We're still pulling tricks out of the sleeves we wore in Friedrichshafen, at the Outdoor Trade Show earlier this year, and in this week's edition the tricks are award-winning ones from Arc'teryx.
After four years of deep thought, the designers at Arc'teryx think they've found the answer to the soreness you sometimes experience where the edges of your harness dig into your body after a fall.
No, the answer isn't paracetamol - it's actually a new range of harnesses which all use something called Warp Strength Technology.
In case sewing lessons at school are starting to feel a long way off, the 'warp' is the horizontal thread in a fabric, unlike the weft which runs from top to bottom. Most fabrics use a combination of the two, but the new harnesses are based on the idea that you get the best load distribution by leaving out the weft completely.
They're also completely seamless, so there's no stitching to dig into you.
Other features include buckle-less leg loops, a self-locking buckle at the waist, and a yellow thread inside your gear loop to remind you that a replacement should be on the cards when it starts to show.
Add eleven layers of lamination and a breathable soft shell liner into the mix and hey presto...
We tried one on briefly in Friedrichshafen and the harnesses are actually pretty supple creatures, unlike some models which can be pretty stiff. They're nice and lightweight too, with very little bulk in the padding.
We haven't tried one in action yet so we can't tell you whether they really are painless after a well-protected plunge, but the judging panel for this year's industry awards was obviously impressed as the harnesses landed a silver industry award at the show.
Just to give you the stats, there are four incarnations, and the number in each harness's name indicates the weight in grams:
- R320 rock climbing harness - £85 (available in men's and women's versions)
- X350A ice climbing harness - £100 (unisex version only)
- S240 sport climbing harness - £65 (unisex version only)
- A300 alpine climbing harness - £90 (unisex version only)
They're all due out early next year, so keep your eyes peeled. In the meantime, the rest of the Arc'teryx range is available on their website.
