All-day support

When you’re pumping out 10 feet above your last fiddled-in nut, the last thing you want to sweat about is how much it might hurt to take a fall in your older-than-dirt harness. Don the completely redesigned Sonic and you’ll be as relaxed as Willie Nelson getting recreational in Colorado. Testers loved it for long routes like Yellow Spur (5.10a) and The Naked Edge (5.11a) in Eldorado Canyon, Colorado, where tight belays forced semi-hanging stances. “I could sit in this harness for long periods without experiencing pain or numbness,” one user said. It has extra-wide leg loops and a high-backed, supportive waistbelt to prevent hot spots and digging. The waistbelt also flares out on the bottom, wrapping around hips instead of gouging into soft flesh in the midsection. A Hypalon patch in the rear of the waistbelt adds durability for scumming and chimney sections, and a large plastic buckle makes bathroom breaks a cinch. “An easy-to-operate buckle is crucial for quick bathroom breaks on long routes when you’re racing daylight,” one female tester said. A full-strength haul loop in the rear and four upturned gear loops round out the features.