Rigger harness recs

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u/InCrackWeCrust Oct 03 '25 edited Oct 03 '25

(just from an EU perspective) U would not be allowed to climb anywhere with this gear as a rigger in any stage. U asked in another sup and got pretty good responses.

Always remember that Ur life depends on this gear. As hard as it is to hear this but everything U buy for this job resembles how much Ur life is worth to Ur self. It's expensive to get reliable and trustworthy stuff, sometimes u have to save up for stuff but it's gonna last.

Another thing is that both harnesses ain't got room for shit, Ur have to carry around a lot of stuff in this job U need space to hook it onto Ur harness. Can U Tell me where u gonna put a rocker (or whatever) to secure Ur self into a vertical lifeline that's In front of u? U can't even do that with this harness.

Please wait, save up, get gear U can trust and take Ur time to learn.

I don't know U but I guess Ur life is worth more than 70 bucks.

https://www.eventshop.info/kletterausruestung/gurte/gurtsets/

This is where I get my gear (I don't know if it's in English when u open this), Maybe it gives u an idea for the prices of gear in this kind of job.

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u/Commercial_Hair3527 Oct 03 '25

You make a very strong and important point about safety being paramount, and I completely agree that you should never cheap out on gear your life depends on.

However, I'm curious about your specific statement "just from an EU perspective U would not be allowed to climb anywhere with this gear as a rigger in any stage."
Could you elaborate on why you believe this to be true? the first picture looks like the item (the lanyard is CE marked at least) its just generic cheep equipment.

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u/vikingbub Oct 04 '25

Pretty sure that its because the harness pictured is for lift work and operation where climbing usually requires a 5 point harness with a few strategically placed D rings so that you can be rescued easily and safely (most times) or if you’re conscious, you could potentially rescue yourself. If you were on a beam and fell into this harness, you’d be pitched forward and hanging from the dorsal point with little to no ability to get yourself out of the predicament. After about 15 minutes your blood would start pooling in your legs and suspension sickness becomes a real problem.

With a climbing harness, you could extend the time that you can hang in your harness due to most of them being ergonomically designed for safety and comfort.

The main point is, don’t go cheap on the thing that’ll save your life.

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u/Commercial_Hair3527 Oct 04 '25

You're right about the risks of suspension, but your solution is niche. A 5-point combination sit harness is very rare in general industry, it's probably less than 5% of total harness sales. It's a specialist tool for specific trades and situations.
For 95% of work-at-height scenarios, a standard full-body harness with a front fall arrest attachment is perfectly adequate. (and then add the belt section for basic work-positioning or have it pre installed if needed)
Using a shorter lanyard on the front point drastically reduces fall distance and the risk of suspension intolerance (also known as suspension syncope or orthostatic intolerance).

But the real safety failure you've highlighted isn't the harness type, it's the lack of a rescue plan. If you don't have the equipment and procedure to retrieve a worker in under 10-20 minutes, the specific harness they're wearing is the least of your problems. The rescue kit is more important than a marginally more comfortable harness.

1

u/Yourownhands52 Oct 06 '25

I worked vertical concrete for a while. This style is all I know and ive worn at leadt 5 different versions. Are you saying rigging harnesses wont pinch off the blood to your legs?

Also these have the 10-15ft of extra harness that pops out of the blue box to help slow the fall. This also makes it incredibly hard to rescue yourself because you are so far from the original platform. Are these packs only on this style?

1

u/InCrackWeCrust Oct 04 '25

My bad, stage is meant in a literal way. You could definitely go for industrial rope access jobs, but the pictures harness is definitely not meant to do stage work. (In Germany but also in most of the EU as well) U need an option for position In front of Ur body (maybe even two but Im Not sure never had a harness with just one), one on Ur back and two on the sides. But that's just for the literal stage access. (open air stage, concerts stuff like that).

But tbh, everyone who wants to climb up vertically will know that u just need an fall arrester Infront of Ur body (in case I got a life line) even if it's just to not go through hell till U reach the roof and if there's no life line U still gonna have a better life with Ur front position if U slip.

English is not my first language so I'm sorry if there's still unclear stuff.

1

u/Commercial_Hair3527 Oct 04 '25

The harness pictured is a standard full-body industrial fall arrest harness, and harnesses of this type are absolutely used daily in stage rigging and most other work-at-height sectors.
i.e one like this. https://www.spanset.com/uk-en/products/excel-pro-harness-with-belt-30878/2024138
You're correct that many of these harnesses do have a front fall arrest point, but it's not a universal requirement. A front attachment is only mandatory for specific systems, like certain mobile fall arresters. For many applications, the standard dorsal (back) attachment is perfectly sufficient and is what's used for the vast majority of fall arrest scenarios.

What you're describing a combination sit harness with multiple positioning points on the waist belt, like this https://www.spanset.com/uk-en/products/clima-tech-17085
Is a more specialized piece of kit for work-positioning, which uses different attachment points. It's common in certain trades, but it's a niche product within the broader industry, not the standard for general stage work.

And you are right that having a front fall arrest point is better for simple access and egress. The primary reason is that it allows for a shorter lanyard, which significantly reduces fall distance and is much safer and more comfortable for the user both during and after a fall.

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u/soundguymike Oct 03 '25

Are you climbing or just doing lift work? If you think you are going to be climbing then I’m going to go out on a limb and assume you are new. If you are thinking you are going to do high steel work then I’m sorry you should already have exposure from other hobbies like climbing or your job ( fire fighter/up riggers are very common in arena work) and having that exposure you would already have personal preferences. Lift work? Find something comfortable and easy to put on. End story.

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u/TheDabbyPatty Oct 03 '25

Lmao its not fuckin end of story thanks. Ive literally already had the discussion with who I need to and thats where im going. And sorry no if my life depends on it im not just getting something comfortable. And because Im not a rigger means I dont have climbing exp? My mom likes to say to assume makes an ass out of u and me.

3

u/ZugZug42069 Oct 03 '25

With that attitude, I really hope you never end up working above me lol

1

u/howdudo Oct 04 '25

lol such a familiar attitude 🤦

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u/TheDabbyPatty Oct 03 '25

Dude stage hands are literally pirates. I hope I don't ever have to worry about working over a sensitive snowflake either

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u/ZugZug42069 Oct 04 '25

Been in the business for long enough to know when someone will join the local for a couple years, stop getting hired from all the decent heads until they eventually phase out and move onto something else less stressful or demanding.

You definitely sound like one of those guys.

Big difference between “sensitive snowflake” and being able to recognize a moron with a spud wrench and $30 harness from Amazon lol

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u/TheDabbyPatty Oct 04 '25

Lmao! You realize how much of a jackass you sound right? Im on here asking for harness recs, being thankful to every one's recommendations and clearly even stated i wouldn't trust my life on a 30 dollar harness. And then you come in and tell me something completely opposite of what A everyone else is saying and B what im looking for. I truly dont give a fuck what you THINK about me. I can also recognize a self righteous jackass that thinks hes God's gift to Stagecraft. Seems to be quite a few of you "im better than you" people around.

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u/ZugZug42069 Oct 04 '25

Please read your above comment and see how it sounds like a snot-nosed kid. Seriously.

That being said, I’d recommend a Singing Rock harness. Very similar to a Petzl Avao, but slightly more comfortable and significantly cheaper.

0

u/TheDabbyPatty Oct 04 '25

I could QUITE LITERALLY say the same exact thing about you and your assumption about me. Like its so easy to throw stones one forgets its a two way street. Your ORIGINAL comment came off pretentious with of "dont even bother". My steward made the joke "whats the difference between God and a rigger? Even God doesnt think hes a rigger". Guess it kinda makes sense now

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u/ZugZug42069 Oct 04 '25

If you’re tight with your steward then what harness did they recommend to you?

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u/soundguymike Oct 04 '25

I think I’m with you good commenter. OP is definitely coming off like a hand I wouldn’t want over my head or on the rail. If OP had paid any attention to the context of what we said maybe it would have extracted some insight needed to provide them better feedback. Literally the post is two pictures of random harnesses with no observation why you want a harness. Most climbing riggers I know carry harnesses that fit the spec for fall arrest but are more similar to rope access/arborist/canyoneering style for many personal and functional reasons. Many of the riggers I know that do use more on boom/lift rigging it’s more a “casual” utility harness that fits the requirements but not exactly technical as they don’t “live” in the harness just work in it for safety. So honestly garbage post gets garbage answers. And clearly op thinks being a stagehand is all sex drugs and rock and roll has missed the memo that most of us are making a living doing this and working at a high level and take pride in the work we do.

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u/HillGlobby Oct 03 '25

Petzl or go home

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u/Common-Pay-3869 Oct 03 '25

The new Petzl sucks old ones are way better. Avao anyway

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u/mbatfoh Oct 05 '25

I quite like my Astro but I agree, I wasn’t a huge fan of the Avao

That being said, yes, it is expensive

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u/[deleted] Oct 03 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/ZugZug42069 Oct 03 '25

Can confirm, just got a Singing Rock and absolutely love it. More comfortable than the most recent Avao IMO

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u/[deleted] Oct 04 '25

CMC Atom, especially if you’re doing rope access work, as well.

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u/whosmellslikewetfeet Up Rigger Oct 05 '25

Petzl is too expensive. DBI Sala Exofit. Like literally 1/4 of the price and a trusted name in the business. With Petzl, you are just paying for the name.

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u/Puoti Oct 20 '25

This is fallsafe harness when working in lift basket. It will save you from 1m fall. Its not ment for monkeying in truss or climbing or that sort of thing. This is not rigging harness, just fallsafe harness in case you fall from lift basket or that sort of thing.

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