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sparky
Jan 9, 2003, 1:18 AM
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Registered: May 31, 2002
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What is the "rule" on when to retire a harness, chimineys haven't been to good on it but it still works, when is there to much wear and tear.
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climbingpride
Jan 9, 2003, 1:27 AM
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Registered: Oct 6, 2001
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My first climbing partner gave me his first harness for my first harness, an old REI one. He got it when he was 15, i was then 15, and it is now just over 15 years old. Kinda crazy sounding but anyways. Its still good because i have not seen any, um, tears, flapping, and cut sowing. Its still a sterdy diaper that fits only anerexic girls now.
Oh and I saw one, the exact same that i had, same age, just a different color at the crags, and they picked to use that one over some of the newer ones the had brought.
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rprp
Jan 9, 2003, 1:38 AM
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Registered: Dec 27, 2002
Posts: 211
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The part to think about is the waist belt and belay loop. Luckily, these are both made very beefy. So a harness will last a long time. As with ropes, you can get much more use out of them than the manufacturer's "advice". They would, of course, love to sell you a new one right now.
If none of the stitching is damaged, then the webbing itself would have to be pretty abraded before it became a hazard. Oh yeah, consider the UV exposure too. If it is feeling "crispy" then it is not as strong as it used to be.
You could get a new one for most climbing and keep this old for more wide crack climbing.
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enigma
Jan 9, 2003, 4:39 AM
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Registered: May 19, 2002
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It depends on how much use you get out of it.
So if you only use it once or twice a week for a few climbs its going to last longer than if you've done Zodiac,Zion and several Big walls, lots of rapelling down.
This week I was thinking how long to retire a harness,so I asked some hard core f/t climbers and they said two years. I also would recommend a qualified person to take a look too, after all 60dollars isn't much too save your life.
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data118
Jan 9, 2003, 5:04 AM
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Registered: Jul 4, 2002
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The manufacturer said you should retire a harness after a long serious fall. Well, what's a long serious fall?
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carnaged
Jan 9, 2003, 5:08 AM
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Registered: Jun 20, 2002
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-when you get too fat for it
-when you can't double-back anymore, and you notice the "warning" on it
-when the edges start to fray
-when the style...goes out of style
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alpnclmbr1
Jan 9, 2003, 5:30 AM
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Registered: Dec 10, 2002
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5 years for soft goods
10 for hardware
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enigma
Jan 9, 2003, 5:36 AM
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Registered: May 19, 2002
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"long serious fall" -one which you end up in a hospital,I would imagine would qualify.
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ktwo
Jan 9, 2003, 5:51 AM
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Registered: May 10, 2002
Posts: 443
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NAH, if you end up in the hostpital, you hit the ground, which means the harness didn't take any shock. One where the rope breaks might mean you need a new harness though.
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