inverted harness leg loops

This is what I was trying to show. The last photo is highly improbable, but the middle photo shows that one high leg and one low leg can put the load against the rope locator. This happened to my friend last Friday, he was in on only one bolt, and his Edelrid harness had a plastic buckle like this one:

You don't need a lot of force to break the plastic. His harness is still safe but lacks a functional rope locator.

The overhanging nature of the climb, only one bolt with the belayer's rope interfering with his movement contributed to this really odd event.

I have witnessed this second scenario. It was a little bit different, because the attachment was 'biner to belay loop, like when you do autobelays, but the issue was the same. The keeper/locater came unbuckled and the line connecting the two legs through the belay loop was free to slide freely. When my friend fell, one leg got pulled up, right to the belay loop, letting the other extend away. This felt to him like the harness had broken, and as he ended up sideways, and more upside down than right side up, looked like a dangerous thing. He and his belayer were both glad to get him back on the ground, but determined that there was probably no way it could have resulted in a fall, but swinging wildly upside down is a good way to get a head injury. That buckle just would not stay buckled, so he returned the harness. I'm sorry I don't remember the brand.

Jon Rhoderick wrote: This is what I was trying to show. The last photo is highly improbable, but the middle photo shows that one high leg and one low leg can put the load against the rope locator. This happened to my friend last Friday, he was in on only one bolt, and his Edelrid harness had a plastic buckle like this one: You don't need a lot of force to break the plastic. His harness is still safe but lacks a functional rope locator. The overhanging nature of the climb, only one bolt with the belayer's rope interfering with his movement contributed to this really odd event.

Have him throw some duct tape on it. It has no effect on strength at all

Like an idiot I've been following this thread for the past couple days hoping to gain something from it. Think I'm done.

'Put harness on correct. If don't know how, ask neighbors for help. '

How common is accidentally squeezing a leg loop through the belay loop? Seems like it'd take some concerted movement if I'm understanding this correctly.

Would definitely make for an exhilarating rappel.