Wild Country has a long history of producing gear for the UK climbing scene. Recently the harness range has been totally revamped, and without wanting to spoil this review, they have done a great job of bringing back some core models that really put the offering right back up with the best brands out there. The Session 2.0 and Mosquito are very different to each other, with a contrasting set of features and different end use in mind. Here we take a look at both of them, each in their natural environments.

Session 2.0 Harness - £85

The Session Harness 2.0 is a new and updated version of the popular Session harness that came out a few years ago, and is available in both men's and women's versions.

Wild Country say that the Session harness is an all-rounder, and it is; but for me it sits more towards the sport climbing end of the spectrum - both indoors and outdoors. This isn't to say that this wouldn't be suitable for trad climbing, as it comes with five gear loops and an ice clipper slot, but if it is trad that you're exclusively looking to do then maybe the Mosquito Pro would be the better bet. Whilst sport climbing, the Session 2.0 is a joy to wear. Whether you're working routes, taking lead falls, or belaying your friend for 30 minutes while they go bolt-to-bolt on route, comfort is the name of the game.

Both waist and leg loops are well-padded and have an almost velvety feel, with a ripstop abrasion resistant outer material. I particularly like the leg loops on the Session 2.0 as they have the shape and structure you'd find on a fixed leg loop, but can be adjusted with a buckle on the side. This feels like the best of both worlds!  

When it comes to the front of the harness the Session 2.0 has a 16mm dyneema belay loop that is slimline and low bulk, giving the harness quite a minimalist feel. Wild Country have also included a wear indicator within the lower tie in point, meaning that once the internal red coloured thread is showing it's time to retire the harness. I think this is a great feature and takes some of the guess work out of when to retire a harness.

The Session 2.0 comes with four medium-sized, structured U-shaped gear loops, plus a minimal cord loop at the back of the harness. The main gear loops are a nice shape with a little bit of structure, meaning they are raised slightly away from the waistband, making them easy to clip. The four main gear loops provide more than enough space for a full rack of quickdraws whilst sport climbing, whether it's single or multi-pitch, and when using a slimmer trad rack, especially on single pitch routes.  When it comes to big mountain or sea cliff trad you might struggle for space (I like to take a big rack in these situations) and therefore something like the Wild Country Mosquito Pro might be more suitable for carrying larger amounts of gear. 

The Session 2.0 comes in a men's or women's version. At 395g for a men's small and 374g in a women's small, it's a pretty reasonable weight for something that is very well-padded and comfortable. Due to the soft feel and supple construction of this harness, it also packs down to a reasonable size in your rucksack. 

Mosquito Pro Harness - £120 

a unisex model, the Mosquito Pro is primarily designed with alpine and trad climbing in mind, and from a UK perspective it feels like a great all-round top-end trad climbing harness. It has a slim, sleek waist and leg loop construction with fully adjustable legs, and five gear loops. The whole harness packs neatly down to fit inside a helmet, and weighs just 315g for a size small.

Despite its slim construction, it's a comfortable harness and has enough about it to hold a full UK trad rack without any structural issues thanks to the '3 webbing belt' construction, which is very effective. The front gear loops are sturdy plastic D-rings with enough space for a full rack of quickdraws or a double set of nuts, and most of your cams. The back gear loops are lighter, semi-circle shapes which at first appearance seemed a little minimalist, but are actually totally fit for purpose, easily holding other gear you might have at the back of your harness when trad climbing, like large cams, slings, belay plates, or screwgates. There is also a fifth low-profile gear loop right at the back of the harness, suitable for a few key items you don't need to access regularly, such as prusiks or belay device.

Boosting the seasonal remit, you get attachment slots for an ice screw clipper, which make this a very versatile harness that is totally suitable for use in winter or alpine environments. 

It weighs in at 315g (size S unisex), which is pretty lightweight in the context of a fully featured trad and alpine climbing harness. If you're after something lighter there's always the standard less-featured Mosquito, which is just 255g.