Today, we have a review of the DMM Puma 2 women’s harness, which was donated to us by Bev Wolf, a multi-talented climber, and teacher who is also a friend of Crux Crush. In relation to it, she has the following to say:
Because I place high importance on having a harness that is both well fitted and comfortable, I never buy one without first putting it through its paces in a test run. In addition to that, it needs to be multi-functional so that I can use it when I’m not leading because when I’m not leading, you can often find me either sport climbing, conventional climbing, or hanging from a harness bolting routes.
It is reasonable to say that I spend an unusual amount of time tied, given that I am also a rock climbing teacher at a college. In fact, it is acceptable to say that I spend an inordinate amount of time tethered. When I decided to buy a harness without first trying it on or even physically inspecting it, it goes without saying that I had some reservations about the purchase. I was completely unprepared for what was to come. On the other hand, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that selecting that option was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Fit: The DMM Puma 2 is a harness that comes in a vivacious shade of purple and was built with the needs of female climbers in mind. After viewing the video of this harness on (This item is already sold out – we highly recommend a better item) their website, I decided to take a risk on it, and I have to say that I am really pleased with the decision that I made.
The floating waistline is an incredible element that I think is an incredible addition to the garment. The padding rests over the waistband, and the waistband itself glides through, similar to how a belt would move through the belt loops on a pair of pants. What is it about this feature that makes it so awesome? It ensures that the belay loop is always centered, regardless of how much or how little I’m wearing below the harness at any given time.
If I’m wearing a lot of layers, I don’t have to deal with turning the entire harness around to get the belay loop centered. Finally, a single harness that can be used all year! Because the leg loops are adjustable, I can change their length depending on what I’m working on on the wall. When I’m trying to on-sight or when I’m dangling for extended periods of time when bolting, this harness works wonderfully for both situations. Regardless of what I’m doing, the Puma 2’s minimal weight ensures that I never feel like I’m dragging myself down.
Form: the harness has a perfect fit in the manner that it should. I’ll be honest and say that I’ve never really noticed a significant difference between men’s and women’s particular harnesses, but the Puma 2 harness fits like a dream on me (I’m 5 feet 3 inches tall and have an average physique for an athlete). As I was saying, the men’s version is available in orange, while the women’s version is a lively shade of purple.
If purple isn’t your style, the men’s version also comes in orange. The harness is contoured to match the shape of a woman’s body; it is narrower around the waist and more substantial in the back, where support is needed. Because it is made of open-cell foam, it has excellent ventilation, which means that even in the heat of summer, you won’t be uncomfortable sweating while wearing it.
Bev was seen wearing the Puma 2 while working out at her neighborhood gym.
The sheer number of functions that are included in this harness is one of the most impressive aspects of the Puma 2, which is known for its functionality. The harness features slide-lock buckles on both the waist and the legs, making it simple to put on and take off as well as modify (no need to double back). The surplus material from the waistline is tucked away in a keeper in a tidy fashion.
I got the medium size since it includes a staggering seven (that’s right, seven!) gear loops, whereas the XS and S sizes each have five gear loops. The gear loops are sturdy, and the front two loops on either side are sewed at an angle to prevent my gear from slipping forward and striking either my legs or my crotch. When slabbing or climbing a traditional route that is exceptionally fascinating, this ability comes in quite helpful. In addition, the Puma 2 comes equipped with four different connection points for the ice clipper.
However, I will confess that the tiny belay loop first caused me to halt, but it is rated for 25kn, so I quickly got past the thinness and have come to like it. The harness was manufactured by DMM with a particularly thin belay loop in order to fit smaller biners. The narrower belay loop prevents my cleaning gear and climbing rope from being too congested when I am cleaning a route. It includes two release buckles in the rear for when nature calls, but these buckles appear to be a bit tiny, especially while wearing gloves. Because I have not yet deployed this capability on a huge wall, providing a solution to this question is tough for me.
Finances: When it comes to money, what should I buy? That is without a doubt the most vital inquiry. My local store does not have the harness in stock, but they are able to special order it for me if I need it. I ended up obtaining mine online. The suggested retail price from the manufacturer is $99.95, which may seem like a lot of money at first, but it is well worth it when you consider that it is a harness that can be worn during all four seasons. As a result of the fact that I believe rock climbers in the United States would have a strong demand for this harness, DMM should ideally increase the number of outlets they have around the country.
Crush Status: This harness has completely captured my heart and won’t let go. This harness is without a doubt the most comfortable one I’ve ever had the good fortune to possess. For the record, I have owned harnesses manufactured by Black Diamond, Wild Country, and Mammut; thus, I suppose that should tell something about the quality of the gear that I use. The harness would be perfect if it came in a variety of colors, but even if it didn’t have that function, I think it would still come fairly near to being sufficient on its own.
Climb on!
Bev
AMGA has decided that Bev Wolf is qualified to teach Single Pitch and Climbing Wall.
Rock climbing is one of the optional physical education classes that she teaches at a local college when she is not climbing outdoors or at the climbing gym in her neighborhood. When she is not instructing, one of her favorite things to do is climb the Red and hang out at her cabin.
