How to choose a climbing seat

How to choose a seat is one of the most frequent questions of new climbers. There are more than enough on the market by a dozen brands, so the choice can slowly but surely overwhelm us. That's what we're here for! To advise you which seat you need, which is the most comfortable or which is simply the best on a smaller budget.

What makes up a seat?

Rocks or wall?

Sport climbing

The first thing we will focus on in the question "how to choose a seat" is to use it on an artificial wall or on a rock. There are practically only two differences - weight and comfort. The seat, which is used on an artificial wall, is usually without gaps on the legs and with less padding at the waist and on the legs. This is due to the fact that we wear it for a shorter time and sit in it practically only during abseiling. It also makes it a significantly lighter seat. The only downside is that you need to try it on before you buy it, as the pants expand with rubber and are not as flexible as a rock seat.

These seats include, for example, Petzl Sitta or Petzl Hirundos.

Rock climbing

Rock Climbing Seats Rock climbing seats are more versatile and comfortable than their sport equivalents. They are made for long outdoor climbing, for which they are also adapted. They have more padded pants and waist belt, as the climber spends more time in them and sits in them more often. Along with that, they also have buckles to tighten the legs and the waist. This makes them more adaptable harnesses that don't need to be tried on before you buy. But at the same time, they are also heavier, they don't look as elegant and they take longer to put on because everything has to be tightened. Ironically, they tend to be cheaper and more available in stores (besides the fact that the walls usually rent these sofas). Anyway, a rock climbing seat is better if you know you will be climbing both rock and wall, or if you don't plan to race.

Proven seats in this category include Webee and Twist from the Czech brand Ocún.

Women's x Men's

Women's and men's seats differ slightly, not only in color, but mainly in design. It's no secret that our anatomy is slightly different. Seats are also adapted to this and can sometimes confuse a person with the question - how to choose a seat. Women's seats have three main design differences that should make the seats more comfortable for ladies.

1. Padding – The cushioning of women's seats is, to the chagrin of men, slightly better. It tends to be wider and richer than men's equivalents. This is because women are more likely to appreciate the comfort that the improved padding offers.
2. Waist and panty circumference – Women tend to have slimmer waists and legs than men. This is also reflected in the seats, which are slightly narrower. Therefore, a woman can borrow a man's seat, but not vice versa.
3. Follow-up eye – On the contrary, the connecting eye is longer than in men's seats. This is because ladies have a higher waist, so the distance from the panty to the hip waist is greater, which must also be reflected by the connecting eye.

Apart from these three design differences, women's sofas are also enriched with more color combinations than men's. However, this is not entirely important for their functionality.

Testing the seat

Testing the seat is, as with everything, a fairly important part of the selection. The first question comes down to size, which one to choose? To make things easier, the vast majority of sofas sold on online portals have a size chart with them, which is more than helpful. Use here to choose the seat with the closest dimensions. It would be ideal to ask on the wall if there is a similar one to borrow and then write down its dimensions or go and try the seat in a store.

The second recommended thing is to hang yourself from the seat by a rope. If not on the wall, then at least in well-equipped stores (like Hanibal), it should be possible to hang from a shorter rope to find out how the seat fits you. You should be able to push one or two fingers through when tightening the waist belt and pants (for rock seats). If you can fit through more, it's time to look for a smaller seat.

If you are a more demanding climber and know that you will be using loops around the waist belt, ask the store if you can try attaching the express to the seat. Try to see if the material suits you and if you can easily reach the loops along the entire length of the waist.

How to choose a sofa on a budget

If you're choosing a seat and don't have a lot of money to spend (like many of us), the choices are pretty limited. Practically, sports seats are eliminated immediately, as they tend to be a bit more expensive and less versatile than those for rock climbing.

The easiest way to separate the expensive from the cheap is to go by the companies. Petzl and Black diamond are among the more expensive companies, while Ocún and Singing Rock are among the more affordable ones. Along with that, there are certain lines of seats that are often discounted (Ocún Webee). In addition to the company filter, the price filter is also a good start. Here, however, it is important not to confuse children's, women's and men's seats. Yes, we know you're thinking that it's impossible to get it wrong (especially with children). But it often happens that the photos and labels are not perfectly done, and the buyer who is looking for the price can easily overlook this small detail.

If our recommendation is correct, then everyone should take a look at the series Uncle Webee and at Camp Energy. These are very good universal rock seats at a low price, on which there are often discounts. In case none of these appeal to you or you want to stand out from the crowd, there's also the Singing Rock Ray seat.