When Adam Ondra speaks, Black Diamond listens. The result is the Black Diamond airNET Harness.
Black Diamond collaborated with rock climbing superstar Adam Ondra to develop a harness with a sole focus on weight reduction that could stand up to a performance at the Tokyo Olympics.
The result was the airNET Harness, released to the public last month. We tested an early sample during the fall and winter climbing season and came away impressed.
The (Really) Light Technology
Black Diamond pulled out all the stops to develop the airNET competition and sport climbing harness. Not only is it the lightest featured rock climbing harnesses on the market, but it also utilizes two patented technologies.
Our men’s size medium airNET sample weighed a verified 8 ounces, yet the harness isn’t completely bare-bones. The Black Diamond airNET Harness represents the tip of the spear in harness design, achieving a rare trifecta of super-low weight, comfort, and durability.
Black Diamond flexed the airNET patent to minimize weight while simultaneously improving function and comfort. The airNET is a Dynex net in the waist belt and leg loops — the open structure minimizes material and reduces weight. The net also spreads the load during a fall and facilitates maximum breathability; there is no additional padding or lining.
Another mass-cutting feature was inspired by Adam Ondra’s habit of cutting off the rear pair of gear loops to reduce bulk. Black Diamond took the hint and formed the rear pair of gear loops out of super-minimalist webbing. The front two gear loops are the more traditional pressure-molded variety.
Comfort & Durability: Up to Snuff
Many outdoor products that hold lightness above all else hugely sacrifice comfort — but not the airNet Harness. Black Diamond avoids the usual binding tape on the edges that contact the climber’s body; a seamless tape eradicates a potential source of skin irritation. And the brand’s patented Infinity belay loop cleverly avoids the usual overlap of webbing and bar tacks.
This construction provides uninterrupted surfaces for the entirety of the loop, eliminating the seam that can snag carabiners. Not only can this make belaying smoother, but it also removes the potential of gear popping over edges, which can be startling to both climber and belayer.
The tie-in points of a harness are usually the first places to show wear. So Black Diamond didn’t skimp in this area to save grams. Dynex wraps both tie-in points for abrasion resistance and stiffness (to ease rope threading). The airNET also uses a standard-sized buckle; no fussing with tiny buckles with seizing hands and painful fingertips.
Black Diamond’s airNET had a perceptible amount of breathability in the waist and leg loops, which I noticed when the humidity was high and a light breeze was present. In general, the harness felt light all around; the breathability certainly played a part.
A Minimalist Harness: Does It Work?
The men’s size medium airNET Harness fit my 6-foot-tall, 167-pound frame well. I had 9 inches of tail left on the waist adjustment (32-inch waist). And the non-adjustable, elasticized leg loops felt snug but comfortable on my 22.5-inch thighs.
Both waist belt and leg loops felt smooth against bare skin or thin layers. I wouldn’t categorize the feel as “soft,” as there’s no additional padding or lining, but it was comfortable while unloaded.
The airNET Harness in no way impeded movement. The non-adjustable elastic cord that anchors the rear of the leg loops felt too tight initially but stretched easily, and I soon forgot about it.
The amount of rise in the front felt correct for my anatomy. And the tapered profile of the waist loop never pinched or irritated me. In short, the harness became mostly unnoticeable.
