Guides · Harnesses
How to choose and size a chest harness.
A harness is the piece most people buy first, and the one most often bought in the wrong size. Here's how to pick a style, measure yourself and check the fit.
The main styles
- Bulldog. Two shoulder straps joined to a wide chest strap, usually with rings at the front. It frames the chest and shoulders and suits most builds. A good first harness.
- X-back. Straps cross between the shoulder blades and meet at a centre ring. Lighter on the shoulders and easy to move in, so it works well for dancing.
- H-style. Two vertical straps joined by horizontal ones. More coverage, more adjustment points and more places to clip things on.
- Single chest strap. One band across the chest. The simplest look, and the easiest to wear under a shirt.
Faux leather, real leather or neoprene
- Faux leather is lighter, cheaper and needs almost no care. It suits a first harness or occasional wear, and it's the vegan option.
- Real leather costs more, but it softens and shapes to your body over time and lasts for years if you look after it.
- Neoprene and elastic stretch, forgive a size in between, and cope well with sweat and water.
How to measure
- Use a soft tape measure. No tape? Use a piece of string and measure it against a ruler.
- Stand relaxed and breathe normally. Don't puff your chest out.
- Measure around the fullest part of your chest, under the armpits and across the shoulder blades, keeping the tape level.
- Write the number down in centimetres and compare it with the size range on the product.
Between two sizes? For leather and faux leather, take the larger one: straps tighten more easily than they loosen. For stretch materials, take the smaller one.
How it should fit
- Snug, not tight. You should be able to slide two fingers under every strap.
- The chest strap sits across the lower part of the chest, not up at the collarbone.
- Raise your arms and take a deep breath. Nothing should dig in, pinch or ride up.
- Leave a spare hole or two on each buckle so you can adjust later. Leather gives a little with wear.
Looking after it
- Wipe it down with a damp cloth after wearing and let it dry in the air, away from heaters and direct sun.
- Treat real leather with a leather conditioner a few times a year.
- Hang it up or lay it flat. Folding leaves creases.
Not sure about your size?
Send us your chest measurement through the contact page and we'll tell you which size to order. If it still doesn't fit, unworn harnesses can be returned within 14 days — see our returns policy.