Petzl Sama Climbing Harness

Orange. Refined.

Also highly breathable.

According to Petzl's advertising, masochists gave this an awful review.

I can see why they would do this, as the thing barely even seems like something you would wear over your clothes - it doesn't accumulate sweat. It doesn't chafe, and doesn't get in the way.

Pros: Price. $69.95 is a good deal for a high-quality all-around harness. Breathability. Lightweight and packability (though the Hirundos is still the ultralight). Comfort under a pack belt. Snug fit - leg loops that are tight but not uncomfortable, as can happen with fixed length loops (the elastic provides some give). Four gear loops make it perfect for trad or sport, especially alpine stuff. The belay loop/crotch interface is super bomber and really hard to screw up - and that loop is tough and burly, two synonymous terms that are most important for all things climbing related.

Cons: Not very many. I had to think creatively to write this part. If you prefer attaching a chalk bag with a biner rather than a belt, the back loop is a bit funky. Petzl harnesses don't have rated rear loops like Black Diamond harnesses. Personally, I use a belt with my chalk bag, so it wasn't an issue. Fixed leg loops may cause fit issues for some? The Sama comes in Small, Medium, and Large. I found that Petzl's Size 1 harness fits such a huge waist range that the possibility for screwing up fit with the Corax and etc is tough. However, be careful when sizing this harness. Bring in your climbing slacks and kicks and try. it. on. The leg loops on the size Small fit me perfectly - I'm 155 lbs, 6'0" with slimmer legs and a 30" waist. That's a size small. The gear loops occasionally withstand all attempts to find them (only the rear-most ones), due to the fact that they tend to lay flat to the waist band. Really, however, it just takes some getting used to. Once you get it by feel, no problems.

I love this harness. My favorite harness ever is without a doubt the Petzl Corax, however the Sama comes in a very, very close second. If I get out climbing more often in it I might even change this opinion. It's lighter, more breathable, super comfy, and the mesh panels that have been machined out of the waist belt actually make for a waist belt that wraps more securely around your waist. This even weight distribution makes carrying moderate to heavy weight on the harness a total breeze. It's so light! Why would you ever want to carry more weight?! The waist belt is also slim enough that the harness can be worn in a mountaineering context as well, under a pack belt when necessary.

The thing is bright orange, with a green belay loop. It's breathable, comfortable, simple, and it has four gear loops. If you need anything else, i'd think about your priorities.

Thanks to Petzl, once again, for creating superb climbing equipment.

Petzl Corax Climbing Harness

Both Petzl and Black Diamond make climbing equipment of incredible quality. Arc'teryx also makes some really incredible lightweight harnesses - ideal for gym climbers or dedicated lightweight sport climbers. Don't let this review influence your personal preferences too much - there are many comparable harnesses from many different climbing manufacturers, and comfort and usability should be priorities when choosing a sit-harness.

I found the Petzl Corax to be one of the best climbing harnesses I've used, both in terms of comfort and load-bearing ability. I've climbed in the Metolius Safetech, Black Diamond's Momentum and Bod, Petzl's Sama and Adjama - the Corax is amazingly comfy, not too expensive, and it can handle as much gear as you want to carry.

Pros: Padded, incredibly comfortable to hang in. Can handle more gear than you need, comfortably. Has a double-adjustable waist, with two auto-locking buckles (allows you to really fine tune the fit). The Size 1 Corax fits an incredible range of waists (28-35ish) Durability, durability, durability - This thing is bomber, from the design of the leg loops and wasitbelt to the belay loop, it won't let you down one bit.

Cons: Not as lightweight or low-profile as Petzl's lighter trad and sport harnesses, such as the Sama or the Hirundos. If looking to wear under a pack for alpine climbing or ski mountaineering, consider something less bulky. The Corax is not as breathable as these more mesh-constructed harnesses either, though the difference is fairly minimal in my opinion.





This harness is comfy for pitch after pitch of sport, trad, and as many hanging belays as you can handle! four gear loops, padded legs and waist, auto-locking buckles, and a brilliant green belay loop. Nice job, Petzl.

Check out our full selection of harnesses and climbing equipment on our website!

Petzl Tikka XP 2 Headlamp

Pros: Lightweight, incredibly bright, competatively priced. Long battery life, but without added bulk of an external battery pack above your neck. Versatile modes - spotlight, floodlight, blinkers, and red LED for your star chart or secret missions. The recent redesign to a single LED provides for longer battery life in economic mode, and more lumens!

Cons: Witnessed a complaint that the push-button switch (push once, twice, three times to cycle through lamp modes) is annoying, but I didn't find this to be an actual issue for me. Maybe i'm just used to Petzl lamps? Also, some have complained that purple is really lame. This is not true at all. It is a fact that purple is very cool. Petzl does offer the Tikka XP 2 in Graphite (Grey) if purple isn't really your thing though.

I've found that this little headlamp is absolutely superb. Lightweight, burly and bright. In the economic (least bright) setting, the Tikka XP 2 provides 160 hours of burn time. I found the economic setting to be plenty bright for just about everything - reading, pumping water, cooking, hiking at night. The full brightness setting I reserve for times when you really need it - rock climbing, alpine climbing, skiing, spot-lighting something in the distance. I'd go through one set of regular Energizer AAAs in periods of 3-4 months. Maybe longer actually. Anyways, quite a long time.

The Tikka XP 2 is light enough to still be an option for thru hikers and casual backpackers alike, but rugged, efficient and bright enough to be useful in the alpine. Battery life does suffer in the cold (under freezing), and I noticed this on Shasta, Bailey and Mt. Ashland on several occasions. However, this can be easily bypassed by switching regular AAAs for lithium batteries, and this is pretty much true for any headlamp on the market. If you're going Caving or heading on a big trip to the Karakorum, South America, Alaska, or some place where extra batts might be tougher to find, and the cold is more severe - go with Petzl's Myo XP (designed for extreme environments). For anything in the U.S., I feel that this little purple headlamp is perfect.

The Wide Angle diffuser lens flips up easily with one hand when you need a floodlight, and can be flipped back down at a moment's notice to gain the added distance of Petzl's impressive spotlight. I found that I was able to do this with mitts on, even. The small tab on the lens is easy to grab. I definitely noticed that the redesigned single white LED provides a significant increase in both battery life and illumination when compared to the original. I've used both the classic Tikka XP and Tikka Plus, and truly feel that Petzl is innovating, not simply donning new flair.

The Tikka XP 2 is priced lower than most expedition headlamps, but is a little bit more expensive than your entry level lamp - They retail for $54.95.

This is the one headlamp I use for just about everything. I haven't really experienced anything negative about it in the last year. Go Petzl!

See our selection of headlamps here.

Petzl Attache

Pros
A compact, light weight carabiner; still big enough to roll a munther hitch through. ther perfect locking biner for belaying, rappelling, anchors, and more. Personally, it is the only locking carabiner I have in my rack because of its stellar performance and versatility.

Cons
If you leave home without it!

Reviewer: Frank

Petzl Reverso3

Pros
Hands down, one of the single most versatile belay devices on the market! A single piece body keeps it light weight and strong. Smooth operation for top rope, lead, and top belay. Easy to use, easy to release, and brakes really well.

Cons
Thicker diameter rope (>10.2) is a little tough to get into device.

Reviewer: Frank