I'm looking at the Metolius harness and wondering the benefit of 2 belay loops on a multi-pitch. Can someone explain what is going on in a multi-pitch climb that requires 2 belay loops (aside from aid climbing)?

redundundundundundundundancy, er redundancy redundancy

To be truly safe, of course, you should wear two harnesses.

For aid climbing you could have two daisy chains and a fifi hook all coming of the center of the your harness. Two loops help keep things cleaner

To be more specific I was referring to this phrase on the SAFE TECH ALL-AROUND CLIMBING HARNESS "Two belay/rappel loops make setting up for rapples and multi-pitch belays easier"

Two loops will work for rapples, but you really need three for efficient repels.

The only real convelience I can think of it that you can tie in between them and still always have one on "the right side" to belay on no matter what. But I wouldn't want that.

Seriously though, I like to use two seperate rappel devices on each rappel, to maintain a margin of safety. Like a figure 8 on one loop and an ATC on the other. If you use the same loop for both locking biners they can rub together, unfasten each other and release the rope.

I like to use both for rappels when I put my atc extended on a sling and have a backup prussik underneath connected to the other loop.

Its so you can clip their hoop style ear rings in on both sides.

Thanks, my question has been answered, enjoyed the humor too. Cheers all

real hipsters don't wear earrings. wait. what's a hipster?

Two loops are very convenient while rope soloing and following pitches on Jumars. In both situations you tend to have a backup knot clipped into your belay loop. The weight of which pulls the loop down. Now every time you reach up with a daisy(or Jumar) you are pulling up against that loop. Might not seem too bad, but after 1000+ cycles it adds up. With two loops one is delegated to your backup knot and the other is your attachment for everything else.

That is at least how I use the big gun BD harness, most of my climbing is rope solo.

that doesn't answer my question.

I found this to be the most informative in regards to the existential metaphysical question of "What is a hipster"

www.cracked.com/funny-4573-hipster/

I thought this graph was also a good summary:

Hipster breakdown Submitted By: paintrain on Oct 6, 2012

I see. Thanks, the graphic explains it all.