Petzl Canyon Harness

[moab mark]

I've got a $150 gift card to Backcountry.com. What's the opinion on this harness? Worth the coin?

Mark

[CarpeyBiggs]

i may not be the right one to chime in, as i use the alpine bod almost exclusively... but the canyon seems overkill for most of the utah canyons. especially when you can get a scuttlebutt for your harness if you need it.

that said, them Europeans love 'em!

[Iceaxe]

I agree with Dan, the more years I canyoneer the bigger fan I become of the Black Diamond Alpine Bod Harness for canyons.

The first time you are in a skinny slot, no place to sit or rest, standing in 3 feet of freezing cold water, which is covering 6" of slimy snot type mud, in a snow storm.... you too will become a huge fan of the Alpine Bod.

Or the day you are 50 feet up in a mae west and need to put on might be anther selling point.

:popcorn:

[moab mark]

Not following abod easier to put on?

[CarpeyBiggs]

Not following abod easier to put on?

the bod is the easiest to put on i've found. legs clip on, and all you have to do is put the belt around the waist. not stepping in required. plus, it's super portable and lightweight, and easy to adjust on the fly (leg loops.) i make 'em loose when walking, tighten 'em up on rappel, simply by clicking.

i think tom even reinforces an alpine bod with webbing on the back ends to make it even more durable. but, they are surprisingly good. i've gone through exactly one so far in something like 175 canyon days the last 3 years. i still use it all the time, though i bought a new one for the less abrasive canyons.

the scuttlebutt idea, however, has some merit, and can go a long way to protecting your back end, especially in canyons where the additional size and weight are not an issue. but, if i were to do that, i'd spare the expensive petzl and do tom's set up.

alpine bod or momentum combined with scuttlebutt is still something like 50 bucks cheaper.

http://canyoneeringusa.com/shop/product.php?productid=16243&cat=260&page=1

but, i'm a cheap ace, and tom pays me to say this stuff... so, can you really trust my opinion? :roflol:

[moab mark]

What are you using for a belay loop, carabiner?

[CarpeyBiggs]

What are you using for a belay loop, carabiner?

i personally don't use a belay loop. some will use a large rapide. others use a second carabiner. if you use a piranha as a device, it's more important i think. with an ATC, it's unnecessary, at least in my applications. just clip the leg loops and the belt together with the same carabiner that you use on your rappel device.

the only downside to the alpine bod is the big air, long rappels. it is not as comfortable as a full padded leg loop harness. it used to matter to me. but for some reason, i haven't found it to be a problem in a long while. the bod has always been just fine.

[Brian in SLC]

What are you using for a belay loop, carabiner?

Actually, I like the Bod better than the Alpine Bod for a couple reasons.

Comes with a belay loop, which I really like having.

You can trim off the fleece liner easily, so, voila, alpine bod-esque.

The back of the leg loops has much wider (and hence more durable) webbing.

I also fully void my warrenty by cutting off that inside extra metal piece on the buckle (which I really dislike). On your own with that mod.

I think the alpine bod/bod design hikes the best of any harness. No annoying riding up or down of the leg loops.

Cheers,

-Brian in SLC

[ratagonia]

Alpine Bod good, but not for me if doing a lot of rappelling, so I usually wear a BD Momentum AL with a Scuttlebutt.

For the ABod, I put a 10mm Aluminum Rapide on the leg loop, which I thread with the waistbelt. Usually, I also add a small locking biner to the Rapide and clip my ATC or Pirana to that. The leg loops back hold-up straps abrade off fairly quickly. For MARK, I can sew on some 1" tubular, which lasts longer.

Petzl Canyon Harness - yeah, if you're looking to spend a bundle of money quickly, that's a way to do it. Big, heavy, cumbersome. I sell one or two a year, and these people seem to like it.

Tom :moses:

[moab mark]

I have a petzl corax that I use most of the time. Have not really liked it, do not know why but just don't. They had them on sale one time in moab and I bought it. I use to use a singing rock one that I loved but ripped the gear loops off the left side one day going thru that little toilet bowl in krill. :frustrated: I am looking for a light weight one for north wash type stuff. I have several of the vario speed universal harnesses that my kids use. I like how the belay loop is attached to those. I would use one of those but would like some where to hang some gear. So I ordered an A BOD from backcountry along with a bunch of other junk. I have a feeling I am going to wish it had a belay loop but well see.

Tom,
On the canyon harness, Tad's wife bought one from you last year for him for christmas. He really likes it but it does take up a lot of room in his pack. He likes the way the belay loop is setup. The scuttle butt sure protects his pants and wet suit.

You headed to the outdoor show?
Mark

[hank moon]

The Canyon is awesome in its intended environment: Euro whitewater canyons where you are in the water 90+% of the time and the approaches are pretty much negligible.

That said, I've owned one for several years and never used it in a CP canyon. It would certainly feel "big, heavy, cumbersome" in most Utah slots!

[ratagonia]

You headed to the outdoor show?
Mark

I was. Hwy 89 turned to snowpacked a mile above Glendale. Took 45 minutes to get to Tod's Corner (usually 20 minutes), and the report was the road was worse going north. 45 minutes to get back home. I'll have to cut through Zion Park to get on the I-15. Still could be grim around Beaver. I hope to be at the show tomorrow morning. We'll see.

Tom :moses: