I've been having issues with keeping the waist strap tight on my airbag pack this year, which has resulted in some lower back issues returning. I was wondering if anyone has found a good way to keep the safety harness-style buckles from loosening throughout the day. I've had this issue with both BCA and BD airbags. For those unfamiliar with these buckles, there's an image below.
Airbag Waist Belt Issues
Forum rules
- This is a mountaineering forum, so please keep your posts on-topic. Posts do not all have to be related to the 14ers but should at least be mountaineering-related.
- Personal attacks and confrontational behavior will result in removal from the forum at the discretion of the administrators.
- Do not use this forum to advertise, sell photos or other products or promote a commercial website.
- Posts will be removed at the discretion of the site administrator or moderator(s), including: Troll posts, posts pushing political views or religious beliefs, and posts with the purpose of instigating conflict within the forum.
- HikerGuy
- Posts: 1411
- Joined: 5/25/2006
- 14ers: 58
- 13ers: 426 8
- Trip Reports (9)
Re: Airbag Waist Belt Issues
Does it loosen even when you double back?
- climbingcue
- Posts: 994
- Joined: 10/11/2011
- 14ers: 58 8 27
- 13ers: 319 23 11
- Trip Reports (0)
Re: Airbag Waist Belt Issues
I have the same belt on my airbag. I only use it for snowmobiling, it sucks to carry for snowboarding. That was my main complaint with the airbag pack.
Consecutive months with at least one 13er or 14er, 73 months
Re: Airbag Waist Belt Issues
It doesn't really work like a climbing harness. There are two metal pieces and they're clipped by sliding one through the other, the same as most of the buckles on a work site safety harness. As far as I can tell, there isn't really a way to double it back.
- HikerGuy
- Posts: 1411
- Joined: 5/25/2006
- 14ers: 58
- 13ers: 426 8
- Trip Reports (9)
- cottonmountaineering
- Posts: 849
- Joined: 5/11/2018
- 14ers: 58 7 18
- 13ers: 180 39 31
- Trip Reports (1)
Re: Airbag Waist Belt Issues
i had similar problems with the full body (climbing towers/etc) harness buckles until they changed the design to have locks
my solution was duct tape the webbing around the area it contacts the buckle
my solution was duct tape the webbing around the area it contacts the buckle
Re: Airbag Waist Belt Issues
I'll try this, thanks!cottonmountaineering wrote: ↑Tue Dec 22, 2020 2:44 pm my solution was duct tape the webbing around the area it contacts the buckle
Re: Airbag Waist Belt Issues
I know nothing of these systems, but you could sew some strong velcro on the tag and belt.
- polar
- Posts: 1256
- Joined: 8/12/2013
- 14ers: 2
- Trip Reports (1)
Re: Airbag Waist Belt Issues
Most modern climbing harnesses have similar buckles now, they're often called speed buckles. Works great on a harness because the webbing is often much thicker. The webbing on your backpack is probably too thin for it to lock effectively. To prevent this from coming loose, you can tie an overhand knot on the loose end of the webbing as close to the buckle as you can, the overhand knot will jam against the buckle and prevent the webbing from pulling back through.
Using my climbing harness to show you what I mean:
"Getting to the bottom, OPTIONAL. Getting to the top, MANDATORY!" - The Wisest Trail Sign
-
- Posts: 1730
- Joined: 9/28/2006
- Trip Reports (8)