Slim Fast

The second-lightest harness in our review, the CAMP Air CR weighs in at only 9.5 oz., and is designed for sport climbing and stripped-down alpine and ice climbing—any place where minimalist gear is appropriate. CAMP’s edge-load construction girds 2mm perforated EVA foam with a thin strip of weight-bearing webbing; the foam is lined with soft polyester mesh on the inside and more durable nylon mesh on the outside. An upgrade for 2011 is adjustable leg loops, which is a plus for women and mountaineers, who tend to need more room in the legs. Both waist and leg loops have pre-threaded buckles. The elastic straps connecting the leg loops and waist are very thin, and they aren’t detachable while wearing the harness; you’ll need fingernails of steel or a pen or awl to adjust these straps. Women who wear their harnesses higher on the waist may not be able to dial fit very well due to this harness’ low profile. And though most testers lauded a comfortable fit, one complained the harness was “uncomfortable when hanging due to not much padding” and that it rode up uncomfortably, causing pressure in personal places. Testers’ biggest grievance was the Air CR’s secondary gear loops, which, unlike the front loops, aren’t encased in plastic molding. They were “too short and not stiff enough to clip gear easily,” “catch easily on carabiner notches,” and “sometimes got lost amid a fold in my sweatshirt.” Still, if you’re on a redpoint attempt on the sport proj or trekking up a glacier, this harness is so light it could be just the ticket.