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Best rock climbing harness for hunting?

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mlima5

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Seriously considering making the switch for this year. What RC harness is everyone using? Not looking for crazy expensive, around $100 preferred. Would love to have loops for a linemans belt but I know this isnt too common with a RC harness so not totally necessary.

Any recommendations?

Also, anyone make the switch and end up regretting it?
 
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#7 ·
I have a older Black Diamond Couloir harness its black and grey, it is quick to get in and out of cause it has clips not buckels, i really like it a lot.
 
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#8 ·
As a rock climber as well I strongly caution the use of a sit harness. They are not designed for a head first fall, which is most likely going to be the case in a tree stand fall. That is why the anchor point on a deer harness or electrical workers harness is at the top back. They are designed to keep you up right in a fall. In a rock climbing harness there is a chance that when you tumble head first you can slip through the hip belt. This is why in rock climbing you make sure that you can only get 2 fingers between the belt and your stomach. I have at least 7 rock climbing harnesses and I will never use them in a tree stand. Too dangerous.

Just my $.02

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
#9 ·
enkriss said:
Black diamond vario speed - $50
Click to expand...
FYI I have one and I'm X-large (40 waist) and I'm at the end of it's adjustments. Got mine on Ebay for $35. This one has no loops for a linesmen, the only time I would use a linesman is to hang sticks and hang-on, a conventional safety harness with loops would work for that, if the stand breaks out you still would be able to right yourself and climb down the sticks. If my climber breaks out I want a RC harness so I can right my large self easily and not die from suspension trauma.
 
#10 ·
abock33 said:
As a rock climber as well I strongly caution the use of a sit harness. They are not designed for a head first fall, which is most likely going to be the case in a tree stand fall. That is why the anchor point on a deer harness or electrical workers harness is at the top back. They are designed to keep you up right in a fall. In a rock climbing harness there is a chance that when you tumble head first you can slip through the hip belt. This is why in rock climbing you make sure that you can only get 2 fingers between the belt and your stomach. I have at least 7 rock climbing harnesses and I will never use them in a tree stand. Too dangerous.

Just my $.02

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I too climbed, for nearly 20 years.
I’m very familiar with the equipment and have taken hundereds of falls.
That said, I totally disagree with your post as far as a climbing harness being dangerous in a tree stand fall scenario.
To fall head first from a stand, you’d literally have to dive off the platform.
Not physically possible with a safety line properly tethered.
 
#11 ·
#13 ·
abock33 said:
As a rock climber as well I strongly caution the use of a sit harness. They are not designed for a head first fall, which is most likely going to be the case in a tree stand fall. That is why the anchor point on a deer harness or electrical workers harness is at the top back. They are designed to keep you up right in a fall. In a rock climbing harness there is a chance that when you tumble head first you can slip through the hip belt. This is why in rock climbing you make sure that you can only get 2 fingers between the belt and your stomach. I have at least 7 rock climbing harnesses and I will never use them in a tree stand. Too dangerous.

Just my $.02

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
How in the world do you figure you’re going to go head first if you fall out of a treestand?


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#14 ·
Like I said. My 2 cents. rip it apart if you want but it's not intended for that type of fall. That is why the anchor is high on the back on the full body harness. And as for the whipper video there's more time to right yourself than falling from a stand.

Find me a manufacture that makes a hip harness intended for a tree stand.

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#15 ·
abock33 said:
Like I said. My 2 cents. rip it apart if you want but it's not intended for that type of fall. That is why the anchor is high on the back on the full body harness. And as for the whipper video there's more time to right yourself than falling from a stand.

Find me a manufacture that makes a hip harness intended for a tree stand.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

A climbing harness is absolutely intended for a fall just like you’d experience from a tree stand.
It’s just not the typical style of harness currently used...
The current, behind the back (noose) style harness is used today because it’s intended for the masses and they’re dirt cheap to manufacture and the design hasn’t changed much in decades.
Ironically, the typical full body harness can cause suspension trauma and additionally can also make it so the user has extreme difficulty maneuvering back to the tree in the event of a fall.

Bottom line, a climbing harness is safer imo ( when used correctly) than the typical full body harness in the event of a fall from a tree stand.
 
#16 ·
Actually the title should say "Best rock climbing harness setup to sustain a fall".
 
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#17 ·
If you are setting climbing sticks I would suggest making sure your harness has side attachment points for a linesman belt. NOT those flimsy gear loops.
Yes, the linesman belt can be attached to the front (belay) loop but side attachment gives you are little more room to manuever.
 
#19 ·
enkriss said:
Cant you just clip the carabiners from the linemans belt directly to the main belt of the RC? That is what I have been doing...:embara:
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Yes, but attaching the carabiners to the main tie in point would be better.
But like Lost Arra mentioned, it’s easier if a lineman’s connections are out at your sides more.
Makes flipping the rope up and higher around the tree easier.
 
#20 ·
spike camp said:
A climbing harness is absolutely intended for a fall just like you’d experience from a tree stand.
It’s just not the typical style of harness currently used...
The current, behind the back (noose) style harness is used today because it’s intended for the masses and they’re dirt cheap to manufacture and the design hasn’t changed much in decades.
Ironically, the typical full body harness can cause suspension trauma and additionally can also make it so the user has extreme difficulty maneuvering back to the tree in the event of a fall.

Bottom line, a climbing harness is safer imo ( when used correctly) than the typical full body harness in the event of a fall from a tree stand.
Click to expand...
Maybe that's where I'm getting my logic from. I'm using a climber with a rail around the top. (API Grandslam Bowhunter) if I slip while taking a shot I'm going head first over the rails. I'm not going to accidentally walk off my stand.

And you are correct about the harness trauma and difficulty getting back to safety. This is why they are intended to be used with some kind of shock absorbing self arresting device. Mine has the leash webbing sewn together and is designed to break away in the event of a fall. This softens the force of the fall. The only way to get out of mine is to cut the leash if you cant get back up. Which is why the anchor has to be set up correctly. There are anchor systems that use prussik knots so you can move up or down the safety line. Much better system than a direct anchitmr to the tree with the leash.

I also wouldn't wear one in winter with bulky excess clothing because you cant get the hip belt tight enough. I wear coveralls so I cant put it on over my base layer.

I can see both type pros and cons. And I will use the best one for my situations. There is no single "best" harness.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
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spike camp
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