Thinking I want to switch from a heavy safety vest to a harness, need recomendations

[gregtpal]

Thanks for the info.  I think I like the rock climbing harness since its only on waist & legs.  I don't worry much about suspension trauma because I'm not planning on hanging around long after a fall.  I'm either climbing back in the stand or shimmying down the tree if the stand is gone.  I would like to buy all I need rather than start fabricating though.

[electric10162]

48 minutes ago, hammer4reel said:

That harness is still a suspension harness .

‘I absolutely will not wear that type of harness.

they are all known for suspension trauma, as well as possibly ripping your nuts off during a fall.

‘If you get hung up to get righted to the tree, or disconnect your harness is tough .

we have done drills at work just lifting guys inches off the ground , and  most can not get righted in the trauma straps,quickly , and even fewer can in buckle the strap that’s now pulled above their head .

 

a RC harness on a fall  sets you back towards the tree allowing you to easily get back to Safty.

it also is 1/10th an obstruction to shooting a bow all around the tree as  the typical tree harnesses are .

 

Great info Dan. I'm not in the shape I was 10 years ago. The Black Diamond RC harnesses look  like a great alternative to the standard suspension type. 

[hammer4reel]

1 minute ago, electric10162 said:

Great info Dan. I'm not in the shape I was 10 years ago. The Black Diamond RC harnesses look  like a great alternative to the standard suspension type. 

I won’t wear the other type . 
 

I use the Black Diamond bod and alpine bod . 
 

I took the gear loops off the harnesses I hunt with so they are even less profiled . 
 

On the bod harness I left the gear straps so I can use them to hold my sticks as I set them . 
 

and I use a conventional Hss lineman’s belt with a rope man 1 . 
to set both sticks and stands . 
 

a rabbit runner to attach to tree above stand for hunting tie off 

[vdep217]

1 hour ago, gregtpal said:

Thanks for the info.  I think I like the rock climbing harness since its only on waist & legs.  I don't worry much about suspension trauma because I'm not planning on hanging around long after a fall.  I'm either climbing back in the stand or shimmying down the tree if the stand is gone.  I would like to buy all I need rather than start fabricating though.

What's long to you?  Suspension trauma can set in in 5 minutes.  What if you are unconscious or break a bone upon fall leg gets caught in stand arm ec.  The point of the fall arrest apparatus is to be prepared for the just in case.  As Dan said with a regular harness most people can not right themselves a few inches off ground let alone 20 ft in a tree

[gregtpal]

1 hour ago, hammer4reel said:

I won’t wear the other type . 
 

I use the Black Diamond bod and alpine bod . 
 

I took the gear loops off the harnesses I hunt with so they are even less profiled . 
 

On the bod harness I left the gear straps so I can use them to hold my sticks as I set them . 
 

and I use a conventional Hss lineman’s belt with a rope man 1 . 
to set both sticks and stands . 
 

a rabbit runner to attach to tree above stand for hunting tie off 

OK.  I'm either getting the alpine BOD or the BOD.  Any suggestion on which one?  Do you think I can tie off with the lineman's belt & skip the rabbit runner & ascender?

[mazzgolf]

26 minutes ago, vdep217 said:

What's long to you?  Suspension trauma can set in in 5 minutes.

That's why I say people should try it themselves. I couldn't believe it when I did. I mean, I literally had pain shooting through my groin area within 1 to 2 minutes. I couldn't believe how fast it took to get as bad as it got.

And when I say test - I mean, don't hold yourself up by holding on to anything. Go up one or two steps on a ladder stand and hang off, putting all your weight on the harness (just like if you were hanging after a fall). Don't cheat. See how long you can last.

2 minutes ago, gregtpal said:

I'm either getting the alpine BOD or the BOD.

I only have experience with the BOD. But I know others have the alpine and like it too. Either way you go should be good, but I can't say for sure. But I will say this though - check the size! I'm not big by any stretch (6', 170 lbs) and I bought an XL. Reasons are (1) ever see a fat mountain climber?   I think the sizes run small because most mountain climbers aren't 250, 300 pounds (2) you are going to be wearing bulkier clothing than the shorts and light shirts most mountain climbers wear. So you need to take into consideration.

[vdep217]

57 minutes ago, mazzgolf said:

That's why I say people should try it themselves. I couldn't believe it when I did. I mean, I literally had pain shooting through my groin area within 1 to 2 minutes. I couldn't believe how fast it took to get as bad as it got.

And when I say test - I mean, don't hold yourself up by holding on to anything. Go up one or two steps on a ladder stand and hang off, putting all your weight on the harness (just like if you were hanging after a fall). Don't cheat. See how long you can last.

I only have experience with the BOD. But I know others have the alpine and like it too. Either way you go should be good, but I can't say for sure. But I will say this though - check the size! I'm not big by any stretch (6', 170 lbs) and I bought an XL. Reasons are (1) ever see a fat mountain climber?   I think the sizes run small because most mountain climbers aren't 250, 300 pounds (2) you are going to be wearing bulkier clothing than the shorts and light shirts most mountain climbers wear. So you need to take into consideration.

When I was an active hunter Ed instructor I would demonstrate a fall.  My harness has 2 relief straps attached and 2 screw ins rubber banded on strap.

[Haskell_Hunter]

I have this one:  https://huntersafetysystem.com/collections/harness-pre-load/products/real-tree-ultra-lite

Comes with a lineman's belt.  Also comes with a relief strap, which you should carry with you and learn how to use.  I am very happy with it.

 

[gregtpal]

13 hours ago, Haskell_Hunter said:

I have this one:  https://huntersafetysystem.com/collections/harness-pre-load/products/real-tree-ultra-lite

Comes with a lineman's belt.  Also comes with a relief strap, which you should carry with you and learn how to use.  I am very happy with it.

 

I'm currently using this vest. I bought it off someone on njh years ago.  Its good but heavy.  I'm changing because rc harnesses are very light & nothing above the waist lets me wear it on walk in then quickly put on or off  heavy upper layers even while in a climbing stand without disconnecting from tree

[Zipper]

I switched to  a rock climbing system years ago.  Best thing I ever did. 

[gregtpal]

4 hours ago, Zipper said:

I switched to  a rock climbing system years ago.  Best thing I ever did. 

Enough people said the same so I went ahead & ordered a black diamond bod & hss linesman rope.  I already have an extra carabiner so That sshould get me started & I'll add as I need if I need.  Hoping the linesman rope will also serve as my tether

Edited December 4, 2021 by gregtpal

[hammer4reel]

12 minutes ago, gregtpal said:

Enough people said the same so I went ahead & ordered a black diamond bod & hss linesman rope.  I already have an extra carabiner so That sshould get me started & I'll add as I need if I need.  Hoping the linesman rope will also serve as my tether

You can use your linens as the strap on the tree . 
it’s not correct for use while in the stand .

buy a 4’ rabbit runner . That attaches to the Front of your harness . Hang the lineman’s /Safty belt approx eye level .

the rabbit runner will hang along side you and not encumber your movements unless you surpass a full circle .

It will be just long enough for you to sit down still with just enough clearance it doesn’t pull on you .

 

[hammer4reel]

Rabbit runner , can also be made of climbing rope . I personally like the tubular web(rabbit runner ) as it hangs cleaner 

[hammer4reel]

[gregtpal]

6 hours ago, hammer4reel said:

Just ordered a black 4' rr.  Thanks for the advice.