new saddle model

[Stumper]

Rob, I think you'll like it. I have no experience with the Traverse so I can't give you a comparison but I think that Tom Ness really came up with a gem In the New Tribe Work Saddle.

 

[Lumberjack]

Originally posted by Stumper
Rob, I think you'll like it. I have no experience with the Traverse so I can't give you a comparison but I think that Tom Ness really came up with a gem In the New Tribe Work Saddle.

+1 It is a great saddle.

 

[rumination]

Well, I finally ordered a New Tribe saddle yesterday. Can't wait for it to get here!

 

[Burnham]

Make sure you let us hear how you like it, Leon.

 

[rumination]

Don't worry, I will!!

 

[rumination]

Well, I finally got my Smoke Jumper in the mail. I've only climbed one tree with it, but I'm liking it a lot already. First off it is incredibly comfortable. I originally tried clipping into the pear link which did not feel good at all. Then I clipped into the D-ring which was just a tad too far in the opposite direction. So I clipped into both at the same time and it was perfect. Excellent leg mobility, although I was hoping the semi-sliding D would provide a little more hip pivoting action.

I really like the simplicity of this saddle. All I've got to do now is to reconfigure my gear for maximum streamlining, and it'll be smooth sliding through the branches. For my next saddle I'm going to have to go for a custom Ness.

For anyone trying to make up their mind, try a Ness Saddle. You won't be dissapointed!

 

[Lumberjack]

Originally posted by rumination
For anyone trying to make up their mind, try a Ness Saddle. You won't be dissapointed!

Sounds like something i would say.....

 

[Tree Machine]

quote:
I run a delta on my Traverse as the slider...
says our Tasmanian friend.

I too use the delta as a slider. Using a Petzl William with a plastic roller is inferior as you must work with the caribiner in an inverted position. I prefer a steel biner up front as my life link, but that's just me.

To keep the delta from flipping around, I modified the delta's screw gate as shown in the picture. The modification makes the delta 'toolless' as the new 'key' allows you to open, close, and tighten the gate with just your fingers. If the gate starts to loosen, you are visually made aware of it immediately. I've never really had the need to take the delta off.

This was the first one I made, about three years ago. It works as you would want it to, i.e., never, ever flips around. It was done with a stick welder, but other ones I've made were with a TIG welder, shielding the delta from the heat, for an aircraft quality weld. .02

 

[Burnham]

Rumination--I 'tol ya so! Glad the Ness is working out for you. When you say you are clipping into both the pear link and the D at the same time do you mean the standing end of your lifeline on one and friction hitch on the other? Can you post a picture?

 

[rumination]

This is still in the experimental stage, but I am clipping my lifeline biner to both the pear link and the center D. This brings the pear link up an inch or two, and so shifts my center of gravity forward a tad. My friction hitch is just clipped into the center D. I am not sure that this really makes enough of a difference to make it worthwhile, cause trying to capture the the D ring and the pear link with the biner while in an awkward spot is a pain in the butt.

Burnham, do you clip both lifeline end and friction hitch on the center D? I was thinking about trying a carabiner chain like Big John uses, but I know some frown upon this.

oh, and thanks for the great recommendation!

 

[Burnham]

Leon, I clip both the standing end of my lifeline and my friction hitch to the pear link...two biners or a biner and a snaphook banging together.

I don't see how you could hook up both the pear and the D to the same biner without getting into a bind...the D and the pear are oriented 90 degrees from each other, so it seems you would put an odd twist/strain on one or both of them when loaded. So, or not so???

For some dumb reason it never occurred to me to hook up my lifeline to one and my hitch to the other until your post got me to thinking how you might be doing it. I'm going to try that. One possible downside might be that you would have a constantly changing balance point...that might not be too swift. It'll be fun to give it a whirl...I never have left my system alone for too very long; always messing with some little change or another.

I'm really glad you have found the Ness to your liking...I have never met anyone who climbed in one that didn't find it comfortable. I would like to try the Butterfly someday just to see what all the fuss is about, but the difference in cost will likely keep me in the Ness when replacement time comes around, considering how much I like it generally.

 

[rumination]

Burnham, I tried it again and decided to dump the idea of clipping into the pear link and the D ring at the same time. I don't think it puts undue stress on either of them as the fabric parts of the saddle twist ever so slightly to accomodate the off center pulling force. However, it is too much of a pain in the butt and too sloppy to make it worthwhile. For the same reason, I don't think clipping lifeline to one and friction hitch to the other would work too well, but I'll also have to give that a shot to see, just out of curiosity. Let us know what you figure out.