The Fraggle II, now simply called the Fraggle, has been revised. The latest model uses bluesign certified materials, and the interior mesh now extends to the edges of the harness for added comfort. We're now linking to the updated model in our review, but as we've yet to try it out, the remainder of the text only references the Fraggle II we tested.
July 2021 This Product
Edelrid Fraggle II | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Kids Full Body Harness |  Best for Versatility |  Best Bang for the Buck | ||
| Price | $65 List $69.85 at Amazon | $75 List $72.95 at Amazon | $59.95 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $56.19 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $58 List |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | With its simple design and easy to use buckles, kids will have no problem getting this harness on and off | This feature packed harness not only has all the bells and whistles, its comfortable and has a secure fit to give parents peace of mind | This full featured harness is comfortable and would be a solid choice for almost any kid out there | This extremely comfortable harness is super easy to get on and adjust for even little kids | This comfortable option is a great priced basic harness for beginners |
| Rating Categories | Edelrid Fraggle II | Petzl Ouistiti | Petzl Macchu | Black Diamond Momen... | Trango Junior |
| Hanging Comfort (40%) | |||||
| Standing Comfort and Mobility (20%) | |||||
| Features (20%) | |||||
| Versatility (20%) | |||||
| Specs | Edelrid Fraggle II | Petzl Ouistiti | Petzl Macchu | Black Diamond Momen... | Trango Junior |
| Designed for these disciplines | Top Rope | Top Rope | All Around / Sport | Top Rope | Top Rope |
| Weight (size medium) | 12.3 oz | 15.4 oz | 11.4 oz | 11.8 oz | 13.8 oz |
| Gear Loops | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Adjustable Legs? | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Self-locking buckle? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Waist Belt Construction | Full Body | Full body | Sit | Full body | Full body |
| Waist Size Ranges (inches) | 17.5 - 21.5 in | 23 - 28 in | 21 - 25 in | 14 - 25 in | 13 - 23 in |
No other full body harness in our test is as easy for kids to get on and adjust. It may not be the best for long periods of hanging, but for lowering off top ropes, it does its job adequately.
In theory, the rigid padded panels should do a good job of spreading the forces, making for a comfortable place to hang, but we were left wishing the (non-adjustable) leg loops did a little bit better job supporting the climber's weight. While we wouldn't say it's uncomfortable, others in the test offered more comfort. The tie in points, while higher than that of a sit harness, do a good job of keeping kids upright without being so high that the knot is at face level when lowering.
For times when the kids aren't hanging, the same rigid “Jointed Padding” panels feel intrusive and caused issues with rubbing and pinching between the legs. The places the straps overlap (back and hips), added noticeable pressure points as well, and the overall stiffness of the panels made the kid testers want to remove the harness when not climbing, which fortunately is easy and fast. However, the way in which the webbing crosses in the back does a great job of making sure that mobility isn't sacrificed and kids can climb freely.
Getting a good fit with this harness is a breeze, as the open front design makes it easy to step into it and adjust quickly. The shoulder straps and harness are secure, and a front buckle also keeps the tie in points together. We found ourselves wishing the tie in loops were slightly larger and easier to get the rope into. Our ropes ranged from 9.8mm to 10mm, and they were still on the tight side to thread.
The sliding auto-locking buckles are smooth to operate, and since there are only two buckles, were super easy for kids to adjust themselves. There is an added attachment/tie in point on the back of the harness for added security on steep terrain or for skiing which could come in handy to some.
There are two areas in which we rate versatility. Size range: will it work for a wide range of kids, which is handy for sharing between friends, siblings or campers, etc. The other is for climbers who are looking to advance in climbing and determining whether the harness will limit the climber to specific styles etc. This harness lacks both. Size range is so limited that Edelrid had to offer two sizes. One for the youngest of kids (XXS) and one for older kids up to 40kg (88 lbs) kids. There are other comfortable options available that offer a wider adjustment range for the same price, allowing parents to buy a single full body harness and use it for the duration of time the child needs a full body style harness.
The price tag is a decent price for any full body harness; however, for the same price, you could buy a Black Diamond Momentum Full Body and have a similarly designed harness that offers more comfort. The “jointed padding” design uses padded sleeves that the straps go through to pad the back and shoulders. While this may make perfect sense, it ends up having a slightly less polished appearance. The size range doesn't extend as much as other full body harnesses, requiring them to offer it in two sizes to cover the size range.
We love how easy it is to get on and adjusted quickly and how the front buckle holds everything together (including the shoulder straps) until the kids are ready to tie in. The two buckle tightening system is easy and saves having to fiddle much with the harness. The major drawback of this harness is the fact that the padding is stiff and is relatively uncomfortable for both hanging in and for approaching the wall or playing at the base.
