible and moves with you, and the padding on the waistband is soft and slightly spongy, but still comfortable to hang in. The laser-cut, mesh-like fabric also makes it extremely breathable even in warm temps.

All this makes it a great choice for climbers who have big projects on their to-do list. Tester Benjamin Rathbun practically lived in the Sender last fall when he was working on his project in Rifle, Colorado—a place that’s know for steep, cryptic sequences and a lot of hanging in one’s harness. He appreciated how much this harness supported his hips and lower backs during long periods of dogging.

“I likely spent around four hours of active weighted time in the Sender, and I’m so glad it wasn’t any other harness,” he said. Rathbun finds that his lower back and thighs often start to chafe when he’s in a harness that long, but that wasn’t the case with the Sender. Other testers agreed. Tester Becca Stephens, head routesetter at Climb Iowa, said it was so comfortable that it became her go-to harness for forerunning.

Normally, I’m skeptical that harnesses with nonadjustable leg loops will fit me right, but these had the most stretch and give of any nonadjustable loops we tested. It’s worth noting that it only comes in the color—safety orange—which is just as loud and bright as it sounds; this can be a pro or con depending on if you want to look like a traffic cone on the wall.

Best for Redpointing

Arc’teryx Skaha

$180 at REI (Women’s) $180 at REI (Men’s)

Weight: 10.5 oz (men’s M) / 10 oz (women’s S)
Size: XS-XL (men’s) / XXS-XL (women’s)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Lightweight and breathable
⊕ Expansive size range
⊗ Pricey
⊗ Non-adjustable leg loops

The pared-down Skaha is the best of both worlds: a lightweight harness for hard sends, with enough support to wear while projecting at your limit. “It’s surprisingly comfortable for a lightweight harness, especially during lead falls, with great weight distribution,” said Logan Dirksen, director of marketing at Climb Iowa in Des Moines. I used the Skaha as my go-to gym harness for over a year, wearing it on plenty of whippers, and it looks as good as new.

The Spacemesh liner allows for substantial airflow; while climbing in humid 95 degree temps in Illinois, testers stayed cool and noticed minimal sweating on their backs and legs. The non-adjustable leg loops, however, tended to shift and move around. Tester Lucie Hanes took issue with the fit of the leg loops: “I think they are a bit too large for the sizing of the rest of the harness.”

Although it’s one of the most expensive products we tested, the quality and comfort of the harness are well worth the price.

Best Big Wall Harness

Singing Rock Dome

$120 at Singing Rock

Weight: 1.4 lbs (M/L)
Size: S, M/L, XL (unisex)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Plenty of features
⊕ Highly adjustable
⊗ Not enough padding
⊗ Not breathable

Featuring two waist buckles and adjustable leg loops with a wide berth, Singing Rock’s Dome harness can accommodate a variety of body types and allows users to get their ideal fit. “I love the double-sided adjustment on the waistband and that the legs are so adjustable,” Hänna Hagen, a Devil’s Tower enthusiast, said. Testers also appreciated the proprietary Rock&Lock waist buckle, a quick-release system that makes for easy on and off.

Not surprisingly for a big wall harness, it was not the most breathable harness we tried, with testers noting heavy back and leg sweat during air-conditioned gym sessions. And, while it is certainly better padded than an average sport climbing harness, for a big wall model, testers felt it could have given them more support. “When it comes to comfort, it falls a bit short compared to others known for their versatility and comfort,” said Dirksen.

The Dome may not be the most comfortable big wall harness on the market, but it is a solid value (up to $50 cheaper than most comparable offerings). This feature-rich harness—which includes two belay loops, seven gear loops, and a rear haul loop—would be overkill for sport climbers, but trad and multi-pitch climbers may still appreciate the features and the comfort of the Dome.

Other Harnesses We Tested

• Wild Country Mosquito Pro ($130): This lightweight harness is advertised as a versatile all-arounder, but testers found that it lacked back support. They also struggled with the fit—testers wearing extra-small and small sizes couldn’t tighten the leg loops enough around their thighs.
• Petzl Corax LT ($70): Compared to the Corax, this harness is slightly lighter, but at the cost of losing the high level of adjustability that we loved about the original Corax we included in our top picks.
• Petzl Sitta ($175): This performance- and alpine-oriented harness can carry a ton of gear, but it’s expensive. The Arc’teryx AR-385a/AR-395a is a slightly more affordable workhorse.
• Wild Country Flow 2.0 ($85): This harness has a hard, inflexible waistband that made it uncomfortable to wear for extended periods of time. If you’re looking for a do-it-all harness in the $80 price range, the Mammut Sender is a better pick.
• Edelrid Moe 3R ($70): This harness is made with partially recycled materials, which is commendable, but that doesn’t make up for its faults. The material is scratchy and abrasive on the skin, and it’s only available in three unisex sizes (which run extremely small). If you’re looking for a sustainability-made harness in this price range, go with the Ocun Twist Eco.
• Black Diamond Zone ($110): While this harness is relatively affordable, it didn’t impress us in the fit, breathability, or comfort departments. If you’re looking for a lightweight redpointing harness, the Arc’teryx Skahai is a better pick.

How to Choose a Climbing Harness

How should a climbing harness fit?

Fit can vary greatly from brand to brand, so it’s best to try on a harness before purchasing. Whether a harness is unisex or gendered can also make a substantial difference in feel and fit, so keep that in mind. Regardless of gender, the harness should fit snug on your waist; you should be able to slide a couple fingers between your body and the harness, but no more. Leg loops should be tight enough that they don’t shift around easily, but not so tight that they hinder movement. The best way to know if a harness is for you is to suit up and spend a day tied in.

What’s the difference between a women’s and a men’s/unisex climbing harness?

Harnesses often come in women’s and men’s/unisex models. Brands produce gender-specific harnesses because women tend to have different waist-to-leg size ratios than men. Typically, women’s harnesses sit higher on the waist and have larger leg loops than men’s/unisex versions.

What are the different types of climbing harness?

Harnesses will often be marketed for different disciplines. A sport climbing harness tends to be lightweight and streamlined; a trad climbing harness is usually sturdier with more gear loops; and a big wall harness tends to feature even more padding and include more features, like a second belay loop.

How much does a climbing harness cost?

Depending on the features and brand, climbers can expect to pay between $60 and $200 for a harness. On the low end of the price scale, you’ll find basic, all-around harnesses like Black Diamond’s Momentum; at the top, you’ll find high-end brands like Arc’teryx and specialized harnesses like Misty Mountain’s big wall offerings.

How long does a climbing harness last?

Like all climbing gear, the lifespan of a harness depends on how much it gets used. If you’re a casual climber who only hits the gym a few times a week, a harness can last anywhere from five to seven years. If you’re exposing the harness to the elements and climbing outside frequently, a harness will likely last around two to four years. Many harnesses come with wear indicators (thread that will change color as it gets worn down) on the belay loop or tie-in points , so users know when it’s time to replace it. If you notice that the buckles don’t tighten anymore, or see fraying on the belay loop or tie-in points, or structural damage or rips in the waistband, it’s time to shop for a new harness.

How We Test Climbing Harnesses

• Number of testers: 15
• Number of products tested: 21
• Number of pitches climbed and belayed: 500
• Longest single period on the wall: 4 hours

We evaluated each harness based on comfort, durability, breathability, freedom of movement, versatility, and ease of use to determine its overall performance, while also taking price point into account.

A minimum of two testers tried each harness for at least five climbing sessions, both inside and outside. The team took harnesses from the gym to crags in Colorado, South Dakota, Illinois, Iowa, California, Nevada, Arizona, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Missouri, climbing sport and multi-pitch routes on limestone, granite, gneiss, and sandstone in temperatures ranging from the 40s to the 90s.

Meet Our Lead Testers

We assembled a multi-faceted team of testers to put these harnesses through their paces. Lead tester Mary Andino is a PhD, editor, and writer whose residence in Iowa dictates that she regularly travels across the Midwest to climb. Primarily a sport climber who loves technical sequences on vert, her favorite crag is Jackson Falls in southern Illinois.

Our weekend warriors included self-described giant Morgan Miller (6-foot-four, 220 pounds); Benjamin Rathbun and Claudia Szczepaniak, both regulars at the hard, overhung routes in Rifle, Colorado; and Hänna Hagen, a big wall enthusiast.

Experts included Anthony Walsh, senior editor at Climbing; Matt Samet, a regular contributor to Climbing and Outside with decades of climbing experience; and Logan Dirksen, comp climber and director of marketing at Climb Iowa in Des Moines.

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