Pack Light

The neon orange, yellow, and green of the Arc’teryx S220 LT will be the first thing to catch your eye, but its light weight (9.4 oz) will hold your attention longer. Our testers initially were skeptical of its seemingly flimsy material, but after wearing they agreed that, despite the super-thin waist belt, it was quite comfortable. One even commented, “It was almost as comfortable as my much heavier and more padded harness.” Arc’teryx credits its so-called Warp Strength Technology, which is designed to allow the harness to contour to and support the climber’s body without extra padding. The non-adjustable leg loops are made of Vapor Mesh fabric, and two polyurethane gear loops were added for forward racking. Some testers weren’t as impressed with the leg loops: Two guys stated they were “quite painful to belay in—for men, at least,” and “they tend to ride up and dig into your legs.” (You can try adjusting the elastic straps to ratchet the fit better.) Testers also noted that having only two gear loops made for difficult organization. Overall, this harness was praised for its light weight, packable size, and comfort on sport climbs. Said one tester: “It does exactly what it is designed to.”