How to Tie a Seat Harness

Climbers and canyoneers should have a base level knowledge of how to tie what is called a seat harness, also known as a Swiss seat harness. You fashion this harness using a length of climbing webbing to make an impromptu seat harness used to rappel. Because climbing is a dangerous sport, practice and training should be taken before using any technique in the field.

Things You'll Need

  • 9 to 12 feet of 1-inch nylon tubular webbing
  • Locking carabiner
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Find the half-way point in the webbing. Place this point of the webbing in your weak, or brake, hand (if you are right handed, place the webbing in your left).

    • 2

      Wrap the webbing around your back and place the two equal ends of the webbing back in front of you, in your brake hand.

    • 3

      Tie a double-overhand knot at your waist front. Drop the webbing ends so they dangle in front of you, towards your feet.

    • 4

      Grab one end of the webbing and pass it between your legs and behind the buttocks. Do the same with the other end of the webbing and wrap it around the opposite side of the buttocks and leg.

    • 5

      Bring the wrapped webbing pieces around the legs, and thread them through the waist wraps of the webbing.

    • 6

      Bend down as if to squat and pull the ends of the webbing to tighten the leg straps. Thread the webbing ends back around the legs once more and bring them back to the front of the waist.

    • 7

      Place both webbing ends in your brake hand. Tie the two webbing pieces together with a square knot. Open the carabiner --- the metal D-clip --- at the hinged gate and insert the webbing knot into the clip. Close the clip and screw it tight all the way to the right, then back one quarter turn to the left.