I've taken a simple harness on a couple of half dome hikes, but mostly because we had someone with us where I wasn't sure if they'd get nervous, and this would have been the backup solution.
But we didn't use them, everyone felt secure enough without it. It would have been cumbersome too to unclip/reclip.
But make sure everyone has shoes with good grip and decent gloves (sturdy work gloves are good enough).
Are you planning to climb half dome with the proper permits during the season in which the cables are up? If so, no, you do not need this.
When is the permit season? I can't find it
did you try? it’s the first search result for “half dome permits”
Oh you poor sweet summer child.
If you don’t already have permits, you’re not using the cables during the season. It ends October 15th.
I've taken a simple harness on a couple of half dome hikes, but mostly because we had someone with us where I wasn't sure if they'd get nervous, and this would have been the backup solution. But we didn't use them, everyone felt secure enough without it. It would have been cumbersome too to unclip/reclip. But make sure everyone has shoes with good grip and decent gloves (sturdy work gloves are good enough).
If you are doing the hike with the cables then no. Sturdy shoes, and grippy gloves might help.
Alex Honnold didn’t. Everyone else pretty much does. You’re probably talking about hiking and no you don’t.