Petzl Corax Review (2026): The Fully Adjustable All-Rounder
My Partner’s Harness — Our Best Beginner Pick, Used for Sport and Trad
Two sizes, two DOUBLEBACK waist buckles and adjustable leg loops, from the gym to multi-pitch
Comparing more than one harness? The Corax is our best harness for beginners in our full climbing harness comparison — see how it stacks up against the Mammut Ophir 3 Slide 2.0, Black Diamond Solution, DMM Renegade, Arc’teryx Skaha and Edelrid Jay / Jayne.
Read the full comparison →| Weight | 470 g (size 1), 520 g (size 2) |
|---|---|
| Sizes | 1 and 2 |
| Waist | 65–96 cm (size 1), 76–107 cm (size 2) — adjustable |
| Leg Loops | 48–59 cm (size 1), 54–67 cm (size 2) — adjustable |
| Waist Buckles | Two DOUBLEBACK buckles for adjusting and centring the harness |
| Gear Loops | 4: two rigid at the front, two flexible at the back |
| Rear Loop | For accessories: chalk bag, shoes, locking carabiner, haul line |
| Ice Screw Racking | Compatible with the Petzl CARITOOL EVO |
| Construction | FRAME Technology — load shared between the waist belt and leg loops |
| Materials | Polyester, 100% recycled polyester (outer fabric of waist belt and leg loops), EVA, steel |
| Certification | CE EN 12277 type C, UKCA, UIAA |
| Supplied With | Transport bag (polyester and polyamide) |
| Guarantee | 3 years against material and manufacturing defects |
| Colours & Article Numbers | Dark Grey C051AB00 / C051AB01, Navy Blue C051BB00 / C051BB01, Dark Red C051CB00 / C051CB01 (00 = size 1, 01 = size 2) |
| Made In | Malaysia |
Front view
Our Score
Overall: 9.2 / 10 — the average of the five scores above
In This Review
Where to Buy the Petzl Corax
Support your local climbing shop first. If it’s out of stock, these retailers ship across Europe:
Prices shown are approximate — tap through for current pricing and stock.
Why My Partner Climbs on the Petzl Corax
This Petzl Corax review starts with the harness in our van: the Corax is my partner’s harness. Our first climbing instructor advised her to get this one, and she still uses it for everything, sport and trad alike. Her verdict is simple: it’s easy to fit, comfortable, convenient and solid.
She isn’t alone. On Bergfreunde’s customer reviews, the Corax scores 4.8 out of 5 from 71 reviews, and 99% of reviewers recommend it. The pros customers tick most are easy adjustment (62), comfort (61), value for money (58) and robustness (44).
Design, Sizing & Features
Petzl builds the Corax for climbing indoors, on rock, on multi-pitch routes and on via ferratas. It comes in two sizes and three colours, and the fully adjustable design adapts to different body sizes and shapes. Size 1 covers a 65–96 cm waist and size 2 a 76–107 cm waist.
Adjustment is the core of the design. Two DOUBLEBACK buckles on the waist belt let you adjust it quickly and keep the harness centred, which Petzl says keeps the gear loops in the right place. The leg loops are adjustable too, for different body shapes and clothing layers. Petzl pairs a wide waist belt and padded leg loops with its FRAME Technology construction, which shares the load between the waist belt and leg loops.
For racking, there are two rigid gear loops at the front for clipping and unclipping quickdraws, and two flexible loops at the back. Petzl says the flexible rear loops keep gear facing forward and stop it pressing into you under a rucksack. A rear loop takes accessories such as a chalk bag, shoes, a locking carabiner or a haul line, and the harness is compatible with the CARITOOL EVO for carrying ice screws. The outer fabric of the waist belt and leg loops is 100% recycled polyester.
Which Petzl Corax Is This? The 2024 Redesign and the Corax LT
Petzl relaunched the Corax in March 2024. The current harness carries article numbers starting C051AB (Dark Grey), C051BB (Navy Blue) and C051CB (Dark Red), ending 00 for size 1 and 01 for size 2. Older stock with references ending in “A” (C051AA, C051BA and C051CA, sold in grey, blue and turquoise) is still listed by some retailers. Listings for that previous version give 490 g and 540 g, against 470 g and 520 g now. Check the article number before you buy a discounted one.
Customer reviews mix generations too. Several of Bergfreunde’s and Alpinetrek’s Corax reviews are tagged as reviews of the previous model, so read the aggregate scores as a picture of the Corax line rather than of the current version alone.
The Corax LT is a separate harness. Petzl gives it a single waist buckle, fixed leg loops and five sizes (XS–XL), plus a women’s version, the Corax LT Women. If you want adjustable leg loops for winter layers, it’s the standard Corax you want.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Two DOUBLEBACK waist buckles keep the harness and gear loops centred
- Adjustable leg loops for different body shapes and layers
- Two sizes cover a 65–107 cm waist
- Rigid front and flexible rear gear loops, plus a rear accessory loop
- Easy to fit, comfortable and solid — my partner uses it for sport and trad
Cons
- Not built to save weight: 470 g (size 1), 520 g (size 2)
- Four gear loops get tight with a full trad rack, in my partner’s experience
Petzl Corax Review: Final Verdict
Our Petzl Corax review verdict: it’s a fully adjustable all-rounder, with two sizes, two DOUBLEBACK waist buckles, adjustable leg loops and four gear loops, for the gym, sport, trad, multi-pitch and via ferrata. It’s the harness our first instructor recommended to my partner, she uses it for everything, and it’s the best harness for beginners in our comparison.
If you want more room for a big trad rack, the DMM Renegade has seven gear loops — read our DMM Renegade review, or compare all six in our full climbing harness comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sizes does the Petzl Corax come in?
Two. Petzl lists size 1 for a 65–96 cm waist and 48–59 cm legs, and size 2 for a 76–107 cm waist and 54–67 cm legs. The waist and leg loops are both adjustable.
How much does the Petzl Corax weigh?
Petzl lists the Corax at 470 g in size 1 and 520 g in size 2.
Can you use the Petzl Corax for trad climbing?
Yes. Petzl lists rock and multi-pitch climbing alongside indoor climbing and via ferrata. It has two rigid front and two flexible rear gear loops plus a rear accessory loop, and my partner uses hers for both sport and trad. With a full trad rack, four gear loops can get tight.
How often should you inspect a Petzl Corax, and when should you retire it?
Petzl recommends checks before each use and a detailed inspection by a competent person at least every 12 months. Its technical notice says to retire the harness once it’s over 10 years old, after a major fall, if it fails inspection, or if you don’t know its full history.
What’s the difference between the Petzl Corax and the Corax LT?
The Corax has two DOUBLEBACK waist buckles, adjustable leg loops and two sizes. The Corax LT has a single waist buckle, fixed leg loops and five sizes (XS–XL), plus a women’s version, the Corax LT Women. Both are compatible with the CARITOOL EVO.
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