Ultimate Climbing set up

[JS Landscaping]

Hey guys, with spring comming, looking into getting a whole new climbing set up, maybe try something differnt...currently climbing on a weaver saddle with the leather straps as a seat retainer, usings a blakes hitch on samson blue streak climbing line...with a double ended flip line..works great and all but looking to upgrade. Was thinking of trying out a flip line with an acender to make it easier to cinch up or release instead of fighting with a knot on a prussik, although i would loose having 2 working ends. Got a chance to try out a sherrill saddle on thursday, with leg straps instead of a butt strap, and the attachment point was directing more tward my legs instead of the waist like the weaver saddle....spent about an hour in a hemlock deadwooding and doing storm damage repair, felt like I was in heaven in that saddle. Easy to manuver, felt very secure and comfortable. Anyone using the tree motion saddle? had my eye on it now, looking for some opinons on it....what would be your ideal set up for climbing?

 

[Nailsbeats]

I am still old school in many aspects, but I do believe I got the saddle thing down. I went from a Buckingham buttstrap to a Komet Butterfly. I have to give a huge shout out to the leggstraps and the floating ring. They have made all the difference in comfort whether hanging or moving. I did a twist in it the other day and had a flashback to how much that would have usually torqued my back, no more!

Take it another step and check out the Dragonfly with the board seat, ultimate in low stress. Just ask Oldirty, I am sure he will tell ya.

I have sat in the Treemotion and dont think you could go wrong there. Fancy rope and flipline setups I have not (yet), so if you want progressive there, I am not your man. Good luck.

 

[DonnyO]

looks like you have plenty of room to upgrade. I'll second the Dragonfly, but get rid of the wimpy bridge it comes with and use a swivel instead of the ring. A word of caution about the motion, it hasn't been out a full year yet and people are reporting excessive wear issues.

 

[arbormonkey]

I like the Buckingham versatile for the multiple tie in points and the option of switching to floating D's. The eye-eye split tail for tying a distil or swabisch with a micro pulley for a fair lead makes for easy one handed slack tending. I still like the two in one lanyard, but added a micro pulley to one side of the prussik.:monkey:

 

[TimberMcPherson]

I just got a lockjack sport and found my Buckingham traverse isnt up to the job (as the LJ sits to far from the body on the sliding D) so I am looking at a new saddle as well. Im thinking a tree austria or petzl navaho. I like rigid seats, but wouldnt mind trying the tree motion, tree magic or something simular. Ah so many saddles, only so much $ and opportunity to try them.

 

[ropensaddle]

I think the ultimate climbing set up would be a large crane.

 

[reachtreeservi]

I like the Buckingham versatile for the multiple tie in points and the option of switching to floating D's. The eye-eye split tail for tying a distil or swabisch with a micro pulley for a fair lead makes for easy one handed slack tending. I still like the two in one lanyard, but added a micro pulley to one side of the prussik.:monkey:

You can't use a slack tending pulley on a two in one lanyard. Not without removing or switching the pulley every time you change ends.
Think about it.....

 

[woodchux]

You could set up a 2 in one lanyard with an ascender as the primary adjustment / primary use end... But add a prussic with a pulley for the times when you are using the opposite end.

 

[JS Landscaping]

I was kicking over the idea of using 2 lanyards, both with micro accenders on them to take up the slack and release, but im not too sure if it would be too much bulk having 2 slack adjusters on one side on the d-ring...might borrow the other climbers slack adjuster with one line set up tomorow and see how i like it....Got another chance to climb in a sherrill tree saddle today, trying to figure out what model it is, its green and yellow in color, has multiple attachment point bridge, with the leg straps, wide back, really feel good in the tree with it...the date of manufacture says 04...maybe they dont make it anymore? almost looks like the buckingham master series, except it has a bridge like the versatile series...but it has a sherrill patch on the back. looked at the dragonfly in the sherrill catolauge last night, does seem like it would be comfortable. anyone climbing on a rope bridge with a hitch climber pulley? seems like it would be pretty comfortable....so many decisions to make...thanks for the imput so far guys!

 

[DonnyO]

. anyone climbing on a rope bridge with a hitch climber pulley?

Hitchclimber works waaaaaaaay better as a slack tender.

 

[Magnum783]

It most likely is a Buckingham saddle which is who makes the Sherill line of saddles. I have one that is made in 06 and it is red and black. I think it is called the Master Deluxe, not sure though will check if you would like. I love it and it works great I made one mild bridge alteration I made my own using a piece of ultra tech and two BF2 clevis. I got the idea off AS here so search and you may find it. Also you spoke of going to two lanyards. I use two; one steel core 10' with a micro grab and a 18' Velocity with a micro pulley and distel. Works great having both on one side. Sometimes a little crowded but I often use the velocity one for a redirect or a short climbing line for lack of better terms. Example I go up on spurs because I doing a removal and I need to walk out on a limb a short ways I can use that real easy because everything is already tied and I used a biner to hold it to side dee so just quick detach and attach to bridge. It is kinda short for limb walking but works in a pinch. Hope that makes sense. The velocity one does get in the way a little being that it is so long but the advantages out weigh the dis. Hope this helps I may have just confused you further.

 

[Magnum783]

Hitchclimber works waaaaaaaay better as a slack tender.

Can you post some pics of your hitch climber uses Donny O. I am quite curious about this new little gadget.

 

[DonnyO]

borrowed this pic, but I believe it's what you're looking for

 

[arbormonkey]

You can't use a slack tending pulley on a two in one lanyard. Not without removing or switching the pulley every time you change ends.
Think about it.....

True you cannot put tension on the end with the pulley as it will slack out. I only use the two in one on climbs with scaffold branching, using one end to position and the other for "free" climbing. Otherwise I use the spit tail tie in as a secondary connection point. Thank you for pointing that out, I wouldn't want someone to have a slip.

 

[reachtreeservi]

It most likely is a Buckingham saddle which is who makes the Sherill line of saddles. I have one that is made in 06 and it is red and black. I think it is called the Master Deluxe, not sure though will check if you would like. I love it and it works great I made one mild bridge alteration I made my own using a piece of ultra tech and two BF2 clevis. I got the idea off AS here so search and you may find it. Also you spoke of going to two lanyards. I use two; one steel core 10' with a micro grab and a 18' Velocity with a micro pulley and distel. Works great having both on one side. Sometimes a little crowded but I often use the velocity one for a redirect or a short climbing line for lack of better terms. Example I go up on spurs because I doing a removal and I need to walk out on a limb a short ways I can use that real easy because everything is already tied and I used a biner to hold it to side dee so just quick detach and attach to bridge. It is kinda short for limb walking but works in a pinch. Hope that makes sense. The velocity one does get in the way a little being that it is so long but the advantages out weigh the dis. Hope this helps I may have just confused you further.

Hey Magnum, which set up do you have on the top, connected to your dee?
The distel with a pulley or the micro grab?

 

[Magnum783]

You know that is a good question. Either one shows up on top. Which ever I use last. I usually end up with the micro on top because I like to climb with the SC much better. It makes no diff which is on top though I used a OX carbiner to hold it all. I will attach pic. Shoot any more Questions would love to answer them.
Jared

 

[JS Landscaping]

Thanks for all the replys guys, comming up with a better picture on how I want my set up to be, definatly going to try using 2 separate flip lines with the slack adjusters, the double ended flip line is nice for security purposes especially in free climbing something tricky before tying in with a climbing line. Just hate having to fight the friction knot on the line every time need to adjust it. Also one more question, a few weeks ago I used a set of gaffs that were my formans, he said the spikes were pointed slightly on a angle inward twards your toes, which helps it dig into the tree better instead of strait down spike...Also what is the differnce between the european style gaff and the american? Looking at getting a pair of the lightwieght gecko's with the large wrap pad around your calf. Even tho half the time im climbing without spikes because 60 percent of the time is usually deadwooding or trimming, the company I work for is big in tree preservation, which is great. Nothing better then climbing up huge trees to trim and preserve them. Are the friction knots with the mirco pullys easier or more efficent then climbing on a blakes hitch like I currently am? Sorry for all the questions, just trying to learn as much as possible...

 

[clearance]

Now I can add something, I use a Buckingham butt seat saddle with two floating Ds. Anyways, about spurs. I have climbed with Kliens, which have offset, (bent angle) gaffs, they are ok, but I prefer my Buckingham straight shank 3" gaffs. They dig in better and I gaff out less. When you are in hard trees it seems that more force is put into them from your feet. You may have to get different boots as well, heavy soled steel shank boots with higher heels. They work well with spurs, especially if you use them a lot.

 

[1I'dJak]

funny reading this...everything sounds so light....for forestry climbing i'm climbing with two wirecores, 15 & 18', with petzl macrograbs, 180' of 7/16ths rope in the ropebag, two small metal gas/oil bottles, a radio with a mic, caulk boots, my kleins, my grapple with 45' of 8 mil line, helmet with muffs and screen, cutting pants, 2.5lb axe with wedges, and my 200t...then when it starts pishing out you add another 15 lbs of westcoast liquid sunshine!

 

[1I'dJak]

oh, and a figure 8 and a water bottle!