How to Tie Seat Harnesses With Webbing

A professional seat harness provides comfort and safety for long rock climbing or rappelling excursions. But in a pinch you can quickly and easily tie a secure seat harness using webbing -- woven cotton or nylon found in climbing, outdoors and craft stores -- and simple knots.

Things You'll Need

  • 20 feet of webbing
  • Metal carabiner
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fold the webbing in half, matching the cut ends to find the center of the webbing.

    • 2

      Tuck the folded end six inches into the waistband of the wearer's pants. From the fold at the mid-way point of the webbing, measure down about six inches and hold with one hand. Use the other hand to tuck the loop into the waistband of the pants at the front center, above the zipper or belt buckle.

    • 3

      Find the two long ends coming out of the waistband, each just under 10 feet in length. Pull the lengths of webbing from the font to the back, through the legs, then separate the two strands, holding one in each hand. The webbing should go from the waistband, down the front of the pants, loop underneath the groin (separated to avoid causing discomfort) and behind the legs underneath the buttocks. There should now be one strap of webbing in each hand, held out to the sides of the body, but snug against the leg under the butt.

    • 4

      Bring one strap of the webbing around the front of the leg, loop the end underneath the nearest piece of webbing coming out of the waistband, at about the mid-way point up the front. Bring that strap of webbing back toward the outer thigh. Repeat on the other side to see the beginning formation of the harness.

    • 5

      Pull the two ends outward, to release the webbing tucked into the waistband. This will form a downward-facing triangle shape in the front, with the two webbing straps pulled out toward the sides of the body on either side.

    • 6

      Cross the webbing straps behind the waist, pulling so the harness is snug but not constricting. Bring the ends around to the front and cross in front of the waist. Cross again in the back. Tie in a square knot to one side of the waist.

      A Square Knot is made by tying the straps of webbing once, looping right over left, then again looping left over right. The finished knot resembles a square. Loop the loose ends one at a time behind the waist strap (made from the webbing) and then pull through to make a half-hitch knot to ensure the harness is secure.

    • 7

      Slide a carabiner underneath the webbing wrapped around the waist, ensuring all of the webbing there is inside the carabiner. Grab the center of the webbing that was originally tucked into the waistband and slip that into the carabiner. The harness is now ready to use.