Misty Mountain Appreciation Thread

I bought a Cadillac a little over a year ago based on various recommendations and because it fit my requirements. (I set in a gym so I'm hanging a lot and needed something more padded/comfortable than a standard harness; and I wanted at least 5 gear loops because I like to rack on my harness when climbing outdoors.)

I really love it but I have just one tiny quibble...

When hanging in the harness, like after a fall or when I'm setting, if the leg loops are offset (one leg higher than the other) the protective extra layer of fabric on the leg loop's tie-in point gets caught and won't center up without getting the weight off the leg loops almost entirely. I've never had this happen with any of my other harnesses (Petzl, Wild Country), and again it's a very minor annoyance for a truly well-designed and well-made harness.

I recommend Misty to anyone who asks me about harnesses.

Rich Boy

Rich Boy likes misty mountain also! Thats all the endorsement needed right? Seriously loving my caddy, large waist, medium leg loops, comfy as hell... Goose didn't offer me any D's though.

I love my Misty Cadillac and my Big Wall Gear Sling

sorry its taken so long to nab some pics, i've been busy getting settled into my new place in boulder...

i went with the petzl caritools in the clipper slots, tried a bd and really didnt like it at all...shocker there. but yeah, there she is, looking forward to getting on some ice with it soon!

I am a little late to this party, but I want to thank Killis and everyone else for all of the kind words you had to say about Misty Mountain. I ran into a guy at the crag recently, and after learning what I do, he thanked me for making great climbing gear and gave me a beer (He had a sixer in his pack). I thanked him back and explained that I had worked at Misty Mountain since 1985 and making climbing gear is all I really know how to do. It has been fun, and like they say, if you love your job then you’ll never work a day in your life. Well, I feel like I don’t work much! Regarding custom, we do all kinds of things. We’ll add a belay loop, extra gear loops, ice clipper slots, custom colors, different waist and leg sizes and web or elastic leg loop hold ups. If you want something else then just run it by us but the only thing is that a custom harness is non returnable. I remember most of the custom rigs that folks here are mentioning like the Cady w/ non-adjusting leg loops and the Royal Blue Cady that we all thought was going to be ugly but turned out really nice. I got everything right on Froggy’s harness except the color and believe me, I am no genius dude and I will take you up on the tour of Nelson rocks. Allen Corneau, if you read this, try tightening up the little strap on the leg loops that holds the belay loop in place so that it makes a little pooch. The rope will not be able to move as much side to side and should eliminate your problem. If anyone else has any type of problem with anything Misty Mountain then please let me know and we’ll make it right.

Thanks again
Mike Grimm
MMT

I actually just got off the phone with Mike an hour ago, and he was great to talk to and work with. He was on the ball with what I wanted quickly and helped explain to me the difference in the design, construction, and use of different harnesses. He helped me get what I needed based on what I like to climb (hard gear routes and long multi-pitch routes). Hell, I'm thinking about ordering a second harness dedicated to sport climbing because he was so helpful.

Edit:

Just got my harness from Mike, and it's exactly what I wanted. Just wanted to reiterate how great Misty's customer service is and how great they are to work with. It really means a lot that there are still companies like Misty.

I have the 9/16" slings as well as the easy step aiders. They are both awesome! The slings are way better than dyneema in my opinion and plenty skinny so they still are not bulky. The aiders are simple, light, and compact. I only wish they made daisy chains in the 9/16" webbing. A great company I will buy from again!

Just bought the Cadillac harness. So far, so good! Not sure I see any advantage to the two-buckle system on the waist belt, but it seems like a very comfy harness.

Im a big fan of my Cadillac harness, plenty of gear loops and super comfortable.

Got a semi custom Caddy (extra belay loop) and a big wall chest harness. Both are awesome.

Just ordered a Bolt harness thanks to this thread and others... hard to choose between the caddy and the bolt, but if I'm being honest, I'm *mostly* a single pitch sport wanker. Looking forward to taking it for a spin, I'll let y'all know how it fits and how comfortable it is whipping in it!

Killis Howard wrote:I've wondered about the two-buckle system, myself. Maybe for super heavy gear-loop loads, it's best to have everything as centered as possible? Anyone got ideas on pros/cons?

Killis, I called MM and asked why some harnesses have two-buckles. He told me it had more size range and that you could better "adjust" the location of the gear loops. Neither of those make much sense to me...but the harness is still comfortable! Maybe I will better understand with time and use, but it seems to me the location of the gear loops is more a function of where they are attached to the harness, not which buckle you tighten the most.

Frank,

If you want to keep your gear loops on the same spot on your hips and your belay loop centered on your body, you need two buckles to adjust for extremes in where you fall in the size range. In other words, if you want to make a harness where the haul loop is centered over your tail bone and the belay loop is centered on your body no matter how big or small someone is for a given size of the harness, you need both buckles to keep everything perfectly centered. This also would be true if you were wearing a lot of bulky clothing under the harness. Or gained a lot of weight. Ideally both buckles would be tightened the same amount -- this is how I use my caddy. I loosened both buckles up and then tightened them both up evenly to the right fit. Then I double backed the right one and haven't adjusted it since.

Thanks, Steve.

I wrote a review of my new Misty Bolt harness. It's great!
(The harness, not the review. The review is terribly written.)

I'll gladly join this band wagon. 12 years ago I ordered my first Misty, a Titan. It took a few days longer than I thought to get, so i gave them a ring, (it was over the winter holidays), and they said it was going in the mail right then. And to make up for it, they threw in a scratch pad....

Needless to say, the Titan rocked. Took it up the North side of looking glass many times, as well as many big wall trips over the west coast. Lots of cushion for those hanging belays, and lots of racking options.

I've used it as my guide harness, as when belaying all day long, nothing is more comfortable.

I recently ordered a new one, and I use it on long routes here in NC, and while it weighs more than my petzl sport climbing harness, I never get a sore back from hanging belays, my racking system is fantastic thanks to the 6 loops (yes I can rack with 4, but it sure does make it nice to have 6), I'll gladly take the extra weight for extra comfort (and I don't seem to notice the weight that much either)....

Thanks for such great gear!

Toby B wrote: I wrote a review of my new Misty Bolt harness. It's great! (The harness, not the review. The review is terribly written.)

Nice outfit!

Fun Misty Mountain trivia:
Some years ago (95?) another local textile business went under, leaving an unemployed workforce of ladies that had been sewing for generations. For some it was the only job they ever held, and the only skill-set they had.
Misty Mountain hired them all.

(I still own a first-run caddy with 'hugger' loops. It's retired and I've upgraded. Wouldn't be in anything else.)

How's about we just keep the Misty Mountain Thread right up at the top where it belongs.

In addition to their fantastic harnesses (I have a Caddy and a Intrepid), Misty makes a whole range of harnesses specifically for Adaptive climbers. They do it because they have friends who are disabled and climb, and because it is the amazing thing to do. The guide service I'm with works with our local Adaptive program to provide climbing for anyone and it is Misty all the way.

Thanks guys!