new saddle model

[Burnham]

Since we had a couple of threads that touched on Ness saddles lately, I hit the New Tribe site this afternoon to poke around...it has been a while since I was there. Lo and behold, they have a new, to me anyway, offering that looks good...no radical changes from the Work Saddle or the Smokejumper, kinda a cross between the two. Looks like a good, simple job, close to what I had custom built, at a better price. Here's a pic.

 

[Burnham]

Rear view.

 

[Lumberjack]

Looks like the ness with gear loops and a pear link, instead of a delta link (I think that might be better, the side loops get caught up on the deltas gate).

Anything else?

 

[Burnham]

'Course it looks like a Ness, Carl , I said it was!

 

[Greg]

Any ness users use anything other than the delta at center? I hate that delta, it hangs every now and then and gives you that little jerk when it rotates makes you think for a milli second that you had some type of gear failure. I've been thinking about trying a large pear but have not found any locally, and have been reluctant to order one.

--Other than that I really like my ness, Been thinking about getting a new saddle (glide, butterfly, X) but may just get another ness, it is so darn comfy. But gotta fix the delta issue!!

Greg

 

[Lumberjack]

Originally posted by Greg
Any ness users use anything other than the delta at center? I hate that delta, it hangs every now and then and gives you that little jerk when it rotates makes you think for a milli second that you had some type of gear failure. I've been thinking about trying a large pear but have not found any locally, and have been reluctant to order one.

--Other than that I really like my ness, Been thinking about getting a new saddle (glide, butterfly, X) but may just get another ness, it is so darn comfy. But gotta fix the delta issue!!

Greg

I am gonna try a pearlink. It should be much smoother. I know about the straps catchin, but its never scared me when it poped off tho. The poppin off doesnt bother me, it just looks anoying to me.

Pear should fix it hopefully. Doenst bother me that much tho.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Originally posted by Greg
... makes you think for a milli second that you had some type of gear failure.

That feeling goes away after a couple hundred times!

 

[OutOnaLimb]

That saddle looks pretty sporty, how is it for doing removals?

 

[Lumberjack]

Originally posted by OutOnaLimb
That saddle looks pretty sporty, how is it for doing removals?

Whatdaya mean? I do most of removals on rope, however that is startin to change now that I am using DdRT, but it is mostly on rope still.

Are ya talkin about how well it supports your back when using spikes and a lanyard? It is comfy for that too... a wide back support.

To me this saddle flat out rocks!!

 

[jamie]

mallion rapides

as for pear/ tear drop link shaped ones i had one and promptly changed it as i kept getting both of my caribiners jammed in it, i prefer the semi circle ones.....the pear one kept jumping as well

jamie

 

[TREETX]

Originally posted by OutOnaLimb
That saddle looks pretty sporty, how is it for doing removals?

what is with the myth that light, sporty saddles are no good for removals

This is a stock Bfly doing removals. One patient climber. He waited up there for 30 minutes with the saw, on spikes, waiting for a new resident to finish moving into the cemetery.

 

[OutOnaLimb]

Cool deal, thanks for the info, I guess I was still under the misconception that you used one saddle for pruning and a seperate one for spiking and doing removals. Thanks for the enlightenment. Im gonna have to check out that Ness work saddle when things around here pick up.

Kenn

 

[TREETX]

Didn't mean to derail the thread. I was just curious as several people insinuate that sporty saddles aren't good for removals. I think mine is comfy.

Guess it is preference. I think some people exchange comfort for light weight when pruning but when loaded with an 066, boots, and spikes figure another 5-6lbs of saddle is worth the extra comfort.

I think the BFly is comfy but others may prefer a wider back, etc.

We have a really great selection of saddles out there compared to 5-6 years ago.

.02

 

[Burnham]

I've used both the delta link and the pear on my Ness. I think you're going to find that the pear has the same problem with hanging one strap in the closure nut as the delta. I suppose if you mounted the pear small end up, it initially would not be inclined to hang, but as soon as you work around in the tree with some slack in your rope, it will turn on you and have the possibility for snagging again.

I can't say this has ever been much of an issue for me, but I reckon it might bother some.

I do find that the saddle is a mite easier to get into and out of without removing the screw link if you use the pear, as it is a little longer, so gives a bit of wiggle room. It also gives more room for multiple binner attachments, and makes changeover to a descent device from ascenders while on rope easier.

I spend lots of time on spurs in my Ness, and agree it's great for that application, too.

 

[kurtztree]

You guys that have the ness saddle I have a question. Does that saddle have an adjustable belt or do you just step in it and if it is alittle loose around the waist you cant tighten it?

 

[tophopper]

The waist is fully adjustable, the legstraps are not, they are typically made to fit your legs when you order from ness.
Regarding the delta link issue, I never liked the way I was supported when I clipped into the delta ( as ness recommends), I prefer a lower center of gravity so I just clip right into the d ring. This to me made all the difference in the world.
Ive been on the B'fly for over 2 years now, and have not used my ness much, before the b'fly, my ness was the most comfortable saddle I had ever worn. For removals, it works well, but I mainly use it for small tree pruning

 

[kurtztree]

Thank You for the response

 

[046]

I'm glad I found this thread. I'm planing on ordering a custom ness saddle.

I like:

1. hardware setup on the work saddle.
2. loops on the pro-gear saddle.
3. vertical leg loops on the smoke jumper
4. small D's on work saddle
5. pear link on smoke jumper
6. large leg support on all

I'm ordering a work saddle w/extra horizontal loops, extra vertical loops on leg straps and stainless pear link.

I use DRT with a 13mm spit tail. I was planning on a pear link to give me extra hookup space.

Would an oval link work better?

I'm planning to use a 16' DEDA triple fishman to side D w/9mm distal. With rope running thru back ring to tend extra length.

The largest saw I'll be hauling around will be my 335 and only for the larger cuts. Most of the time I'll be using my silky.

Any suggestions?

 

[Burnham]

046--I don't think the oval link would be a good choice. It is an asymetric shape; that would always place the screw barrel in conflict with either the legstrap D ring, the waiststrap loops, or the rope attachment biner.

Tophopper--At some point in the past, New Tribe either printed or verbally told me that either the delta or the legstrap D were appropriate choices for clipping into, for just the reason you stated: allowing for differing centers of balance. I use the delta for ascending and working, and the D for long descents.

 

[Rob Murphy]

Delta

I run a delta on my Traverse as the slider...i keep it from moving around by tieing a medium bungee cord. I am looking hard at a Ness as my next Harness.