AUTANA

https://edelrid.com/int-en/sport/harnesses/autana

Special women’s performance harness which stands out due to extensive features, while being comfortable and light. The three-buckle design ensures an optimal fit. The five gear loops and two attachment points for ice screw clips offer plenty of options for holding equipment. The AUTANA is manufactured in compliance with the strict bluesign® system requirements.

Features

Longer leg loop bridge enables optimal positioning above the hip bones at all times
3D mesh padding and soft webbing edges offer optimum comfort
Made of bluesign®-certified materials
20 mm Slide Block buckle on the waist belt and 15 mm Slide Block buckles on the leg loops that can be fully opened to make the harness easier to put on when wearing skis or crampons
Tie-in point with Dyneema wear indicator, which reveals internal red threads in case of increased abrasion
Soft Frame Construction for a wide force distribution offering more comfort with low weight and minimal pack size
5 gear loops, 2 attachment options for ice screw clips, and a chalk bag loop at the back
Due to its size, the XS version has only 4 gear loops

Technical information

Weight: 293 g
Certification : EN 12277 Typ C
Adjustable leg loops: Yes
Attachment options for ice screw clips: Yes
Soft Frame : Yes

While most climbing equipment is gender neutral (rope, carabiner, chalk bag), there are pretty good reasons for having gender-specific harnesses. Men and women have such different physiques that it is only logical to make harnesses that are comfortable for both sexes. Generally, women have a narrower, higher waist than men. In addition, women have a lower center of gravity than their male counterparts. The ratio of hip belt to leg loops is also different from that of climbing harnesses for men. Women's specific harnesses take all these things into account and sometimes look more ladylike.

As a result, women's harnesses usually have a greater distance between the hip belt and the leg loops, so that they sit comfortably around the waist and not on the hip bones as in men's models. A belt that fits optimally around the waist also prevents the risk of a head-on fall in the event of a fall due to the lower body centre of gravity.

Climbing harnesses for women usually have wider leg loops, but a narrower hip belt than men's harnesses to accommodate the curvilinear shape of the body. Another useful detail that also almost all men's harnesses have is the detachable leg loops, which can be used in an "emergency".

However, the body shapes of women differ significantly more than those of men. In this respect this means that only because you are a woman you do not have to wear a woman's harness by default.

Rather, you should choose a harness that best fits your body shape. Depending on your body shape, this can also be a unisex or men's model. If in doubt, always choose the belt that feels comfortable and secure.