Which Harnesses Have Lap Belt Load Spreaders?
Harness guide
A harness has to be tight to do its job, and a tight lap belt presses hard across your hips. On a short drive you barely notice. After a long session on track, or a day of driving on the road, it is the part of a harness people complain about most.
Lap belt load spreaders are the answer. This guide explains what they are, what they do, which harnesses we list that have them built in, and what to look at when you choose one.
- A load spreader is a wide pad sewn onto the lap belt
- It spreads the belt's pressure over a larger area of the hips
- The TRS Clubman 3 and 4 point have 75mm pads sewn into the lap straps
- The OMP Racing 4M has a waist load spreader pad
- The Luke GMax 4 Point Westfield has spreader pads on all its straps
What is on this page
What a lap belt load spreader is
A load spreader is a wide, padded section sewn onto the lap belt of a harness, where the belt crosses your hips. A standard lap strap is 50mm or 75mm of webbing, and when it is pulled tight all of the pressure goes through that narrow band. The pad makes the contact area wider, so the same load is spread over more of your body.
It is not the same as the foam shoulder pads you can add to a harness. Shoulder pads are usually separate, wrapping around the shoulder straps with Velcro. A lap load spreader is normally part of the harness itself, built into the lap straps when it is made.
Why they are worth having
Comfort over a long drive. This is the main reason. A plain lap strap that is correctly tight starts to dig in after a while, and the wider pad puts the load across your pelvis where it is much easier to live with.
Less temptation to run it loose. A lap belt only works when it is tight and sits low across the pelvis. If it is uncomfortable, people loosen it, and a loose harness lets you move in the seat and slide forward under braking. A belt that is comfortable when tight is a belt that stays tight.
Road and track cars. Harnesses with load spreaders tend to be the road and track belts people wear for hours at a time, on track days and for driving to and from the circuit.
Harnesses we list with lap load spreaders
TRS Clubman Clip In 3 Point. The simplest harness in the TRS range, with 50mm webbing and a 75mm pad sewn into the lap straps. It is road approved to ECE, clips in to eyebolts with snap hooks, and comes out of the car without tools. Not HANS compatible.
TRS Clubman Clip In 4 Point. The same idea with a sub strap between the legs, which stops you sliding forward under the lap belt under hard braking. It is road approved to ECE and one of the most popular harnesses we sell for road cars that do track days.
OMP Racing 4M. A four point road and track harness with a waist load spreader pad, snap hook fittings and 7/16 inch eyebolts supplied. Not HANS compatible.
Luke GMax 4 Point Westfield. A road legal four point harness made for the Westfield, with 2 inch straps and 3 inch spreader pads on every strap, which means you do not need separate harness pads.
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What about FIA harnesses?
The harnesses above are Road and Track belts, not FIA homologated. If your championship asks for an FIA harness, check the manufacturer’s specification for lap padding before you order, as it varies between models. Some FIA harnesses use 75mm lap straps, which already spread the load more than 50mm webbing.
If a harness does not have shoulder padding and you want some, add a pair of harness pads made for the strap width. TRS, Sparco and OMP all make them. Never add anything to an FIA harness that changes how it is routed or adjusted.
How to choose
Start with the approval you need. For road and track days, a Road and Track harness with a load spreader is often the most comfortable choice. For competition, the approval comes first and comfort second. Then look at the number of points, the strap widths, and how it fits your seat and mounting points: the seat needs the right slots, and the shoulder straps need a mounting point at the right height behind you.
Garreth’s advice is to tell us the car, the seat and what you use it for before you buy, and we will match the harness to all three. Our guide to road and track harness belts goes further into the options, and the full range is on our road legal harnesses page.
What is a lap belt load spreader?
A wide pad sewn onto the lap belt of a harness that spreads the belt’s pressure over a larger area of the hips.
Does the TRS Clubman harness have lap pads?
Yes. The TRS Clubman 3 and 4 point have a 75mm pad sewn into the lap straps.
Which OMP harness has a load spreader?
The OMP Racing 4M has a waist load spreader pad.
Are harnesses with load spreaders FIA approved?
The TRS Clubman, OMP Racing 4M and Luke GMax Westfield are Road and Track harnesses, not FIA homologated.
Can I add pads to a harness myself?
You can add shoulder pads made for the strap width, but never change how an FIA harness is routed or adjusted.
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For road and track daysTRS Clubman Clip In 4 Point
Lap pads, a sub strap, ECE road approval and a harness that clips out without tools.
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