How to Make a Rescue Harness

If backpacking or climbing in areas where a rescue may be a possibility, it is always a good idea to pack safety equipment, including a safety harness. However, if an emergency occurs and you find yourself without a harness, but have the components (climbing webbing and carabiners), you can fashion a hasty rescue harness with a little effort. Be sure to test the strength of your knots before depending on your harness to pull someone to safety.

Things You'll Need

  • Climbing webbing
  • Climbing carabiners
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Tie a loop out of a 3- to 4-foot length of climbing webbing. Tie with a secure knot, like a water knot. Tie this like a regular, overhand knot but keep the webbing laying flat against itself. Do not let it twist.

    • 2

      Twist the loop in the middle, crossing it over itself so that it forms the basic shape of a figure 8. Use the two "loops" for your legs to go through and pull the webbing up firmly around your hips.

    • 3

      Tie another length of webbing around your waist, making it into another loop. Again, use a secure knot.

    • 4

      Take a climbing carabiner that locks and slip it onto both loops at the leg and on the loop tied around the waist, connecting all these points. The carabiner will be attached to the rope used to haul you (or another person) up using the harness.

    • 5

      For added safety, create a harness for the upper body. Start with another length tied in a loop and twisted to make an 8. Slip your arms through the loops, with the crossed section of webbing behind at the shoulders. Connect the loops with another carabiner and latch it onto the rope.