BLACK DIAMOND Long Haul Rock Climbing Harness Adjustable Big Wall Support, Medium Review (2026)

What this harness is designed to do

The Long Haul is Black Diamond's big wall and aid harness, aimed at routes where you hang in the harness for long stretches, whether jugging a fixed line, belaying from a hanging stance, or resting on aid gear between placements. Size Medium fits a 30 to 33 inch waist and a 20 to 24 inch leg, which covers the widest band of average adult climbers and makes it the size most people reach for first. Black Diamond built it around comfort during sustained load rather than minimum weight, positioning it for multi-day walls and long free routes where the harness stays on for most of the day rather than a quick single pitch.

Padding, loops and hardware explained

The build uses poly fabric, poly space mesh, CLPE and EVA foam, nylon webbing, and Dyneema, and the harness weighs 615 grams regardless of size. It has five molded gear loops that stand slightly away from the waist belt for easy clipping, two Dynex Infinity belay loops, a rated haul loop, and ice clipper slots on both the waist and the leg loops. The leg loops use a quick-drop design so you can drop them without taking the whole harness off, which matters on a wall where you are wearing it most of the day. Black Diamond includes a standard two year warranty against manufacturing defects.

Living in it for a full hanging belay

One independent reviewer described sitting in the Long Haul all day without it digging in or chafing, which lines up with what the padding is designed to do, and noted the trade-off is a harness that weighs more than an ultralight sport model. Because Medium is the middle of the size range, it is also the size most climbers layer clothing under through a cold start and a warmer afternoon, so plan on adjusting the drop-seat leg loops as temperatures shift. The five gear loops handle a full aid rack of aiders, daisies and hardware without crowding, and the reinforced haul loop is rated for hauling a pig or a second bag on multi-day routes. Treat it like any nylon harness for care: brush off grit, keep it out of prolonged sun, and check stitching and webbing before a big route.

How the Medium compares with the Large and other harnesses

This Medium and the Large version of the Long Haul in this guide are the same harness with different waist and leg ranges, so pick between them by your actual waist measurement rather than any difference in padding or features, since both score the same for fit, build and value. Compared with other harnesses aimed at similar climbing, the Petzl Corax is a lighter general mountaineering harness that will not hold up as well on a long hang, while the Ocun Webee Bigwall and Trango Double Rack Gear Sling cover narrower needs, extra gear loop capacity and chest-mounted racking, rather than the Long Haul's all-day belay comfort.

Who should buy the Medium and who should not

This size makes sense if your waist falls in the 30 to 33 inch range and you are planning aid routes, big walls, or any climbing where you will spend real time just hanging rather than moving, especially with layers on underneath. It earns our score of 8.6 out of 10 for that specific job. Skip it if you spend most of your time sport climbing or bouldering, since the extra padding and five gear loops are more bulk than a quick route needs, and skip this particular size if your waist runs closer to 36 inches, where the Large will fit with far less room to spare.

Frequently asked questions