Mammut Zephir Review

September 9, 2015
Mammut Zephir
Mammut_Zephir
Mammut_Zephir_Back
Mammut_Zephir_Closeup_Buckle
Mammut_Zephir_Front
Mammut_Zephir_Side
Mammut_Zephir_Side_Angle
Mammut Zephir Mammut_Zephir Mammut_Zephir_Back Mammut_Zephir_Closeup_Buckle Mammut_Zephir_Front Mammut_Zephir_Side Mammut_Zephir_Side_Angle
GEAR INSTITUTE RATINGS
85
Weight
7
Spring Tension
7
Trigger / Dexterity
7
Flexibility
5
Bulk
9

The Good

  • Lightweight and compact
  • Breathable
  • Comfortable while carrying a pack
  • Simple, comfortable leg loops
  • Plastic abrasion resistant protector for tie-in point

The Bad

  • Gear loops are smaller and harder to use
  • Difficult to release waist buckle
  • No haul loop
  • Small chalk bag loop is hard to clip
THE VERDICT

The Mammut Zephir is a lightweight harness with simple features that should appeal to climbers looking for a sleek and compact unit. Mammut Split Webbing technology allows for good comfort by distributing weight and also has great breathability. The breathability of the Zephir’s waist belt combined with low profile rear gear loops make the harness very comfortable while hiking and wearing a pack. A smooth and easy to use aluminum buckle adjusts the waist, and elastic adjustment of the leg loops makes for easy on and off.

FULL REVIEW

The Mammut Zephir is lightweight, comfortable, and easy to use with four gear loops and elastic leg loops that make it easy to take on and off. 

Comfort
The Zephir uses Mammut’s Split Webbing technology to distribute weight across the waist belt and leg loops while allowing for great breathability by leaving a large area open for mesh fabric. Testers particularly appreciated this on hot days and when wearing packs on long approaches. One tester chose this harness for an AMGA Alpine Guide Course trip into California’s Minarets specifically because of these features. Compared to the other harnesses tested, the Zephir faired well for comfort during extended hang sessions but didn’t stand out. It proved to be very comfortable for climbing movement thanks to its anatomical construction and slim build. 

Adjustability/Smooth Buckles
The Zephir features a single, aluminum waist buckle that is easy to pull tight to get a snug fit. This lone buckle provides a secure fit and in testing, showed no signs of slipping although testers did grumble at times about how difficult it was to release when taking the harness off. The upside is that because of this, it also proved to be a speed buckle that will not budge once secured. 

Gear Loops
The Zephir features four gear loops that most testers found to be on the smaller side compared to other harnesses. Hence, the Zephir is best for sport climbers who don’t need as much room for gear. The front gear loops are molded plastic with a contoured shape to allow for easier access to gear. These front gear loops don’t protrude from the harness (like many gear loops) so they are less user friendly when placing gear. The rear gear loops are simple nylon cord and were the smallest rear gear loops tested. They have a small profile and lie flat which means more comfort when carrying a pack—a big bonus for many testers on longer hiking/climbing days.

Leg Loops
The leg loops on the Zephir are simply constructed with no buckles and an elastic connector to provide a comfortable and snug fit. This simple construction makes them easy to take on and off and really comfortable when hiking and climbing. Testers appreciated the Zephir leg loops for these features as well as their great breathability due to the Split Webbing technology. 

Weight
At 10.4 ounces, the Zephir was the lightest harness tested. Testers particularly appreciated this part of the Zephir and its corresponding compact nature which made it easy to stuff into a pack. 

Features
The Zephir features a molded plastic tie-in point on the waist loop to offer great abrasion resistance and long-term durability. It lacks a full strength haul loop, but instead includes a simple, low-profile chalk bag loop. The chalk bag loop can be hard to find and clip when the harness is already on, but its’ slight profile makes it comfortable and it stays out of the way when wearing a pack.

 


Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
USER REVIEWS

No reviews have been posted for this product.

Related posts
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x