[Beta Outdoor Sports]

With the weather (very) slowly changing, we thought it would be a good time to talk about the new Sport harness from Wild Country!

This year Wild Country have released the new Mosquito Harness

A new design from the team in Bolzano, this harness is aimed at sport climbers looking for a lightweight, but comfortable harness.

Featuring a laminated mesh construction and load spreading technology throughout the waistband, the Mosquito will keep you comfortable when climbing and when falling off!

4 gearloops give you plenty of options with the large front loops being rigid and the back 2 being softer to save weight. AT 220gs (XS model) The Mosquito does sit at the top end of the current Sport specific harness offerings.

Available at most UK stores, to learn more please follow the link

https://www.wildcountry.com/en-gb/mosquito-harness-40-0000008005?number=40-0000008005_0000000004

[SA Chris]

Didn't know we had a new sponsor....

[Duma]

Beta are the WC importer I believe?

On topic has anyone tried the Mosquito? Not enamoured with my current harness and it does look decent. would want to try on though, esp as I'm on the edge of small/medium.

[SA Chris]

Beta are the WC importer I believe?

OK.

[Paul B]

has anyone tried the Mosquito? Not enamoured with my current harness and it does look decent. would want to try on though, esp as I'm on the edge of small/medium.

No, but I had one of the original lightweight Wild Country harnesses and was really impressed by it; it took a beating and lasted for ages. I think that was at or around the time Arc' Teryx were introducing their fancy technology and I found the WC offering much better as AT had seemingly forgotten to bother putting the tech in the leg loops (which might as well have been cheese wire).

https://www.ukclimbing.com/gear/climbing/harnesses/wild_country_elite_ultralite_harness-1069

[Duncan Disorderly]

On topic has anyone tried the Mosquito? Not enamoured with my current harness and it does look decent. would want to try on though, esp as I'm on the edge of small/medium.

I got one a few weeks back... Really impressed tbh. Super lightweight and really comfy when hanging about on a bolt. Was interested in the Petzl Sita as a mate has one and rates it but this felt comfier to me and about half the price! I'm in the medium/large crossover point and ended up going for the large so I can get it over a good few layers (useful this season!). The one minor issue there is that, as it's not got much in the way of adjustability (single buckle and no floating waist as per DMM), you could end up with skewed gear loops if you get the size out so it's definitely one where you want to get the size spot on... One more minor niggle is that it's so bloody light and comfy that I sometimes forget I'm wearing it and find myself double-checking half way up a route 

[shark]

Outside stock it and selling for £75

https://www.outside.co.uk/wild-country-mosquito-harness.html

Looks fly..

[Duma]

Cheers Duncan, what's your waist measurement if you don't mind me asking? I'm 79 cm and WC quote small as up to 79 cm, and M as starting at 79.5 cm, so no overlap which seems weird?

[Duncan Disorderly]

Don't mind you asking at all - I'm generally a 32" for most stuff but when I measured before getting this I clocked in at a whopping 33" and a bit (train heavy climb light  ) so say 85cm which doesn't add up according to WC's table either as while the medium fitted it was well wonky on the gear loops whereas the large is spot on...

[Duma]

Thanks - it's weird as it doesn't line up with the sizing given for the WC Session harness either. I've gone for the medium, will report back...

[RobK]

Thanks - it's weird as it doesn't line up with the sizing given for the WC Session harness either. I've gone for the medium, will report back...

Please do Duma, I'm half considering one to replace my Sitta. I might do a like for like swap, but the price of the Mosquito is certainly appealing. On a vaguely related note, how often do people find that they replace harnesses?

[Duncan Disorderly]

On a vaguely related note, how often do people find that they replace harnesses?

Now that's a can of worms I'm sure  ...

This was my first new one since probably 2005?!?!?!? Tbh I only went for a new one because I read somewhere that you should probably change them every 10 years and that thought was making me twitchy when sport climbing.

Looking at it (old Petzl corax) it seems absolutely fine...

The new one is way comfier tho...

[Paul B]

On a vaguely related note, how often do people find that they replace harnesses?

The WC harness I mentioned above had wear indicators. I binned it when these started showing.

[cheque]

On a vaguely related note, how often do people find that they replace harnesses?

About once every five years in my case.

[jwi]

On a vaguely related note, how often do people find that they replace harnesses?

As I am an idiot I keep buying Petzl harnesses (for which I am getting mercilessly mocked by those who both climbs a lot and are careful with money), as such I replace my harness every 10 month or so when the tie in point is completely obliterated...

I do climb a lot and I spend quite a lot of time hanging on the rope or on belays, and even more time belaying my project obsessed partner.

[Wood FT]

I’ve just had that experience with Petzl harnesses. They seem to wear so quickly. I know I’m a dogging punter but still?

Just bought a BD so hoping for better returns...

[mrjonathanr]

It’s not just longevity (important though it is), and the position you sit in in a fall matters a lot. Some great harnesses won’t work for everyone.

[SA Chris]

On a vaguely related note, how often do people find that they replace harnesses?

I just replaced mine, as it was about 13 years old. TBF it's not been used much the last 7 or so years.

[Duma]

Thanks - it's weird as it doesn't line up with the sizing given for the WC Session harness either. I've gone for the medium, will report back...

Please do Duma, I'm half considering one to replace my Sitta. I might do a like for like swap, but the price of the Mosquito is certainly appealing. On a vaguely related note, how often do people find that they replace harnesses?

Arrived this morning, initial impressions from trying it on and hanging from the bannister:

Sizing, I wear 31" or 32" jeans and got the medium. I'm near the bottom of the size adjustment over  a t shirt but as dd says upthread, this puts the gear loops nice and even. Glad I didn't go for the small as I think if you were near the top of the size the loops would be noticeably wonky.
Comfort wise it's noticeably more comfortable than my BD Chaos, though I suspect with comfort it's more down to the individuals shape than any design improvement. It certainly has less padding than my BD, so I'd be surprised if it's that great to hang around in on a belay.
It's very light, but doesn't feel flimsy or underbuilt, though the rear set of gear loops are pretty feeble. Doesn't bother me as I'll keep the BD for trad anyway, and I'd be surprised if anyone would choose the Mosquito for that.

Overall really pleased so far.

[RobK]

Thanks Duma!

[Duma]

Oh, and Outside threw in a free copy of true grit too!

[SA Chris]

The John Wayne or Jeff Bridges version?

[TobyD]

On a vaguely related note, how often do people find that they replace harnesses?

I have had to replace a barely used harness after 1 route before; although I didn't begrudge it much as it was a 20 pitch off width in Yosemite.  I've had a lightweight Petzl before,  which I loved but it did not last long just sport climbing as others have said.  I like the Mammut one I have at the moment,  they're usually available for not much.  The Mosquito looks pretty good IMHO though.

[Duma]

The John Wayne or Jeff Bridges version?

Hah! The Pete O'Donovan version.

[Paul B]

Is climbing gear not tending towards lasting less time regardless of what it is we're discussing?

I recently retired a few mini-HMS carabiners that I bought in about 2012 to go on a big trip and I've used them ever since. They had large worn grooves. Looking around at the replacements and Petzl don't appear to do an equivalent that isn't an I-beam construction which I can't see lasting anywhere near as long under the same conditions.

[cheque]

I have had to replace a barely used harness after 1 route before; although I didn't begrudge it much as it was a 20 pitch off width in Yosemite.  I've had a lightweight Petzl before,  which I loved but it did not last long just sport climbing as others have said.

My first thought when I look at a lightweight harness is always “that’ll last about five minutes in a chimney” 

My personal gripe is adjustable fucking leg loops. I believe this is something only used for winter climbing as I’ve literally never known a rock climber to adjust their leg loop, yet finding a harness with elasticated ones and a trad-friendly allowance of gear loops is near impossible. My current harness is a Wild Country one that fulfills these unicorn-like characteristics but in the current WC range there’s no equivalent.

[Duma]

the blurb that came with the mosquito said 5yrs from first use or 10yrs from first storage

[SA Chris]

finding a harness with elasticated ones and a trad-friendly allowance of gear loops is near impossible.

My BD Momentum harness is OK in both these respects, depends on your rack. Must be honest though, my buying criteria were  - it's half price on Rock & Run

[cheque]

I think it must have been half price ‘cos it’s an older version Chris- the current one looks like it’s got Satan’s combination of leg buckles and no rear gear loop.

[Paul B]

I think it must have been half price ‘cos it’s an older version Chris- the current one looks like it’s got Satan’s combination of leg buckles and no rear gear loop.

My main gripe is XS harnesses dropping gear loops (or using significantly smaller loops), because little people like to plug less gear in etc.

[Will Hunt]

You see that little hook at the back of the harness that attaches the leg loop elastic to the waist belt? THAT'S Satan's own doing. I've had that unhook on me twice mid-pitch over the years and it's rank. Each time has been on a long pitch when I'm carrying lots of gear. Most recently I had to blindly reattach it while halfway up a pitch on Main Cliff - very unpleasant.

[duncan]

I have had to replace a barely used harness after 1 route before; although I didn't begrudge it much as it was a 20 pitch off width in Yosemite.

   I think I can guess...

How does the Mosquito work for the fuller-thighed gentleman? Petzl don't fit me. Mammut used to but the latest taste-the-difference model ('The Sender') is clearly aimed at the toothpick-legged. Arcteryx are good, at a price. Women's versions are often good and usually better colours.

[SA Chris]

I think it must have been half price ‘cos it’s an older version Chris- the current one looks like it’s got Satan’s combination of leg buckles and no rear gear loop.

It has an adjustable buckle combined with elastic loop, works quite well.

Right enough no rear gear "bar" but there is a fairly large loop at the back for nut key / belay plate. And no satanic hook at the back

Still on sale https://rockrun.com/collections/mens-harnesses/products/black-diamond-momentum-harness-astral-blue-2019

[Will Hunt]

What's the beef with adjustable leg loops, by the way? I don't have them on my harness, but previous harnesses have had them and it doesn't cause a problem. As Duncan indicates, anyone who does any running/cycling probably needs bigger loops?

[SA Chris]

I think cheque is saying he prefers non-buckled elasticated instead of buckled non-elasticated. 

[cheque]

Yeah I just don’t want extra bits on the harness that I don’t need. It seems that the vast majority of climbers don’t need them either so it’s weird to me that buckles etc. are standard on everything but quite sport-specific harnesses.

[Beta Outdoor Sports]

For anyone wondering about the durability of the Mosquito here's Pete thrutching away in Norway, He doesn't pop out naked so first durability test is a bonus.



And if anyone has every wanted to see Matt Groom in his pants, well, here you go! 

[Duma]

How does the Mosquito work for the fuller-thighed gentleman? Petzl don't fit me. Mammut used to but the latest taste-the-difference model ('The Sender') is clearly aimed at the toothpick-legged. Arcteryx are good, at a price. Women's versions are often good and usually better colours.

Leg loops seem fine to me, I'm certainly no toothpick leg, but wouldn't describe myself as fuller thighed either! I've had no issues with petzl fit in the past though.

[jwi]

I have the opposite question, how are the leg loops for someone who think Petzl's harnesses are unnecessarily forgiving to people who use their legs for something?

[mrjonathanr]

I’m with Cheque on this. Replaced my BD Chaos with a Petzl Adjama which is excellent except for the buckles and the gear loops could be a bit longer.

Don’t care for loops mid back though; last thing I want is a load of metal to land my spine on if I deck out.

A mate replaced his with the updated version and doesn’t like it so much.

[RobK]

Finally got around to replacing my Petzl Sitta with one of these. Fit is similar (medium in both) but safe to say there is a reason it's half the price. I really wanted to like it but it's nowhere near as comfy, feels more bulky, cheaper materials and the gear loops seem oddly positioned. Mine will be going back and I'll just have shut my eyes so I don't see the price of the Sitta when ordering.