How to Make a Rock Climbing Harness From Webbing

If you climb or rappel, you need to learn how to employ emergency techniques using your gear. During emergency situations one of the first things you need to do is take inventory of all the gear in your climbing party. Look for 8 to 10 feet of 1-inch nylon tubular webbing, something you or your climbing partners should have on you at all times. This webbing is invaluable for anchors or, in a real pinch, as an emergency harness to get you up or down the cliffs. Practice making a webbing harness at home before putting it to the test in the field, for safety's sake.

Things You'll Need

  • 1-inch tubular webbing
  • Locking carabiner
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make a bight (loop) in the center of the webbing and tuck it into the front of your pants or bibs.

    • 2

      Reach behind you and take both ends of the webbing and pass them up behind the legs, keeping the loop in the front.

    • 3

      Pull the webbing ends around to the front and thread them under the bight (loop) sides, then pull them out from the body.

    • 4

      Pull the ends around the back and then around again, creating a double coil around the waist.

    • 5

      Continue to make wraps around the waist to take up the remaining slack on the webbing. When the slack is taken up, tie a square knot to the side of the harness.

    • 6

      Open the locking carabiner gate (a metal D-clip with a twisting lock) and slide it down and out from the waist straps.

    • 7

      Close the carabiner gate and twist the lock all the way tight. When it is tight, turn it back 1/4 turn to loosen and prevent it from seizing up.