I was wondering if anybody has used the saddle X. What are the pros and cons of it? I tried one on and it was very comfy except for the leg straps seem to pinch the back of my leg maybe because I'm not used to wearing saddles with leg straps. Then I tried on a butterfly that was very comfortable except for the two straps that go between the legs would irritate my baby maker. So now my question is for you guys that switched from saddles that did not have leg straps to saddles with leg straps did the straps seem to(pinch) irritate the back of your legs till you got used to it or is it just me?
Saddle X
- Thread starter kurtztree
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MasterBlaster
TreeHouse Elder
I've used buttstrap/bosun seat saddles since '77. Mostly Weavers, one Traverse.
My latest saddle is a Weaver leg-strap model.
I will NEVER go back to a buttstrap saddle again. The ROM of a leg-strap saddle is VASTLY SUPERIOR to a BStrap version.
I also cinch-up the legstraps as tight as I can get them. I tried loose, I tried tight, and tight works best for me. I have no problem with the legstraps holding my bodyweight.
LEGSTRAP SADDLES RULE!!!
Uhhh, IMO.
The bosun seat of the Traverse I had was bulky, and seemed to get in the way.
I'm gonna try New Tribe next.
Here are some good saddle threads;
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10024&highlight=climbing+saddle
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11410&highlight=climbing+saddle
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9882&highlight=climbing+saddle
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1158&highlight=climbing+spurs
BTW, what is a saddle X?
My latest saddle is a Weaver leg-strap model.
I will NEVER go back to a buttstrap saddle again. The ROM of a leg-strap saddle is VASTLY SUPERIOR to a BStrap version.
I also cinch-up the legstraps as tight as I can get them. I tried loose, I tried tight, and tight works best for me. I have no problem with the legstraps holding my bodyweight.
LEGSTRAP SADDLES RULE!!!
Uhhh, IMO.
The bosun seat of the Traverse I had was bulky, and seemed to get in the way.
I'm gonna try New Tribe next.
Here are some good saddle threads;
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10024&highlight=climbing+saddle
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11410&highlight=climbing+saddle
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9882&highlight=climbing+saddle
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1158&highlight=climbing+spurs
BTW, what is a saddle X?
MB That is the name of the saddle. Fresco arborist sells them. You can go on there website and they have picture of it on there. The name is Saddle X. Almost identical to the butterfly saddle. Did the leg straps pinch your legs at first too?
MasterBlaster
TreeHouse Elder
Fresco, eh?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Tom Dunlap
Addicted to ArboristSite
Actually, there are many differences between the X and B'fly.
Tom
Tom
Kneejerk Bombas
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Butt strap=Ford Pinto
Leg strap=Indy car
Leg strap=Indy car
MasterBlaster
TreeHouse Elder
EXCELLENT POST!!!
Uhhhhhh, YOU? Agree with ME?
I knew it would eventually happen, just not so soon, but I have to agree with MB. I started with a Pinnicle and have just recieved a 1038 Weaver.
The first thing I noticed was the mobility in the Weaver, secondly I liked the adjustability ('cause up here you could be in a snow suit in the am. and in your shirt sleeves in the pm.). Not sying that the Pinnicle is a bad saddle, but there could be an easier way to adjust the leg straps.
On the other side of things is the "Centre of Gravity Issue", theWeaver is going to leave you up-side-down in a slip/fall, while the Buck has a higher centre.
Just my thoughts, I don't know any better.... still climb when its -15 degrees C.
Brent
The first thing I noticed was the mobility in the Weaver, secondly I liked the adjustability ('cause up here you could be in a snow suit in the am. and in your shirt sleeves in the pm.). Not sying that the Pinnicle is a bad saddle, but there could be an easier way to adjust the leg straps.
On the other side of things is the "Centre of Gravity Issue", theWeaver is going to leave you up-side-down in a slip/fall, while the Buck has a higher centre.
Just my thoughts, I don't know any better.... still climb when its -15 degrees C.
Brent
NickfromWI
Addicted to ArboristSite
MB, I've got a present for you......
Fresco Arborsit Supplies
I tried the saddle X. The adjustability of the leg straps is good. I like how the the leg strap adjustments and bridge adjustments come together at that large aluminum attacment point.
If you spend a lot of time in the gaffs, you'll like this saddle. It has the widest back I've ever seen. I don't spend a lot of time on spikes and didn't like the back pad. When you bent over to go under a branch, the pad would sometimes get caught on the branch.
The gear loops on the back run up and down, rather than just the loops that all other saddles have. They are awesome! It is a natural motion to reach back and clip something to those vertical straps. For those of you that don't like those, you can cut them off and there are standard gear loops below them that you'll like.
There is no loop on the side to hang your chainsaw. You'll have to put a carabiner or something in there for that.
And regarding Rocky's assessment of who uses individual leg straps vs the butt straps. Yeah, he's right. You'll find individual leg straps on competition climbers more than on the average tree worker. But you'll also find the tautline hitch on non-competition climbers, too. Comp climbers tend to be more in-the-know. I liked the individual straps right when I started because I am a rock climber and it was a natural thing for me to do (rock climbing harnesses have individual leg straps.)
To say, "Legstrap saddles are good for fast young bucks trying to impress everybody with their speed" has a negative connotation to it. It is like saying that if you are just using this saddle for work, then you don't need the leg straps. So unless you're gonna compete, get a bosun seat.
That's just not true. Everyone likes different things. If you were to get a truck full of leg strap saddles and drove around the country to job sites letting guys try them, I'm sure you'd get a lot of guys to trade. Many stores stock mostly butt-strap saddles, and guys go in to buy a saddle and just get what they have on the wall, not knowing that there may be better options. This, in my humble but well-travelled opinion is the reason that there are so many guys with butt-strap or bosun seat saddles.
I like leg straps, and I like being comfortable. I leave the straps a little loose and it's much more friendly for the boys
Take it easy on the young bucks, rock!
love
nick
Fresco Arborsit Supplies
I tried the saddle X. The adjustability of the leg straps is good. I like how the the leg strap adjustments and bridge adjustments come together at that large aluminum attacment point.
If you spend a lot of time in the gaffs, you'll like this saddle. It has the widest back I've ever seen. I don't spend a lot of time on spikes and didn't like the back pad. When you bent over to go under a branch, the pad would sometimes get caught on the branch.
The gear loops on the back run up and down, rather than just the loops that all other saddles have. They are awesome! It is a natural motion to reach back and clip something to those vertical straps. For those of you that don't like those, you can cut them off and there are standard gear loops below them that you'll like.
There is no loop on the side to hang your chainsaw. You'll have to put a carabiner or something in there for that.
And regarding Rocky's assessment of who uses individual leg straps vs the butt straps. Yeah, he's right. You'll find individual leg straps on competition climbers more than on the average tree worker. But you'll also find the tautline hitch on non-competition climbers, too. Comp climbers tend to be more in-the-know. I liked the individual straps right when I started because I am a rock climber and it was a natural thing for me to do (rock climbing harnesses have individual leg straps.)
To say, "Legstrap saddles are good for fast young bucks trying to impress everybody with their speed" has a negative connotation to it. It is like saying that if you are just using this saddle for work, then you don't need the leg straps. So unless you're gonna compete, get a bosun seat.
That's just not true. Everyone likes different things. If you were to get a truck full of leg strap saddles and drove around the country to job sites letting guys try them, I'm sure you'd get a lot of guys to trade. Many stores stock mostly butt-strap saddles, and guys go in to buy a saddle and just get what they have on the wall, not knowing that there may be better options. This, in my humble but well-travelled opinion is the reason that there are so many guys with butt-strap or bosun seat saddles.
I like leg straps, and I like being comfortable. I leave the straps a little loose and it's much more friendly for the boys
Take it easy on the young bucks, rock!
love
nick
NickfromWI
Addicted to ArboristSite
The pictures...
Front of the X....
If you look at the where the leg straps and bridge meet, you can get an idea of why they call it the X!
Front of the X....
If you look at the where the leg straps and bridge meet, you can get an idea of why they call it the X!
MasterBlaster
TreeHouse Elder
Thanks Nick, but I don't think I'll be ordering this bulky-looking beeotch anytime soon!
NickfromWI
Addicted to ArboristSite
Back view...
Notice the size of the back pad...
Notice the size of the back pad...
Tom Dunlap
Addicted to ArboristSite
X is made to meet CE but it hasn't gone in for CE certification yet.
Tom
Tom
MasterBlaster
TreeHouse Elder
GEEZ! That IS a HUGE backpad!
NickfromWI
Addicted to ArboristSite
If you plan on buying this saddle, have your scissors handy. The straps are all way long, and need to be trimmed. It gets to be a hassle having those things flopping around. The saddle I was using wasn't mine, or else theyda been trimmed, heat sealed and the ends sew down to minimize flappage.
love
nick
love
nick
John Paul Sanborn
Above average climber
I looked at it and want to try it out. they don't have my size yet.
It's was designed by climbers for climbers, and Fresco is a very responsible compnay.
The saddle has been tested to ANSI ansd OSHA standards. They're main line of buisness is utility supplies, so they have some background in this.
That all said, there is no "perfect saddle". many will like one and others will not.
Hope they get the LG saddles in so i can try one out!
I was busting on them at the WAA convention about stealing the Newtribe (oh excuse me, improving on...) leg strap
It's was designed by climbers for climbers, and Fresco is a very responsible compnay.
The saddle has been tested to ANSI ansd OSHA standards. They're main line of buisness is utility supplies, so they have some background in this.
That all said, there is no "perfect saddle". many will like one and others will not.
Hope they get the LG saddles in so i can try one out!
I was busting on them at the WAA convention about stealing the Newtribe (oh excuse me, improving on...) leg strap
Lumberjack
Banned
It resembles the Ness, and I think that I would love it. The backpad may be a little excessive, but I think that it would be alright. I may try it here when I get money to burn. I like that the leg straps are adjustable, unlike the Ness, but to me the legs pads are awsome compared to the glides strap. The Ness comes with 2 pass through slots on each side that I used a Kong biner to store my junk on.
I love my ness, one of the few things that I would change would be make the legstaps adjustable, like the X's, so that I could cinch it up in the back without the straps messin with the love machine.
Really expensive, but I would bet that it is comfy. My ness feels kinda like the rope just spreads around my body and is holding me. The ness is comfy, and I am liking the X more and more.
I still aint got the rear TIP on my Ness, but I wish I did sometimes. I wish that there was a pass through on the X and the ness. Or even a loop like on buckingham's.
Carl
I love my ness, one of the few things that I would change would be make the legstaps adjustable, like the X's, so that I could cinch it up in the back without the straps messin with the love machine.
Really expensive, but I would bet that it is comfy. My ness feels kinda like the rope just spreads around my body and is holding me. The ness is comfy, and I am liking the X more and more.
I still aint got the rear TIP on my Ness, but I wish I did sometimes. I wish that there was a pass through on the X and the ness. Or even a loop like on buckingham's.
Carl
NickfromWI
Addicted to ArboristSite
I'm not sure that that rear loop is an attachment point? I have one on my master II, too. Is that for life support?
love
nick
love
nick
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