"Bod Harness" - Review of Black Diamond Bod Harness

This is by far the most comfortable BD harness to hang in. That's because both the waist band and the leg loops are wider all the way around (especially on the sides of the hips) than any of the other BD harnesses. Width, not padding, is what makes a harness comfortable to hang in. (This was a lesson learned long ago by the manufacturers of hang gliding harnesses.) I went to the largest mountain shop in Boulder and hung in every type of men's harness they had (about 20 different models of various brands). None of them measured up to this harness (which they don't carry). Meanwhile, the fleece is a good padding that helps the harness to stick to my clothes when the gear clipped the harness is trying to pull it down. You can still unclip the leg loops to do your business without having to completely untie on a ledge. Yes, the bod harness weighs a bit more than many other harnesses. But if you ever have to do a hanging belay on a high route, you'll appreciate having hauled those few extra ounces the five miles in! On the BD website, this is their most versatile harness. By the way, the local mountain shop did have some "big wall" harnesses weighing several pounds (and well over $100) that were similarly comfortable to hang in. But you couldn't walk in them easily because of the excessive padding on the inside of the leg loops. The Bod harness remains a great design. I hope BD keeps making this one!
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