Blue Ice Choucas Pro Review

The Blue Ice Choucas Pro is a paired-down version of the best climbing harnesses on the market. It offers every feature you might need for any style of climbing, except for padded waist and leg loops that make hanging comfortable. But that omission keeps this harness super lightweight and packable.

Performance Comparison

Hanging Comfort

This harness is not designed to be worn while hanging for very long. It lacks padding in the waist and leg loops, and the leg loops aren't adjustable for a snug fit to take weight off the waistband. That said, the waist is contoured well enough to provide some support, and the mesh band is wide enough to distribute weight to hit a minimum standard of comfort.

While we wouldn't recommend hanging all day in this harness, it is comfortable enough to wear for multiple rappels or the occasional hanging belay. And it's comfortable enough that we won't hesitate to bring it on missions that still involve some hang time. However, the significant weight savings make us more likely to bring this harness on long, remote alpine climbs rather than using it for cragging.

Standing Comfort and Mobility

This harness delivers excellent mobility thanks to its supple and thin mesh material that bends easily and doesn't resist the climber's motion. With excellent contouring in the materials used, the waist and leg material sit comfortably in place and move easily with the body. Since there is no padding, this harness feels like a thin, silky garment worn over our lower bodies. We can hardly feel this harness while wearing it.

This harness delivers all the features you might need for hard alpine climbing or acrobatic ice and mixed climbing without affecting your movement. It's even minimalist enough to wear while ski mountaineering.

Features

There are four gear loops, two on each side, just like other fully-featured climbing harnesses. These gear loops are large enough to fit twelve full-sized carabiners each, which rivals the best gear loops on heavier rock-oriented harnesses. The gear loops are placed conveniently close to the front of the harness, meaning you won't have to search around the back of your body to find protection when you need it. There is also a small haul loop in the back.

Other useful features include four ice clipper slots, placed far enough forward that they are easy to use. We also like the infinity-style belay loop, made from a loop of Dyneema encased in a nylon shell. The nylon is wrapped and sewn longitudinally, so there is no exposed end of material for carabiners to catch on. We also like the releasable leg loop fastening tab that allows the harness to be removed without stepping through the leg loops. This is especially convenient when wearing skis while ski mountaineering or while wearing crampons gearing up for an ice climb.

Versatility

The Choucas Pro is among the most versatile harnesses we have ever tested. It excels in nearly every multi-pitch climbing discipline, making it a great choice for anyone who prefers a lightweight harness and spends a lot of time climbing in areas with long approaches. The large gear loops and ice clipper slots make it perfectly suitable for trad and mixed climbing, while its low mass is perfect for hard redpoint attempts at the sport crag and alpine climbs where every gram matters.

This harness only falls short for activities where extended bouts of hanging are required, like projecting sport routes, belaying single pitch climbs, aid climbing, and severe multi-pitch climbing. By eliminating padding, this harness shaves weight, but it also shaves comfort points. If you don't do much hanging in your climbing, this harness will do it all. If you spend more time on vertical and overhanging terrain, you'll want a different harness.

Adjustability

The Choucas Pro offers 10 inches (25 centimeters) of length adjustment in the waist belt, which is great. The leg loops aren't adjustable and instead feature a small elastic band that offers about an inch and a half (4 cm) of thigh circumference adjustability. While this harness is surprisingly adjustable for its weight, it is still important to measure to ensure correct sizing.

We didn't expect so much length adjustment for such a lightweight harness. This is a major advantage over comparable harnesses, adding versatility between seasons. It's common to want a snugger fitting harness for summer rock climbing and a looser fit to accompany stuffing layers underneath for winter climbs. With this harness, one purchase will fulfill all four seasons of adjustability needs.

Should You Buy the Blue Ice Choucas Pro?

This harness is divine for lightweight gear enthusiasts who are constantly trying to shave weight from their kit. It has all the features you need on any technical alpine route and nothing you don't. However, the major caveat is that this harness isn't comfortable for hanging. If you plan on doing long rappels or hanging from anchors for extended lengths of time, you'll wish you brought a more comfortable harness with more padding.

What Other Climbing Harnesses Should You Consider?

If weight is a major consideration in your climbing pursuits, but you're willing to carry a few more ounces for major increases in comfort, the Petzl Sitta is our favorite harness on the market. It offers the best blend of features and comfort for the weight. The Arc'teryx Skaha is another good option for comfort in a rock-specific harness. If you're okay with a heavier harness, you'll be happy on all kinds of rock routes while wearing the affordable Petzl Sama. The Black Diamond Solution is another decently lightweight option specifically designed for supreme comfort while sport climbing. And if you're looking for the lightest harness on the market, the Blue Ice Choucas Light weighs even less than the Choucas Pro, but it doesn't have many features, either.