buckingham saddle

[Hemlock]

I just bought some gear that included a Buckingham mod 1371. It's your basic belt with a butt strap and 4 dee's, two on the belt and two on the butt sling. I've not tried any work with it yet but just sitting in it seems uncomfortable and bulky to me. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I prefer the master style where you hook into sewn loops.

With those older D saddles it is harder to use advanced hitches.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Advice?

All I can tell you is that after over two decades hanging on a buttstrap saddle, I switched to a legstrap saddle. MUCH better!

I also think 4 dee saddle suck, a floating dee is the best for me.
But they scares some people.

 

[Hemlock]

I guess I just wanted to know if you guys thought this saddle was worth a durn. I know they sell spreader hooks for them but it occured to me that that's alot of redundant rigging and figured it would be easier to tap into some experience before spending any more time trying to figure out how to make this thing more comfortable and less bulky. What do you think guys, am I barking up the wrong bush?

 

[MasterBlaster]

Originally posted by RockyJSquirrel
I am fully capable of clipping a snap or biner through two D rings.

The 'clipping through two dees' is the part I hate about 4 dee saddles.
Clipping into one is a lot easier.
And believe it or not, I don't have a single hole in my shirts from the 'pinching' effect. Another climber I know has a hole like that in every one of his shirts.

 

[jamie]

4d

im assuming that this 4 d arangement includes 2 Ds on the side for flip lines lanyards etc and 2 which spread intowards the centre just about waist height. if so why clip in with a carabiner through both rings each time you re tie?

i have always used a mallion rapide to join these 2 rings.

have i read all of that right or am i completely of target?

jamie

 

[Hemlock]

You're right about the comfort thing Rocky. I heard you were a big fella for a climber Butch and I'm probably about your size 6-3 and 250#. Seems like that butt strap is about as comfortable as when my wife accidently puts my sons tighty whitey's in my underwear drawer and I'm trying to get them on at 4:00 am.


Yeah Jamie you heard it right. I put a turnbuckle in between the buttstrap dee's just to see if that made any difference and it still felt like I had my ass in a sling. Thought maybe someone had thought of sticking a board on the sling some how like the bridgepainters do but not sure if that would be too much crap to take up into a tree.

I don't know if I mentioned it but this saddle just came in a box of other rigging that I was interested in and if it's too much trouble I'll probably alter or use it for parts.

 

[MasterBlaster]

They do have saddles out there with a bosun's seat worked into the buttstrap. It helps with the buttsquishing, but its a little on the bulky side.

I want the Ness, next.

 

[jamie]

harnesses

when i can eventually afford my own kit (i currently use a svensk sky belt supplied by my boss, which i find pretty comfortable most of the time) i was thinking about getting a petzl miniboss as ithas a rigid seat which on other harnesses ive found comfortable, or a petzl vario with the individual leg loops like the butterfly and you can get a rigid seat for it as well, best of both worlds..... not too sure, would have to try every thing out first

i know everyone is different but any advice anyone?

jamie

 

[MasterBlaster]

http://www.newtribe.com/saddles.html

 

[Hemlock]

I think Carl has one of them newtribe saddles. Looks pretty good to me. Just got my first Sherrill catalogue in the mail today. WOW! Had no idea there was so much stuff available out there. Makes Baileys look like a MA and Pa store. Thanks alot for the help everyone.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I've been hearingsome good things about the Fresco Saddle X lately.

Had a few negative comments on the B'ham slide...err...glide saddle.

 

[blue]

MB,
looked at the pic of the harness thought it looked cool.had a look at the website,even better you can get a custom fit i really like the look of the one with the brass snaps on neat idea as i have never seen anything like this in the uk.do you know if anyone in the uk sells them?or has anyone used one and what do they think of it?

 

[MasterBlaster]

The couple of people I know with Ness's(Stumper, Carl) have nothing but good things to say about it.
I imagine you can order it online, can't you?

 

[blue]

MB,
prob can get it on-line(dunno what shipping would cost?)if the HSE found me using it though i can just imagine"not approved for use in this country,doesn't meet blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah until i take a silky to my wrists!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lync]

4d's

I would take Jamie's advise and connect the buttstrap d's with a threaded screw link. If you use a ****** it's just a matter of time before you look down and the d rings are loading the gate of the ******. A safety snap is good too but it doesn't lend itself to split tail or advanced hitch climbing. i think rockys point is you could have asked for advise before you bought it . I for one would have told you that butt strap saddles are not the most comfortable. I'm sure that you will upgrade soon enough.

corey

 

[blue]

ROCKY,
thanx for the tip.i'm having trouble finding it at a supplier in the uk any help welcome!

 

[blue]

ROCKY,
just found it after last post,sorry!looks like a harness a frien has.used it one to reduce an oak for him took about 4 hours and all i can say is i'm amazed my wife ever got pregnant!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

One thing with the Butterfly is that you can tweek it a lot so that it fits better. One of the most modified saddles I've seen out there.

Maybe borrow it again and see if you can get the straps to sit where they belong, and not on your soft tissue.

 

[jamie]

shops

both charterhouse richmond and honey brothers stock the buttterfly
http://www.honeybros.co.uk/main.html
http://www.charterhouserichmond.co.uk/html/catalogue.htm

dont expect much from the online shops, get a catalogue and work from there

charter house is cheaper

jamie