BD Solution Guide harness

I'm considering buying a Solution Guide harness and looking for feedback. I'm mostly concerned with comfort hanging. It will be replacing a Yates Astroman, so if anyone has worn both, that would be a bonus! Thanks in advance for any opinions.

Ok so I had an old mammut harness before the guide, I have to say, it is the most comfortable harness I’ve ever warn, the extra gear loop is why I got it and I haven’t looked back since. 

Evan Tanner wrote:

Ok so I had an old mammut harness before the guide, I have to say, it is the most comfortable harness I’ve ever warn, the extra gear loop is why I got it and I haven’t looked back since. 

+1 for the guide.. i have a Edelrid Sendero and a guide.. it is the most confortable harness i ever wore. very durable. you forget that you're using it.

I just retired a Solution Guide harness - its tie-in points wore through in under 2 years (~21 months) of weekend climbing, so I didn't find it especially durable as advertised, though the rest of the harness was still in pristine condition. BD customer service was super pleasant and gave me a coupon code to buy a replacement if desired.

I'd describe the hanging comfort as medium - generally fine, but I had some issues with feeling the waist belt/stub of the plastic-covered gear loop digging into my hips after long multipitch days. I wouldn't recommend it for multi-day/bigwall routes based on comfort, but that also wouldn't be a great use case because the gear loops are not particularly large either (I wore a men's small).

In short - it's a fine harness and did the job until it wore out, but I wouldn't buy another one.

I've been climbing in Guide harness for two seasons now.  Mix of cragging and multipitch.  Reasonably comfortable.  My only complaint is harness waist adjustment.  Seems to loosen up slightly with a full rack.  Curious if anyone else is experiencing that?  

I found the Solution uncomfortable for long hangs. I prefer the Petzl Sama. Both are about the same price.

Agreed great harness but my tie-in points also wore fast. I'd take the excess wear over any Petzl harness (too much padding) or Edelrid (puny gear loops)

I think it's one of the better harnesses you can currently find in stock, good luck finding an Arc'teryx 395a which might be ever so slightly better...

Ron C wrote:

I've been climbing in Guide harness for two seasons now.  Mix of cragging and multipitch.  Reasonably comfortable.  My only complaint is harness waist adjustment.  Seems to loosen up slightly with a full rack.  Curious if anyone else is experiencing that?  

Haven't noticed it on mine, but used to have this problem bad with the leg loops on a Misty Cadillac QA.

I've had mine for a year now and the tie in points are starting to get worn which seems a bit quick. Everything else is holding up well and it's fairly comfortable. My biggest complaint is the sizing. I'm a 33-ish waist and the medium is too small but the large doesn't cinch down as tight as I'd like with a full rack, draws and just wearing a t-shirt. If it's colder and I have a few layers on then it's fine. Wish BD built in more overlapping in their harness sizing (medium goes to 33 and large starts at 33).

Just an update for posterity for anyone who's interested and searches for the Yates Astroman v Solution Guide I asked about: 

I've had the BD Guide for a couple months now. When I first saw it, I thought no way, it's so flimsy but I like it, it's light, in a medium the gear loops are a little too far back, it's more comfy than it looks but I'll be buying another Astroman. For new routes, bolting, etc. and spending time sitting in the harness, the BD isn't close to the Yates. I hate the bulk of the Astroman, and the price, but I've had 2 and they've lasted 20 years.

Gold Plated Rocket Pony wrote:

I've had mine for a year now and the tie in points are starting to get worn which seems a bit quick. Everything else is holding up well and it's fairly comfortable. My biggest complaint is the sizing. I'm a 33-ish waist and the medium is too small but the large doesn't cinch down as tight as I'd like with a full rack, draws and just wearing a t-shirt. If it's colder and I have a few layers on then it's fine. Wish BD built in more overlapping in their harness sizing (medium goes to 33 and large starts at 33).

Bouncing off this, anyone have any input on what size I should get? My waist is 34” but my legs are right at 25”. I’m worried that sizing up to an XL would leave too much room at the waist and not let me tighten it properly, especially once I add the rack.
Also open to other harness recommendations for mainly trad but occasional sport, preferably with 5 gear loops. Thanks!!

needs slightly bigger gear loops and then it would be amazing.

Ben A wrote:

Bouncing off this, anyone have any input on what size I should get? My waist is 34” but my legs are right at 25”. I’m worried that sizing up to an XL would leave too much room at the waist and not let me tighten it properly, especially once I add the rack.
Also open to other harness recommendations for mainly trad but occasional sport, preferably with 5 gear loops. Thanks!!

in case you missed it- Yates Astroman.

Evan Tanner wrote:

Ok so I had an old mammut harness before the guide, I have to say, it is the most comfortable harness I’ve ever warn, the extra gear loop is why I got it and I haven’t looked back since. 

the leg loops crimp up because there are different layers of foam

If anyone wants my two cents- took a gamble and ordered size large. I have a 32” waist and my legs are 25” which puts me at the end of the leg size for the large. To my surprise, it fits great everywhere and after two days of being in it for several hours at a time, I’m pretty happy with it. Can’t speak for durability or anything yet of course, just strictly speaking fit. 

Stacey Chen wrote:

I just retired a Solution Guide harness - its tie-in points wore through in under 2 years (~21 months) of weekend climbing, so I didn't find it especially durable as advertised, though the rest of the harness was still in pristine condition. BD customer service was super pleasant and gave me a coupon code to buy a replacement if desired.

The same thing is happening with mine! Glad you commented, I might give them a call to see about a coupon. Sounds like a design flaw. Its unfortunate that the faults are in the most essential part of the harness. 

Ben A wrote:

If anyone wants my two cents- took a gamble and ordered size large. I have a 32” waist and my legs are 25” which puts me at the end of the leg size for the large. To my surprise, it fits great everywhere and after two days of being in it for several hours at a time, I’m pretty happy with it. Can’t speak for durability or anything yet of course, just strictly speaking fit. 

I'm in the same boat and it's good 95% of the time until I have a full rack + water + a few extra large cams hanging off it all while wearing just a t-shirt.