Heh, I still use a 60/40 parka, and that's how I rappeled countless times - all the not-roped-in varients. It's a very handy thing to know. And the only harnesses we used were Swiss seats made from laid rope. We taught it up into the early 80's (not the only technique, to be sure). Try these expedients with a "casualty" tied on piggy back - now, that burns your butt and gives the brake hand a good workout...

Swiss seats are fast and do the job fine for a short time on rope. Tubular nylon webbing tied seats are less uncomfortable but take a lot longer to tie from scratch, eh? BSA standards have us teaching both types (not with laid rope, of course), but in our program we usually have ample commercial harnesses to go around after the familiarization with tied harnesses. Again, I think these are useful things to know.

(We must be a bunch of fossils... er, sorry, Don...)

My paradigm is cold weather climbing, although I've done precious little of that for several years. I've used a "diaper" type harness with a "padded" waist for many years, usually with a tubular nylon chest "harness" clipped in because I hang wrong side up naturally. Padding is much more comfortable even in hot weather - like when I'm in the harness most of the day training/aiding others. Wife uses same style, but that's mostly follow-the-leader - she had not climbed much before a few years ago.

Check out RIT-500 and RIT-900 lines (Sterling Rope trademarks, but others make similar ropes). The RIT-500 meets NFPA criteria for self-rescue lines. And there are other "high" temp lines available that would be fairly suitable for the long scary rappel from a high-rise office building. They are all a bit pricey IMHO, but if the urban canyonlands are where one works... personal choices. I suggest folks figure out expedient anchorage ahead of time so they don't fetch up short - a round turn on a desk that won't fit out the window will take at least a story's worth of additional line (and I would for sure pad the edges!)

I don't like brake bars - you spelunkers can keep them, LoL. Sort of the same reason I don't teach very many folks the Muenter hitch, if you follow me, let alone carabiner brakes. If you can afford the rope, a figure 8, rescue 8, or ATC varients are plenty cheap, eh? I'd stick with NFPA certified stuff for an office stash - save the lightweight stuff for climbing - but that's me.

"Hasty rappels" - that's what we termed them - fond memories for me and I think they are techniques that should be learned and practiced in "safe" environments. Much enjoyed your posts on this thread.

Regards,

Tom