Best Beginner Harness of 2021

One of the better beginner’s harnesses on the list. The Mammut Ophir 3 Slide is a fully adjustable harness that comes with four gear loops, a protective plastic covering on the lower tie in, and indicator stitching on the webbing. All of these are great for beginners to enhance the service life of the harness while remaining very affordable and still quite comfortable. These are a few of the reasons we named it the Best Beginner Harness of 2021.

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See Our Best Climbing Harness Review 2021

Design

Using a “two part webbing technology” similar to Black Diamond’s “Dual Core,” the waist strap of the Ophir is comfortable though slightly thinner than preferred. The mesh between the two parts of webbing is breathable and should not hold onto too much moisture in the ice climbing world. Compared to other harnesses in the same price range, it is not the most comfortable harness, but by no means is it uncomfortable.

The leg loops of the Ophir are thinner and can dig into the leg if you are hanging for too long or catching a lot of falls. The leg loops themselves are adjustable and can accommodate layers, but there are no stretch areas to allow for freedom of movement while climbing.

The belay loop and upper tie in point have red indicator stitching, so if the harness wears down to a point where you can see the red stitching, it is time to get a new one. The lower tie in point has plastic guarding to reduce the impact that walking and the friction of the belay loop can have on this area.

Comfort

As with most harnesses in this price bracket, comfort seems to take a slight backseat position. The Ophir has a dual webbing system like Black Diamond’s Dual Core Construction but with a less fancy name. The padding surrounding the webbing is decent on the waist belt. However, around the legs, there tends to be some discomfort on the legs during a long hang or a long belay. They tend to cut into the leg slightly, which is always negative and requires a lot of adjustment throughout the day, and that just gets annoying.

This harness is not the comfiest on the list, but if you’re looking for a cost-effective gym harness and won’t be spending too much time hanging around in it, then the Ophir can be a solid option.

Gear Loops

The Mammut Ophir 3 Slide has four gear loops, and all are soft and able to hang by the side easily. The positives are that they will stay out of the way if you are in tight corners while climbing or digging into some burly off-widths. The gear loops themselves are large and can accommodate up to 9 quickdraws, which is quite a quiver and great for trad climbing—if only the harness itself were slightly more comfortable. The loops are also on a positive angle towards the front of the harness, so the quickdraws will all slide to the same place, which can help in sweaty bolt locations when you want fast access to your draws.
 

The gear loops are also offset so that when the harness is tightened and pulled to a side during the tightening, the gear loops should all remain in a centered and similar position. A small design feature, but it can make a big difference depending on your waist size. There are no places for ice screw clips, but the haul loop at the rear of the harness is strong and rated for 4kN.

The Bottom Line

For $65, the Ophir Slide 3 is a solid budget option. If you are a fan of the plastic guard on the lower tie in, the indicator stitching, and fairly large gear loops, this harness is the one for you. Unfortunately, it is not as comfortable as other harnesses in a similar price bracket. A better option in our opinion is the Petzl Corax, which has adjustable leg loops but is just more comfortable.

If the leg loops were slightly larger to reduce the digging and the front gear loops were rigid for easier access, the Mammut Ophir 3 Slide would be close to perfect. However, hanging comfort for climbers is very important, and this harness just doesn’t hit that mark. With few beginner climbers planning long multi-pitches and working more on indoor climbing and easier outdoor sport, we named the Ophir 3 Slide our Best Beginner Harness of 2021.

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