Early mountaineers simply knotted the rope around their waist when indulging in anything technical such as rock climbing or glacier crossing. It took them 100 years or so to realise that this was not a good idea if you fall off a rock or tumble into a crevasse. There are some horror stories of climbers dying because the rope restricted breathing when hanging in mid air. It wasn’t until the 1950’s that climbers decided that a little more padding around the waist would be a good idea. Lots of innovative ideas ensued and MOAC seem to have utilised part of an old parachute harness here to create a waist belt. They, or most likely someone else, has added a canvas sheath for more padding, equipped with a couple of gear loops. A fascinating glimpse at the evolution of the modern climbing harness. Unfortunately, we don’t know where this one came from but thanks to the innovator in absentia. NB MOAC is the short version of Mountain Activities run by a Mountain Guide called Peter Gentil and Bob Brigham, owner of Brigham’s outdoor shops. They ran mountaineering courses as well as making gear.