I like the Alpine Bod, as it's super simple, light, packs down small, and doesn't have stuff you don't need. Plus, $40! I use it for all climbing. Works great for alpine, as you're not hanging much, and you only need it for certain pitches for the most part here in the SG's. Not so hot in Sport, as it hurts to fall on, and you can smash your nuts in any fall with this harness, if you're "not careful".
Anywho...
DMM Couloir, BD Blizzard, and the Mammut Alpine Light are out there. All are more expensive.
*DMM COULOIR:
http://www.dmmclimbing.com/productsDeta ... =7&pid2=69
5 loops, lotsa gear. No personal experience. Judging by the DMM gear I've used, it should kick immense ass.
*BD Blizzard:
http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/ ... 0739M.html
More padding. This is a sort of mixed/ice rig, more aimed at sport than mountaineering, not that it can't do that just fine.
*Mammut Alpine Light:
http://www.mammut.ch/en/productOverview ... esses.html
Only has two gear loops, which isn't good if you want one harness to do several things. However, it rather helps you get into going light, and carrying less pro and other stuff. That said, 4 loops = superior IMHO, as I can balance my gear, and not have stuff hit my ass while walking on a long traverse, or smack me in the nuts while climbing, etc. No personal experience, though I'd love to try it.
Now, for my BD Alpine Bod, I have a small 6 inch or so (12" sewn) runner that I loop through the crotch belay loop and the swami/belt to use as a normal belay loop. Works fine for me. I'm sure most folks feel more comfortable catching a fall w/o that runner, so a large pear locking biner in normal fashion would do the trick.
*MODS:
-Tape your butt-to-leg adjustment straps once you're adjusted, in any way that makes it impossible for the thin webbing to feed back through the sliders mounted below the belt. If they slide out, you rather humorously hang with one leg up high, or both.
-Fold over and tape the 3/4 inch webbing that leads to the front fastex/side release buckles on the leg loops. I lost a male end of the fastex buckles once, forcing me to knot the webbing in lieu of a buckle.
Oh yeah, one harness I want bigtime is this:
http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/ ... rness.html
This would be good for folks willing to think out-of-the-comfort-box that so many people reside in. Super light, super simple, convenient and IMHO better than a Swiss Seat, especially for those of us with stuff dangling down there.
