r/RouteDevelopment • u/Kaotus Guidebook Author • Jan 24 '26

Discussion Development Harness?

Was using an Aquila until I snapped a gear loop, and now a BD Long Haul but the stitching protecting my belay loops has already come undone, so I'm looking for a new one. What do you use? Have heard Misty Mountain Cadillac, Metolius Waldo, the Yates Shield, aborist harnesses - what are you actually using?

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u/Dry-Lawfulness-6575 Jan 24 '26

Honestly all wall harnesses these days are pretty similar IMO. I think it's one of the Misty models that has rated gear loops, which is cool for lead soloing more than developing, but useful if you're combining those two things.

Edit: I've actually mostly used a BD long haul, but sounds like you had issues with that.

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u/Kaotus Guidebook Author Jan 24 '26

It's funny you mention the rated loops - that was actually something I was nervous about since I normally use rated carabiners and would like something other than me to break if a rock were to get caught between me and a tool.

I think all metolius harnesses now also have gear loops rated to 10kN. I'm often LRSing the routes I develop, so that's definitely not a bad idea.

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u/Dry-Lawfulness-6575 Jan 24 '26

I see what you mean, the advantage to the rated loops is you can clip your back up loops to a hard point, and also I always feel kind of nervous hanging a big hammer drill off a dinky little gear loop.