I’ve used the Couloir harness for ski touring and ice climbing, and that’s what makes it different to other ski harnesses. Although “designed with the ski tourer in mind” the Couloir has enough features to make it a good mountaineering and climbing harness too. There are lighter ski harnesses, but they are often too basic to use on more technical ascents, abseils, or climbs. The Couloir has gear loops, Ice Clipper loops (although 4 seems excessive!) and is comfy enough for abseils.
The traditional buckle is a bit fiddly as others have said, but with the clever leg-loop system allows the harness to be put on over skis. It can be hard getting ski boots through some leg-loops, and it’s handy when adding layers on cold days.
It’s a good, versatile harness which is equally happy ski touring, ice climbing and alpine mountaineering. I’m a 32″ waist and Medium size is a tight fit with lots of clothes on.
Graham Frost is a British Mountain Guide living in Evolene, Switzerland, where he runs Frostguiding, offering year-round climbing and ski guiding.
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