Table Of Contents
- Comfort 80%
- Hanging Comfort 80%
- Gear Loops 80%
- Versatility 80%
Weight: 345g
Gear Loops: 4
Ice Loops: 2
Leg Loops: Adjustable
Price: $135
What We Like: Comfort of the larger waist and leg loops
What We Don’t: Ice clipper loops are in the way of the front gear loop
Compare to Similar Products
- Comfort 80%
- Hanging Comfort 80%
- Gear Loops 80%
- Versatility 100%
Pros
Just About Everything
Cons
Having Five Gear Loops Is Starting To Show Off
Gear Loops: 5
Ice Loops: 2
Leg Loops: Adjustable
- Comfort 80%
- Hanging Comfort 50%
- Gear Loops 100%
- Versatility 80%
Pros
Built For The Alpine, Lots Of Features
Cons
Price And Leg Loop Comfort While Hanging
Gear Loops: 4
Ice Loops: 4
Leg Loops: Adjustable
- Comfort 70%
- Hanging Comfort 70%
- Gear Loops 80%
- Versatility 70%
Pros
Plastic Protection For The Lower Tie In
Cons
Overall comfort
Gear Loops: 4
Ice Loops: 0
Leg Loops: Adjustable
- Comfort 80%
- Hanging Comfort 80%
- Gear Loops 70%
- Versatility 60%
Pros
Comfortable
Cons
Limited leg adjustment length
Gear Loops: 4
Ice Loops: 0
Leg Loops: Fixed
- Comfort 70%
- Hanging Comfort 60%
- Gear Loops 90%
- Versatility 80%
Pros
Lightweight
Cons
Price
Gear Loops: 4
Ice Loops: 2
Leg Loops: Fixed
- Comfort 60%
- Hanging Comfort 70%
- Gear Loops 70%
- Versatility 70%
Pros
Sliding Waist Belt To Keep Loops Centered
Cons
Overall Comfort
Gear Loops: 4
Ice Loops: 2
Leg Loops: Adjustable
- Comfort 70%
- Hanging Comfort 60%
- Gear Loops 60%
- Versatility 50%
Pros
Comfortable
Cons
Limited Leg Adjustment Length
Gear Loops: 4
Ice Loops: 0
Leg Loops: Adjustable
- Comfort 60%
- Hanging Comfort 60%
- Gear Loops 50%
- Versatility 60%
Pros
Double Waist Buckle Is Very Adjustable
Cons
Waist Buckles Can Take A Long Time To Get Perfect
Gear Loops: 4
Ice Loops: 0
Leg Loops: Adjustable
- Comfort 80%
- Hanging Comfort 80%
- Gear Loops 80%
- Versatility 80%
Pros
Comfort Of The Larger Waist And Leg Loops
Cons
Ice Clipper Loops Are In The Way Of The Front Gear Loop
Gear Loops: 4
Ice Loops: 2
Leg Loops: Adjustable
- Comfort 80%
- Hanging Comfort 90%
- Gear Loops 90%
- Versatility 70%
Pros
Lightweight And Plastic Lower Tie In Protection
Cons
One Color Option
Gear Loops: 4
Ice Loops: 4
Leg Loops: Fixed
Design
Petzl makes light but strong harnesses. Using their FuseFrame technology, the harness can distribute your weight well and reduce any pressure points. The waist belt is wider than the Sitta for added comfort while in a hanging belay or during falls. The leg loops are also thicker and add more comfort all around.
The leg loops are adjustable, which aid in the ability to put the harness on over ski boots or mountaineering boots while tackling an alpine mission. The problem is that the buckles seem to loosen on their own. The benefit of being able to wear multiple layers is now outweighed by an issue that the loops have been known to loosen.
Comfort
As mentioned earlier, the FuseFrame technology used on the Aquila makes the waist belt slightly wider than the Sitta, but this helps to distribute your weight. The weight distribution provided by the formed foam and split webbing makes this a very comfortable harness for hanging.
The stretch mesh that covers the split webbing and foam is soft and breathable. So even on hot days, it allows for more breathability than thicker, more padded harnesses.
Gear Loops
The gear loop setup is fairly standard. There are a total of four gear loops. The front two are firm for quick and easy access to your quickdraws, while the rear two loops are soft for comfortable wear under a backpack. There are also two ice screw clip loops—one on each side of the harness and a haul loop at the rear.
Here lies the main issue with the Aquila. The two front gear loops are just slightly too far back for where we think they should go. The front gear loops also sit over the top of where the ice tool clip goes, so now there is a lot of gear in a very small place which will get frustrating especially when hanging onto a crux move and trying to add some protection. Unfortunately, it seems like the gear loops were not fully thought out when making the harness. All of the weight at the back will pull on the harness while climbing, and this may cause some sagging issues on the wall as well. For the price, these flaws are troubling.
The Bottom Line
We think Petzl missed the mark with the Aquila. As a harness, it is made extremely well and will be a versatile addition to any climbing set up. However, for $130 it is almost twice the price of some other very versatile harnesses on the list.
The design is sound, and it is a very comfortable harness when there is not too much weight on the gear loops. The leg loop buckles that will potentially loosen on their own can be an issue, not for safety but more for comfort and keeping everything secure on the climber’s body while they are in motion.
The gear loops are too far back and too small for a large trad rack. The front gear loops also sit on top of the ice tool clip slot, which makes for a very congested back two-thirds of the harness. For the price and the potential headache of where everything is located, there are better options on our list and better options in each category of climbing if you are looking to get a specific harness for alpine or sport/trad climbing.
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