Harness/Saddle input

[chemist]

I'm heading to the west coast next week and will have a chance to visit Wesspur!

I'm thinking about a new harness.

I'm considering the Buckingham master deluxe, or the weaver cougar, or at least that is my price top out.

I climb SRT, and will be doing some spur climbing in the future.

Any advice from the boys who sit in them all day everyday?

(I'll take advice from girls, however there are some saddle issues you might not be aware of being female and all!)

 

[Job Corps Tree]

Harrness/ Saddle input

Been using that Master saddle for 14 years on my 3ed one( but it will grab the your Grapes if you don't get it on right), 1 I got to fat for but like them. We hear good things about the new Weaver Saddle. Most good shops should let you hang in it ??

 

[chemist]

Been using that Master saddle for 14 years on my 3ed one( but it will grab the your Grapes if you don't get it on right), 1 I got to fat for but like them. We hear good things about the new Weaver Saddle. Most good shops should let you hang in it ??

I'm leaning more heavily on the side of the master saddle because it has more redundant attachment points on the front. The rope bridge is an interesting idea, but then your depending on it completely, aside from your hip lanyard attachments.

I guess aside from comfort, it seems like the decision comes down to trying out a rope bridge this time...

has anyone tried a rope bridge and really not liked it?

 

[arborist]

I'v been eying the new cougar as well.
could someone explain the rope bridge to an old schooler?
also the other concern with it,is no seat.how comfortable is that sitting and pruning? can you even sit? lol.
iv always just used the bowline on a bite for a saddle.just kidding lol
(just the old standard basic weaver butt strap/no leg strap ones)
oh,and the other concern with it,does it have locking side D's that only go half way back-or point straight out i should say?
i hate that with mine now,they flop backwards and my lanyard/chainsaw lanyard always tangle!grrrr! i'v had enough of that lol.

 

[oldirty]

rope bridge allows your biners to freely move along the bridge. that allows you a better range of movement.

the length of the bridge will move your hanging point. some like the ventral attachment (think biner'd to your belly button) but i prefer being able to sit in the saddle and have the separation away from my stomach.

rope bridge will support more than one tie in setup.

the saddle i run now has both a rope bridge and the ventral attachment point. 9 times out of 10 i use the rope bridge to attach the climb line to. the ventral attachment is great to use if i am doing a long rappel out the tree on a single line (think coming coming down on a pull line). to be honest though it does get a lot of use when i am flip lining myself to the tree. great for that!


i highly recommend the seat on your new saddle. so comfy to sit in when you not on the move. not cumbersome at all nor does it get in the way.

you can get the cougar with the seat now if you stuck on the weaver brand but there are better saddles out there.

 

[oldirty]

but then your depending on it completely, aside from your hip lanyard attachments.

i wouldnt go with the master.


and what do you mean by this? being fliplined in?

 

[chemist]

rope bridge allows your biners

you can get the cougar with the seat now if you stuck on the weaver brand but there are better saddles out there.

What other saddles do you recommend that are in that price range?

 

[chemist]

i wouldnt go with the master.


and what do you mean by this? being fliplined in?

I'm saying if you wanted redundancy you would have to be flip lined in. Otherwise all of your tie-ins are to a single point (the rope bridge). With something like the master, you can tie in to two separate systems to two separate points on the harness.


I

 

[Bearcreek]

I bought the weaver cougar and did not like it. It just did not fit me well. Wouldn't stay up with a saw hanging off it and rode up when hanging from the bridge. It might work ok for somebody with a different body shape. It's for sale if you're interested lol. Only used a couple times.

 

[Job Corps Tree]

Weaver should have Suspenders for that saddle to help with the Sagging, they are good for loading up with extry tools
on the master saddles the extry tie in points top split tail is the best 1, next down is like sitting in a seat, last one down is like laying down top center is like most saddles all in the center. I bought the 1 I have after the Arbormaster class withpout even trying it on . The one I have now has the Body harness built into it for Bucket work& if I need to jump out I am wearing the right saddle for it

 

[SINGLE-JACK]

Weaver should have Suspenders for that saddle to help with the Sagging, they are good for loading up with extry tools
on the master saddles the extry tie in points top split tail is the best 1, next down is like sitting in a seat, last one down is like laying down top center is like most saddles all in the center. I bought the 1 I have after the Arbormaster class withpout even trying it on . The one I have now has the Body harness built into it for Bucket work& if I need to jump out I am wearing the right saddle for it

They do:

It's a shame, couldn't find them on Sherrill's site. But, Bailey's has them for $18.95: http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=98121&productid=98121&channelid=FROOG

 

[oldirty]

I'm saying if you wanted redundancy you would have to be flip lined in. Otherwise all of your tie-ins are to a single point (the rope bridge). With something like the master, you can tie in to two separate systems to two separate points on the harness.


I

i get you now. good point. thats why i love my saddle. has the ventral attachment point on it too. i failed to mention in my last post that i often use it when using a second climb line along with the long rappels. thanks for the reminder.


i took another look at that master. i'd try to finagle a way into putting some rope bridges on that thing! lol. it would drive me crazy having such distance between the biners. pulling down on your line and a hip raises before the rest of your body. same with rappelling.

are you stuck at the 215ish area for money? how much do you want to spend on a saddle? not saying there are great deals out on them but there are quite a few saddle for about a 100 more. tell me how much you wanna spend and i'll hunt on the sites sponsors with you in mind.

you tall? short? fat? skinny?


i liked the dragonfly. wore one for a couple years. no need to stay with the same saddle year in year out. its not a chainsaw. this is your very own personal ride to the top. find something with serious comfort to it. change it up once in a while. you never know until you try it out.

i love my current set up but i know i am itching to try something else out soon. maybe find me someone to sponsor me with a sick prototype or something. that'd be sweet.

 

[Pruitt1222]

I have a cougar saddle i got from wesspur, I like it a lot. I sawped up from a weaver basic split, Which was not very pretty. I was very pleased when I got it, The pictures make it look kinda cheap made,small, and uncomfy but its nice. I have two issues with it, the first was the need for suspenders and the second is the leg pads often move around. I have no hips as many guys dont and the straps are fine as long as I do mostly rope work. If I am on spurs for a while and sit down for a chill it always seems that the leg straps move so the padding is on the side instead of the back. Other then that I like it. One other note I wear a size 32 pant and I got a med size saddle and the saddle is very snug over my barely there hips. But i didn't check the size they sent me, It might be a small.

 

[arborist]

thanks oldirty.
so it really sounds like if you swing closer to the 3-350 mark,you can get quite a bit more saddle then.
the 2 bill price tag (just cus im cheaper than poor lol) caught my eye.
i have to admit,im pretty tired of the basic saddle.
i added the add on back support to both the back and seat and use the spreader rope snap-what a difference that made.but i know this is quite dated and a bit to basic for me.
I'm but a one man climbing show,so i have no one else to view for gear.

 

[arborist]

I have a cougar saddle i got from wesspur, I like it a lot. I sawped up from a weaver basic split, Which was not very pretty. I was very pleased when I got it, The pictures make it look kinda cheap made,small, and uncomfy but its nice. I have two issues with it, the first was the need for suspenders and the second is the leg pads often move around. I have no hips as many guys dont and the straps are fine as long as I do mostly rope work. If I am on spurs for a while and sit down for a chill it always seems that the leg straps move so the padding is on the side instead of the back. Other then that I like it. One other note I wear a size 32 pant and I got a med size saddle and the saddle is very snug over my barely there hips. But i didn't check the size they sent me, It might be a small.

hmmm.
anyone here tried the add on seat with a cougar?

 

[oldirty]

treemandan has one on his saddle. i believe he switched out from the leg straps.

300 will get you into a better saddle for sure. my last one cost me 410. lol

 

[arborist]

here's a good one chemist:
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=84278&highlight=dragonfly

 

[lync]

I currently climb in a buckingham versatile deluxe, with the elastic suspenders.
It was pricey but worth every penny. If you climb srt you will find yourself supended only by the rope without your feet in contact with the tree. On long climbs your groin will be under great pressure along with your inner thighs. The bosun seat almost completely eliminates this uncomfortable positioning. I have climbed master/butterfly/petzl/weaver. This is hands down most comfortable saddle in 15 years of climbing. As far as sliding bridge you can use it, or go to a single attachment or split tail on 2 points of attachment. Go out of your price range if necessary. If you buy cheap you'll buy it twice.

Corey

 

[chemist]

here's a good one chemist:
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=84278&highlight=dragonfly

I'd like to thank all of you for the good advice. The above link confirmed my suspicions about that particular rope bridge.

I'm going to try a few on at Wesspur this week and get a better sense of how they feel. Impulse might end up upping the buy in price!

thanks again!