Headwall Harnesses was established as a sole proprietorship by Mike Head in 1985. After obtaining his first industrial sewing machine and having knowledge through experience with years of rock climbing, Head began selling durable harnesses out of his quaint office (the camper of his truck) for a minimal price. Head, most known for his bold first ascents in Hueco Tanks State Park in El Paso, Texas, carried on assembling and refining his harnesses until he settled in Tucson, Arizona. Not long after moving to Tucson, Head established himself at the forefront of extremely difficult sport climbing on Mount Lemmon in the Santa Catalina Mountains.