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Hirundos 2017
Description
The HIRUNDOS harness is a high-end model, ideal for sport and alpine climbing. The FUSEFRAME Technology construction produces a slim, clean, lightweight design that offers excellent comfort. This harness is equipped with four equipment loops for optimal equipment organization, and has a DoubleBack HD buckle for quick waistbelt adjustment.
Description
Optimized weight and comfort:
- clean design of the FUSEFRAME Technology construction offers excellent weight distribution and minimizes pressure points
- thermo-formed foam allows incorporation of strength elements into the layer of foam and thus avoids having pressure points on the yokes
- compact, lightweight waistbelt in thin foam
- no compression points or friction zones on the waistbelt because there are no crossing seams
- fabric fused with the foam for better weight-bearing over the entire harness
- very flexible leg loop attachment bridges for more comfortable walking and climbing
- fitted elastic leg loops give complete freedom of movement
Easy adjustment:
- DoubleBack HD buckle in forged aluminum has a slim, rounded design that offers good grip and fluid glide of the webbing for easy and quick adjustment and tightening of the waistbelt
- retainers for webbing
Complete equipment:
- reinforced tie-in points in high-tenacity polyethylene for improved resistance to wear from rope friction
- four equipment loops: two high-capacity rigid ones in front for quick and easy access to equipment and two flexible ones in the rear to avoid creating pressure points with a backpack
- two integrated CARITOOL tool holder slots
Rear loop for haul rope
Two rear elastics on detachable buckles to avoid crossing leg loops when donning harness
Eco-designed harness, made with Bluesign fabric, which respects the objectives of optimizing resource productivity, consumer safety, professional hygiene and security, and of reducing air emissions and water pollution
Specifications
Material(s): nylon, polyester, EVA, polyurethane, aluminum, high-tenacity polyethylene
Retail price
US$ 99.95
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Weight (g) WeightIn grams, the weight, as stated by the manufacturer/brand. If there are differences in weight (due to multiple sizes or optional accessories) we'll list them here. The default weight is the middle-most size, often this is size M. | 280 g XS : 250 g / 8.8 oz |
| Fit | Unisex |
| Sizes | XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL |
Gear LoopsNumber of Gear LoopsGear loops are used to hold gear (quickdraws, cams, etc) onto your harness. 4 gear loops is most common. 
0 - 1 Gear LoopsMost often on full body harnesses or guide/gym style harnesses. 2-3 Gear LoopsMostly found on lighter harnesses made for [ski] mountaineering or high-end sport climbing where weight is a high priority. 4 - 5 Gear LoopsThe standard/most common number for climbing harnesses. Perfect for sport and trad. More Than 6 Gear LoopsDesigned for long multi-pitch and big wall climbing, found on harnesses made to hold the maximum amount of gear. Worth ConsideringOccasionally, the number of gear loops will change on a harness model depending on the size. There could be 7 gear loops for the med/large but only 5 gear loops for the xsmall/small. In this case we list the highest number for the filters, and then write an explanation on the product page like, “Size S/XS can only fit 5 gear loops.” | 4 Gear loops |
Ice Clip SlotsIce Clip SlotIce clipper slots are made to fit a carabiner that holds ice screws. These slots are generally only used by ice climbers but there is no disadvantage to having them on your harness. 
Less than 40% of harnesses will have ice clipper slots. And those harnesses will usually have 2 or 4 slots, often located next to, or between, the gear loops. | Yes, 2 |
| Belay / Tie-In | One Loop |
| Waist Buckle Type | Quick Adjust |
| Leg Buckle Type | None (it stretches) |
| Drop Seat | Yes |
Haul LoopHaul LoopTrad climbers often look for a haul loop as they're intended to haul a rope (second line) or pack (while you climb the chimney). 
A haul loop can also hold shoes or other accessories. Although not the intended use, it is also commonly used to hold a chalk bag. | Yes |
| Certification | CE, EN, UIAA |
| Size Chart | XS |
No reviews yet.
The Hirundos uses something called “Fuseframe” technology. A fancy word for a pretty straight forward idea. Instead of just adding padding around the structural strength of the waist belt Petzl splits the support with “thermo-formed foam” in a way that reduces pressure points and aids in weight distribution. It is extremely comfortable for a harness that weighs less than a pound! I also found the mesh to be breathable and quick drying even when the humidity was high.
The harness is aimed at the sport climbing market and it performs quite well for that. It looks great, it enhances, it shaves off a spoonful of breakfast in weight and it won’t rub you up the wrong way. It performs reasonably as a trad harness – there is enough room on the gear loops to fit a rack, though you might have trouble getting your belay device off the back loops. I give it three-and-half out of five “Fuseframe Technologies”.
The Hirundos is lightweight harness that is both comfortable and built to last. Weight-wise it is still at the top of it's game and with an RRP of £80 it is actually quite price competitive compared to other harnesses in the category, which are now reaching into the £100+ (ouch...). From a trad climbers perspective the two rear gear loops let it down due to their soft nature, but for sport climbers and mountaineers this is less of an issue - particuarly considering how good the front two are.
Overall, we really enjoyed the Hirundos harness throughout the testing process and would highly recommend this harness for the purpose of single route sport climbing.The Hirundos delivers when finding the balance between comfort and freedom of movement. It’s clean and lightweight design reduced a noticeable amount of bulk from previous models and made a huge difference when moving on the rock. It was also the first harness that was light enough to wear all day long despite moving from crag to crag. Although comfortable enough for a full day of single pitch sport climbing, we would not recommend this harness for hanging belays or traditional climbing. Finally, the Hirundos more than proved itself when it came to daily wear and tear. After wearing the harness for more than six months, the tie in points of the harness and the thin belay loop showed little wear and tear normally associated with working a project or cragging on a weekly basis.
Both of these harnesses are light-weight minimalist harnesses and are not meant for extended hanging. That said, comfort was still a top priority in design, and you’ll see that in the wider padded areas and also in the placements of the stitching. The design also incorporates features that provide a more natural range of motion. These harnesses will be best suited for sport climbing at the crag.
It’s all about being lightweight nowadays, and Petzl’s new Hirundos is right on cue. When I was handed the harness in its bag, it weighed almost nothing. I work for Movement Climbing + Fitness here in Boulder, CO and after a short work shift, this new harness was the first to come out of my bag for a quick climbing session in the gym. Its bright orange color was super neat, and of course, trendy, and I even liked the white touch for the gear loop and hard points (it actually made me think of creamsicles – or am I just dreaming of hot summer days?) This harness fit the sport climbing bill perfectly.
This lightweight harness has been a top pick for serious sport climbers for the last few years, and the complete overhaul for 2015 boosted its versatility and comfort. “I opted for the Hirundos on everything from hangdogging my projects to all-day, dozen-pitch routes,” one tester said. This version gets extra cush and maintains a low weight and slim profile because of Petzl’s proprietary Fuseframe technology. Most harnesses have a webbing skeleton to provide strength with foam padding placed on top of that for comfort, but Fuseframe first shapes the foam to have special channels where the webbing will be placed. This means the webbing nests into the foam, keeping it slender and lightweight but still easy to wear all day. This technology also fuses the outer fabric with the foam to better distribute pressure and eliminate hot spots, which no testers experienced, even on 13-pitch days with 10 rappels. Designers also upped durability and cut ounces by using Dyneema (synthetic material that’s lighter and stronger than nylon) in the tie-in points and the belay loop. One obsessed-over feature was the drop-leg with extra-large, easy-to-operate plastic buckles, meaning testers (especially ladies!) had delightfully fast access when nature called. Tester note: Sizing ran small, so opt for one size up when ordering.
Details of Hirundos and Aquila Harness
Justin Roth talks about the features of Petal's latest Hirundos and Aquila harness.
2015 Harnesses
Introducing 2015 new harnesses.
Petzl Hirundos & Aquila
No voice but shows all the features with climbing
Watch a tour of Petzl's facilities as they explain all the testing involved
Warning: This video is dubbed in English. If you're getting antsy, skip to section 7:40-8:15 for one of the most interesting parts, where they show a hardware specific camera inspection.