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dalfollo
Apr 14, 2007, 5:26 AM
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Registered: Sep 9, 2006
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I would like to see if anyone can provide some feedback/suggestions regarding the fit of a Yates Sheild harness. I am 5' 11"/220, my waist is basically 35-36" I recently picked up a Shield in XL (waist: 36” - 40”) ....each of my other harnesses are XL and tend to be cut smallish... (The Yates L is sized at: 33” - 37”) When I put on the Shield I have the waist tightened down all the way (I can insert four fingers folded in half under the waist belt); the leg loops maybe an 1-1.5" of tightening remianing. For the most part I will be climbing in Summer/Fall weather...for alpine or ice I have different harnesses. It strikes me that I won't be using the extra capasity of the harness; I don't plan on gaining weight or using this with heavier clothes too much (fact is I plan on losing some weight). Where do you tend to wear your harness - where your belt usually is? higher on the waist? I am thinking to get this exchanged with an L...any feedback appreciated. Thanks.
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holdplease2
Apr 14, 2007, 2:13 PM
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Hey Dalfollo: If you're going to be climbing walls with it, especially ones that take more than 2-3 days, you will be surprised how much weight you will lose. I find I cinch my harness down an extra coupla inches on a week long wall. Also, the prep (load schlepping) as well as dehydration can result in reduced size. Combine that with needing to be sure that your harness cinches down above your hip bones, b/c if you don't run the rope thru a chest harness, but you do wear a heavy rack, you could go upside down in a fall. Especially if you rip a piece of gear, which will pull up on your hips and set you rotating during a fall. Because of this, I like to have 2-3 extra inches of cinch room on harness when I start the whole wall process. I'd say go down a size. You'll still have plenty of room in the event that you need to put on some bulky stuff, and you won't have the risks that go along with a too-big harness, even if you drop significant weight. Hope this helps, -Kate.
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yetanotherdave
Apr 14, 2007, 2:24 PM
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Their sizing is definitely roomy. They say the medium is 30-34, but on my 32/33" waist it's cinched way down. If you're ordering direct from yates you can get astroman legs swapped in for about the same price (maybe $1 cheaper IIRC) and have a bit more freedom for freeclimbing. Otherwise there can be some pinching of delicate anatomy...
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dalfollo
Apr 15, 2007, 12:50 AM
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Kate - Very good points that help point out I do need to go down a size.... Dave, Unfortunately, I got his off of ebay so I will try to pass it along here, through craig's list or ebay again. I have found a couple places I can order it from in the $109-120 range. Funny you should mention the leg loops....while trying it on and wearing it around the house to get a feel for it, I did think that I will never go jogging in it...I will need to make sure it is properly positioned... Thanks to both of you for your feedback.
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skinner
Apr 15, 2007, 9:47 PM
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Sounds much like how mine fits. I've been using it like that now for 2 years and am so used to that when I put on my trad harness I feel like I am being strangled, and restricted when I move. I don't know if it's because of the way it's designed or because it's XL that the waist belt is up a lot higher on my waist then with any of my other harnesses. Again through , I've become used to it, and having no ass or hips to speak of, it doesn't feel like it's always being dragged off of me by gear-weight, rope drag, like with my other harnesses. I haven't taken any big falls in it, a few minor ones, but have spent hours in hanging belays and can honestly say it's the most comfortable harness I have ever worn/owned. I even wore it ice climbing a few times where I knew I was going to be semi-hanging at belay because it doesn't cut off any circulation to the legs/feet. I guess there is a danger of falling out of a harness that is too loose in an inverted fall, but I wear a Yates chest harness and have the two harnesses connected so it acts like a full body harness. The best bet would be if you knew somebody with a Large you could try on. I plan an getting big and burly, so I'm sticking with my XL
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dalfollo
Apr 16, 2007, 3:27 PM
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All, (modified to remove previous comments) I sent an email to Yates asking about fit recommendations and got a response fro John himself! He suggested that the harness should fit closer to the small end of the harness. If you have a couple of extra inches to cinch the swami down then that is better than being on the other end of the size. Also he pointed out that I could/Should unweave the 2" webbing from the elastic retainer near the end of the harness. this would allow me to further cinch down the belt. I did take a look at my belt and removed the 2" webbing from the first elastic retainers (near the tips of the swami). This does allow me to further cinch down the belt. In a quick test I cinched it down to the tightness I would like and still had ~2" to tighten further. It may be that I keep this XL; but will compare the L (arriving soon) and the XL side by side. Using the comments above and the quidance from Yates, I will provide feedback on my decision. Once that decision is made one of the harnesses will be put up for sale. Thanks again for everyone comments and feedfback; I hope my questions/learning experience may help someone else in the future.
(This post was edited by dalfollo on Apr 17, 2007, 4:22 PM)
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