I hear you on the harness checks—one of the old-timers on my crew always says, “Trust your gear like you trust your coffee: check it twice, or you’re in for a rough day.” Had my own scare last month when I noticed a frayed strap right before climbing up. Would’ve missed it if I was rushing. As for mats, yeah, they smell like a locker room, but hey, better than blowing my paycheck on new ones every season. I’ll take funky over broke any day.
- That “coffee” line made me laugh—never thought of it that way, but it’s true.
- I’ll admit, I’ve skipped a check or two when the weather’s nasty... always regret it.
- Mats are gross, but yeah, my wallet’s grosser after buying new ones.
- Ever try airing them out in the sun? Doesn’t fix much, but at least they’re not damp.
- Curious—anyone actually replaced a harness just for smell? I haven’t, but sometimes I wonder if I should...
I’ve definitely thought about tossing a harness just because it stinks, but then I look at the price tag and suddenly it smells a lot less offensive. Is there actually a way to get rid of that funk, or is it just wishful thinking? I’ve tried sun, baking soda, even vinegar... nothing really sticks.
Yeah, I hear you on the price tag making that stink a little more tolerable. Honestly, I’ve had some luck with a gentle wash using unscented detergent and a soft brush—nothing too harsh, just enough to loosen up the grime. Let it air dry out of direct sun. Still, sometimes the funk just lingers in those webbing layers no matter what. At that point, I figure as long as the stitching’s solid and there’s no fraying or UV damage, I’ll put up with a bit of odor over shelling out for a new one.
That lingering odor is a real thing, especially with older harnesses or packs. I’ve run into it plenty with gear left in storage rooms—sometimes it’s just impossible to get rid of that musty smell, no matter how many times you wash it. I’ve tried baking soda, vinegar soaks, even those odor-absorbing packets, but like you said, if the webbing’s still strong and the stitching’s intact, I’ll keep using it.
One thing I’ve noticed is that UV damage can be sneaky. I used to just check for obvious fraying or faded spots, but after seeing a harness fail a load test despite looking fine, I started doing the “bend test”—folding the webbing sharply to see if it cracks or shows white fibers. That’s usually a red flag for me, even if the rest seems okay.
Honestly, I’d rather put up with a bit of funk than risk a hidden weak spot. Price tags on new gear are no joke, but safety’s gotta come first... even if it means my storage closet smells like a gym bag half the time.
