Positioning the belay loop correctly also orients the leg loops. They are all attached to one another, so you don’t need to worry about moving them around individually. Make sure the straps aren’t tangled. Also, note any spots where the straps have come out of the buckles.

Always step through the waist belt first. If you only get into the leg loops, you won’t be able to wear the harness correctly.

If you can’t get the waistband up, loosen the leg loops by pulling the straps out of the buckles holding them in place.

Test the waist belt by taking a deep breath and trying to slip 2 fingers underneath the strap. The belt may feel a little uncomfortable the first time you put it on, but it’s necessary for a safe climb.

If you see the word “warning,” “danger,” an “O” for open, or something similar, that means you need to double back the loop. These words are only visible when your harness loop isn’t tied correctly. Take care of it before scaling a wall!

You don’t have to tighten the leg loops as much as the waist belt. At the right setting, you can slide a hand underneath each strap. Make sure the straps rest comfortably against your legs.

Give your harness one final check before your climb by inspecting it and trying to pull it off your hips. If it’s ready for use, you won’t be able to pull it off your hips.

The length of rope you need is a little longer than the length of your arm. Hold out one arm, then stretch the rope from the tips of your fingers to your shoulder. The rope you knot to your harness is what keeps you off the ground if you fall, so it is just as essential as the harness. Climbing ropes and other tie-in supplies are available online and at outdoor sporting stores. Any place that sells harnesses most likely has ropes too.

The opposite length of rope is the standing end. This part is the length you tie to an anchor point, such as a solid rock or a suspension system at the gym.

Figure 8 knots can be difficult to undo if you tighten them too much. Keep some slack in the rope and hold the knot in place to prevent this from happening.

Make sure the rope fits securely between your body and your harness loop. It’s a very important part of safe climbing!

Sometimes this part gets a little confusing. As long as you follow the rope from your belay loop to the knot, you can locate the bottom part of the knot.

If you’re confused about where to take the rope next, follow the rope length from your belay loop. To complete the tie-in, you follow the steps you did for the figure 8 knot in reverse.

Check your work. If your knots look off, undo the second knot to tie it again. The knots look identical when they’re perfect.

The remaining length of rope is for your anchor point, so don’t tie the working end to it. Instead, tie it to the length past the figure 8 knot.

Check online or at an outdoor activity supply store if you don’t have a belay ATC or locking carabiners.

The rope loop you make needs to be the same size of the wire loop. When it is the proper size, it rests over the wire loop. Belaying ATCs allow you to hook to another climber. It’s like in the movies where one climber catches their falling partner. Each climber needs their own ATC for this to work. If you’re climbing alone, you don’t really need an ATC. Keep in mind climbing alone is more dangerous since you have no one there to catch you or help you if you fall.

The carabiner locks automatically when you push the gate back into position.

If you are unfamiliar with belaying, sign up for an instructional class to learn some techniques that keep you safe while climbing!