Just spotted a new Camp Alp 95 harness (www.camp-usa.com/products/harnesses/alp-95.asp 95g in weight!) for sale cheaply on ebay here in the UK.

Currently trying to tell myself that it is over the top and unnecessary, but on the other hand it would be pretty cool in the terms of being the ultimate in lightweight gear...

I am surprised that no one has suggested using the munter hitch to belay instead of a belay device... This would definitely be lighter.

Not all climbs involve rapping and the munter doesn't twist the rope badly unless you are rapping. So this is actually a useful idea if your objective has a walk off. It is really reasonable to belay the follower with a munter off the anchor, so maybe just ditching one belay device would be the best compromise between weight and convenience.

...I'll still be bringing a real belay device though. I'll also be using a harness with gear loops ;)

In case anyone's interested. I got the Camp Air CR. It's about 10 oz, wads up really small, is intended to be a light but all around harness, and it has 4 gear loops. However, the two back gear loops are mounted way in the back and up kinda high making them hard to reach. Camp wouldn't adjust the gear loops and I don't blame them. So I moved them myself (I know... I'm gonna die), but I'm still not very happy with it. In short, I think the Air CR pretty much sucks and I'm shopping around for a better option.

Just to add that I've now bought a couple of the Grivel Plume screwgates at 37g each www.grivel.com/products/rock/carabiners/12-plume_nut_k3n

They are a very nice bit of kit. Small certainly, but still usable when combined with skinny ropes and 8mm slings.

You realize if your eating twinkys it's not going to matter how like your gear is......

No matter how skinny or fat you are a heavy pack still feels like a heavy pack. Trimming off the beer gut helps, but so does lightening your gear.

theres no doubt that weight makes a difference at the limits of whats possible ... especially on longer days

but theres also no doubt that a lot of those bragging about their new shinny weight saving gear are overweight climbers that dont do much more than moderate cragging or climb an easy multi ... looking to make up for time that wasnt spent climbing/training with gear ...

or just looking to show off their new bling ;)

if your gear is still nice and shiny after a few months ....

skills and fitness are what really matter ...

Yeah, people who like backcountry or high country moderates are a bunch of fat asses. Furthermore, people with arthritis, back problems, or old injuries shouldn't be climbing anyway. Their time is better spent bowling and olympic beer chugging.

I bet those things edge better than my shoes...

Anyway, why complain about people trying to go with light gear.
This is the Climbing Gear Forum section of the forums isn't it?
Not the Training Forum right? Let people discuss the gear.

Lightweight legs? That is taking it too far, but I bet he saved a few pounds off the standard models. "I am thinking about getting metal legs. It's a risky operation, but it'll be worth it" Jp

It sounds like you're trying to imply that everyone who is interested in the light and fast concept is fat and out of shape. That just isn't true. Maybe some are, but certainly not everyone.

Im sure plenty of folks going as light as they can are pushing themselves and are as fit and skillful as they can be

But im just as sure theres just as many who just buy it and yak about it without pushing themselves ... Like those overweight cyclist at sbucks who spend more time bragging about their carbon fiber bikes and how to save a few grams ... Rather than just go ride ;)