While all climbing harnesses are primarily designed to distribute wait and catch you when you fall, many harnesses are specifically designed for the unique needs of different types of climbers. Sport climbing does not require a climber to hang heavy gear from his or her harness sport specific harnesses are built with minimalist design features like fewer gear loops. Also, since many sport routes are single pitch and don¡¯t require hanging all day in a harness, sport harnesses have thinner leg loops and waist belts. Eliminating unneeded features from a harness makes it much lighter and allows sport climbers to push harder. While an all-around harness will still work well for sport climbing, a sport-specific harness is a perfect option for someone who primarily hits the gym or a local sport crag rather than trad routes, big walls or alpine ice. The Arc¡¯teryx S-220 harness is one of the lightest sport harnesses on the market at just 7.9 ounces and combines super thin construction and minimalist design with a superb fit.
