Chest Straps/Harnesses
- Thread starter Joe90
- Start date
Roaringcoalfire
New member
I have been using the Petzl Torse, very easy to adjust and takes up little room when packed away into your SRT bag, not really suitable for tall cavers as the strap is a tad short.
http://www.berniescafe.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=120
http://inglesport.com/products/petzl-chest-harness-torse
http://www.hitchnhike.co.uk/acatalog/caving-chest-straps.html
http://www.berniescafe.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=120
http://inglesport.com/products/petzl-chest-harness-torse
http://www.hitchnhike.co.uk/acatalog/caving-chest-straps.html
cap n chris
Well-known member
Have used various types, so here's a summary.
Tape - cheap, fit for purpose
Torse - also cheap(ish), easy to use at the front but bit of a sod to affix at the rear but isn't too hard to self-connect after you get used to it: thin'ish tape means it can cut in to your shoulders a bit and as mentioned above not suitable for supertall people.
Bra-type/MTDE - really nice bits of kit but ?expensive, sometimes shockingly so.
Petzl bra-type - easy to adjust, nice and comfy but front central attachment is a bit compromised; not suitable for female figure.
Sling - cheap as chips, OK for short stuff, bit of a compromise all round.
Best value for money/adjustability etc.? Probably the Petzl torse (or equivalent); Alpkit do a nice looking bra-type but haven't used it.
Tape - cheap, fit for purpose
Torse - also cheap(ish), easy to use at the front but bit of a sod to affix at the rear but isn't too hard to self-connect after you get used to it: thin'ish tape means it can cut in to your shoulders a bit and as mentioned above not suitable for supertall people.
Bra-type/MTDE - really nice bits of kit but ?expensive, sometimes shockingly so.
Petzl bra-type - easy to adjust, nice and comfy but front central attachment is a bit compromised; not suitable for female figure.
Sling - cheap as chips, OK for short stuff, bit of a compromise all round.
Best value for money/adjustability etc.? Probably the Petzl torse (or equivalent); Alpkit do a nice looking bra-type but haven't used it.
Mark Wright
Active member
I used to use a loop of 6mm bungee cord in a fig. 8 as a chest harness for years until I tried a Petzl Torse. I wouldn't use anything else now. Not sure what the problem is with attaching it at the back as Cap'n Chris mentions. Once its attached in the comfort of your living room there is no need to remove it until its time to scrap it. I know a few people who are really tall who have no problems with it.
Mark
Mark
cap n chris
Well-known member
Mark Wright said:
I always build my SRT rig from scratch when starting a trip so first time trying to clip the torse to the rear of the harness (once it's on) was a bit of an acnestis manoeuvre. All sussed now though.
Blakethwaite
New member
I'm 6'3" and can't stand up straight whilst wearing a torse. Tape all the way for me!Mark Wright said:
Madness
New member
This topic has cropped up at just the right time as I'm trying to decide which to buy for my missus' first SRT kit. I've only ever used a tape, which everyone did when I started SRT. Never really had a problem with it. It does the job. It could be more comfortable and quicker to adjust, but its a cheap option.
pwhole
Well-known member
I'm not even tall and the Petzl Torse was way too short for me - I couldn't stand up straight with it on. It also chafed against my harness waistband and wore through under the strain. Many will testify to my wizzo solution of a small 4mm Maillon on my harness waistband, and an upside-down 7mm delta Maillon on the Torse connected to it - it just added the few cm I needed, with no wear on either textile component. However, it could be a bit of a back-cracker if I forget it was there in tight pitches. And even then, I still ended up with regular bruises on my shoulders from the thin tight straps doing long climbs.
Eventually I abandoned the 'cheap' method and bought the MTDE Garma, as documented in another thread on here, which was ?40 - worth every penny as it's basically a much better design and build. It's amazingly comfy, and when climbing distributes more of the load around the chest instead of down on the shoulders, and is way less painful and just more positive all-round. It makes rope-climbing easier as you can adopt a more vertical position with less effort. It has gear loops! Incidentally, I've found the French 'Moka' delta harness krab, mounted upside-down, is the superlative central connector for this harness. With it mounted that way round, it's another hauling/gear hanging point, and it takes a drill very nicely when bolting.
My only gripe so far is that it's very easy to accidentally pull the chest ascender strap out of the buckle whilst doing other things - like crawling, free-climbing etc. - as it's just a 'nip' fixture rather than a 'double-back', and if unnoticed, could rip off before you need to get out of the place.
Eventually I abandoned the 'cheap' method and bought the MTDE Garma, as documented in another thread on here, which was ?40 - worth every penny as it's basically a much better design and build. It's amazingly comfy, and when climbing distributes more of the load around the chest instead of down on the shoulders, and is way less painful and just more positive all-round. It makes rope-climbing easier as you can adopt a more vertical position with less effort. It has gear loops! Incidentally, I've found the French 'Moka' delta harness krab, mounted upside-down, is the superlative central connector for this harness. With it mounted that way round, it's another hauling/gear hanging point, and it takes a drill very nicely when bolting.
My only gripe so far is that it's very easy to accidentally pull the chest ascender strap out of the buckle whilst doing other things - like crawling, free-climbing etc. - as it's just a 'nip' fixture rather than a 'double-back', and if unnoticed, could rip off before you need to get out of the place.
Pitlamp
Well-known member
One factor which people often neglect to consider is that any chest ascender support may also need to lift more than just the chest ascender. I often end up prussiking with abnormally heavy loads suspended from the main Maillon on the sit harness. When you stand in the foot loops, all the weight of the suspended load then comes onto your shoulders briefly. If it wasn't for this I'd be happy with a piece of old bungy (or even a loop made out of an old cycle inner tube).
I use a single (2.4 m?) tape with a buckle on the end but I'd be interested to know what others prefer to use for prussiking with very heavy loads.
I use a single (2.4 m?) tape with a buckle on the end but I'd be interested to know what others prefer to use for prussiking with very heavy loads.
Mark Wright
Active member
AliRoll,
A chest tape can certainly double as a footloop but then you haven't got a chest harness!!
Pitlamp,
Tim Nixon showed me an interesting technique which I have managed to develop further over the past few years, I get a Buttered Badger to carry it.
If you haven't got any Badgers at hand then you could always make an extended footloop and simply pass the top loop through a carabiner (or pulley) on the upper ascender and attach it to the top of your chest ascender. When you step in the footloop it effectively drags your chest ascender up providing a noticeable advantage.
Alternatively, if you can get hold of a Petzl Pompe (they've not made these for years though) this provides a significant mechanical advantage and was designed specifically for the job.
Mark
A chest tape can certainly double as a footloop but then you haven't got a chest harness!!
Pitlamp,
Tim Nixon showed me an interesting technique which I have managed to develop further over the past few years, I get a Buttered Badger to carry it.
If you haven't got any Badgers at hand then you could always make an extended footloop and simply pass the top loop through a carabiner (or pulley) on the upper ascender and attach it to the top of your chest ascender. When you step in the footloop it effectively drags your chest ascender up providing a noticeable advantage.
Alternatively, if you can get hold of a Petzl Pompe (they've not made these for years though) this provides a significant mechanical advantage and was designed specifically for the job.
Mark
Simon Wilson
New member
I'm with AliRoll and Pitlamp. You can use a chest strap for all sorts of other things when it isn't being used as a chest strap. Such as lowering gear down a climb. You name it - they're very versatile and so simple - one size fits all. Unless your very big in which case they are easy to extend with a tape knot.
Simon Wilson
New member
Having agreed with AliRoll and Pitlamp but never actually owned a Torse I was in Inglesport today so I had to buy one and give it a go. A quick trip done Boxhead and hauling a bag out was enough to tell me all I needed to know and confirmed what I already thought would be the case. It's a good bit of kit. Slightly easier freedom of movement, easy to put on and easy to adjust, in fact much the same as a strap. My verdict is that there is not much to choose between the two. The minor benefits in compactness are offset by the fact that it digs in more when hauling. You definitely wouldn't want to haul very heavy loads with it but for general caving I'll now be using the Torse.
Bob Riley was with me and we learned more about crutches for cavers than we did about chest harnesses - but that's another story.
Bob Riley was with me and we learned more about crutches for cavers than we did about chest harnesses - but that's another story.
Joe90
Member
Thanks people!
I was looking at this the other day
http://www.starlessriver.com/shop/chest_harnesses/alp_design_bunny
Anybody tried these?
Iv been using a serpentine chest strap for years. Was thinking what would be quicker and easier to adjust.
I was looking at this the other day
http://www.starlessriver.com/shop/chest_harnesses/alp_design_bunny
Anybody tried these?
Iv been using a serpentine chest strap for years. Was thinking what would be quicker and easier to adjust.
