Black Diamond Solution

OUR TAKE This minimalist harness was a hit for its versatility. The Solution shone on gneiss and granite sport climbs, desert trad routes, and in the gym. And at only 11 ounces, we expect it will find its way into our alpine packs and overnight mountaineering loads, too. A three- webbing strand and mesh-lined EVA in the waistbelt and leg loops keep weight down, but the Solution doesn’t skimp on functionality. Even with fixed leg loops, four plastic-sheathed gear loops, and a waistbelt speed buckle, this harness still “feels like nothing when wearing it, but it doesn’t fold under a lot of gear,” one tester said after multiple outings in Colorado’s Boulder Canyon. Caveat: The belay loop could be stiffer, and the leg loops can dig in when you’re hanging for long periods.

CRAG CRED “The harness’s stretch- woven outer shell showed no signs of wear after months of climbing—and falling,” one tester says. 

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