Petzl Corax Harness > Reviews > the ideal all round harness

Author's product rating:   

Durability	Very durable
Design	Good
Value for money	Good

Advantages:	comfortable, flexible and light
Disadvantages:	twists easily

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I have used the Corax for years now. it was my first harness and there has never been a need to replace it. a testament to its durability.

in terms of comfort the corax is well designed. cushioned on the inside of the waist and leg loops to allow the climber to sit back in the harness for longer periods of time than cheaper harness that lack the padding. this is a great advantage when climbing longer routes, after a few hours on the rock you can easily forget that you're wearing it. further more, the padding is very flexible so it does not hinder movement on the rock. if it couldn't get more comfortable, the padding is designed to be breathable, stop those sweat patches building up on those summer days on the crags! even better, despite the extra padding the weight is still low (510g).

the harness is completely adjustable. the front belay loop and waist are adjusted by two symmetrical double back buckles so the tie in loop can be adjusted to be perfectly centered. the leg loops are also adjustable, with the buckles positioned on top of the padding to stop them digging in. this means that the harness can also be adjusted to fit over winter clothing making a good all rounder.

value for money is high, when i brought it it was valued around £50, which for the comfort and quality of the harness is very good. you can pay just below that mark for something far inferior.

the corax sports 4 gear loops each capable of holding up to 5kg of gear. each loop is angled slightly forward to allow runners and other bits of gear to neatly slide forward as you take from the back. on the down side, they are small, and at time my gear does feel packed into them, and for longer routes and more gear, 4 loops just is not enough.

the only real fault that bugs me about the corax is that it is easily twisted. so when you take it out your bag at the foot of the climb, you may have to fiddle around to get everything in the right place. even more annoying, it is very easy to put the harness on then release the tying in loop is twisted.

overall it is a very flexible, comfortable harness. suitable for beginners and upwards, and i always feel very safe wearing it. but the twisting when slung into the bag is a bother, which brings it down a little for me.