Black Diamond Solution

Our take After eight months of testing and a dozen other harnesses come and gone, we chose the Solution for every mission, from half-day gym sessions to 800-foot trad routes to repeated falls on European limestone. “This is the end-all, be-all harness for me,” our tester says. “It’s comfortable, lightweight, packable, and durable—what else do you need?” The stiff, large gear loops easily held a double rack of cams and nuts, and the molded shape places the gear slightly away from your body, “so it’s much easier to see and grab when you’re twisting, turning, and pumping out on long pitches.” Fusion Comfort Technology in the waistbelt and leg loops distributes the load across a larger area, thanks to three pieces of webbing and an EVA foam insert.

Crag cred “Looks are deceiving because the minimal padding provides all the cush you need,” one tester said after climbing with the Solution in five different countries.