https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01J7E7CS2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I'm using this for my saddle hunting setup.

I also plan on using that as a replacement for my treestand harness when I get up in my fixed stands. It is one of the few harnesses that have the lineman's belt loops. I put some electrical tape around the metal loops to keep stuff from clanging around. It's heavy duty and very comfortable. I personally don't like or trust those tree harness setups anyways.

 

I like the Black Diamond line , I have no need for loops, so I do not use them for anything...

not dissing jewalkers but it seems sort of cumbersome, heavy/bulky

compared to the Black Diamonds

https://www.rei.com/b/black-diamond/c/climbing-harnesses?ir=category:climbing-harnesses&r=c;b

 

I did some gym rock climbing and bought a Black Diamond Bod harness for bowhunting. It works very well for early to mid-season. Late season bulkier clothing makes it a bit snug, but I have a "plan B" for that time of year. My setup below:

 

I did some gym rock climbing and bought a Black Diamond Bod harness for bowhunting. It works very well for early to mid-season. Late season bulkier clothing makes it a bit snug, but I have a "plan B" for that time of year. My setup below:

I looked up the BD Bod on the REI website and it shows leg buckles for quick on/off but also shows four gear loops that are covered with tubing. Looks like a nice direction to go. I'll have to see if the local REI carries it. https://www.rei.com/product/670761/black-diamond-bod-harness

 

I have a Tree Spyder harness, but will be trying a Black Diamond climbing harness this year.

 

I had a Tree Spider as well and thought it was the best ever. Someone on here suggested dropping in their setup to get a good idea what it’s like.

So I put a rope on a garage rafter and with about 1 foot of slack, I just dropped to the floor. I thought I had it on pretty tight but I bottomed out in it and the sternum strap slide up, whacked me under the nose and knocked my glasses off.

I bought a Petal RC harness shortly afterwards and sold the Spider in my Hunting Stuff garage sale last year. :mg:

Forum Police Alert - this was just my experience and not intended to offend anyone.

 

I run an Edelrid Zack. My only complaint with it is the actual belay loop instead of an attachment loop that is above the waist belt. The belay loop makes it a little more difficult to pee, but not impossible.
https://www.backcountry.com/edelrid-zack-harness
I went this route for one main reason. The waist belt passes through the waist padding, allowing me to pass cordage through the padding with loops on either end. The loops act as attachment points for a linemans rope. 98% of the time I am hanging the stand and hunting it immediately. Its not often that I hunt prehung sets, so a linemans rope is a very important part of my setup.

You can spend your money where ever you'd like, but I won't give REI a penny of my money after the stance they took against hunting.

Sent from my LGL164VL using Tapatalk

 

I like the looks of that harness. Might add one to my collection.

 

I have a few but always come back to this. It's simple, light, inexpensive, and easy enough to make linesmans attachment.

https://www.amazon.com/ABC-448401-G...2AMF&keywords=abc+guide+harness&qid=1568517931&sprefix=abc+guide,aps,230&sr=8-4

 

I have a black diamond speed harness but was looking for a back up-especially to use when hanging stands-this one fits the bill-got one on order

 

Black Diamond Vario Speed Harness.....https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/black-diamond-vario-speed-harness

Black Diamond Alpine Bod Harness.....https://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-Diam...rge-New-Rappel-Device-W-Bag/173944443938?hash=item287fe59422:g:-jkAAOSw4O5dEiNn

Treestand Wingman.....https://treestandwingman.com/tree-stand-wingman-emergency-descender-system

 

REI had BD products but didn't carry the BD Bod so I tried a couple others and ended up buying a Mammut Ophir 3-Slide. Pretty basic but the tool loops are covered in braided nylon fabric so they won't be banging on my climber or bow. Looks like it may be cooling down finally so I can get out to try it in the field. Thanks to everyone for your suggestions.

(I am not crazy about REI's position against firearms but there are not a lot of stores around here that carry decent outdoor products where I can go and try gear on. Since I know nothing about sizing or features, I won't buy blind on the internet.)

 

I’ve been looking into climbing harness as well, but would definitely want one with lineman’s belt loops.

I’m going to pull the trigger next year but my two main questions still linger:

Wouldn’t the line to the tree that’s tethered to the front of your body on an RC, as apposed to the back on traditional get in the way of your draw or cause extra movement of the line alerting Deer?

If RCs are indeed safe for treestand use,Why don’t major bowhunting harness manufacturers such as HSS offer a RC style harness? (Slightly loaded question, but I think it’s a fair one)

 

Those are two very good questions but it doesn't appear that they are going to get answered here. I would suggest a separate thread specific to those questions. Regarding the first, though, my understanding that the tree tether line is mounted lower using the climbing harness so your arms are above the tether when you draw. With my full body harness, it was very difficult to take a shot to the right side because the tether interfered with my drawing arm. That problem should go away with the tether mounted lower.

 

Get one with a belay loop. Most do but My first one was a cheaper one and didn’t and you had to use the carabiner to attach belt to the to the middle part. If you can find one with lineman’s lips that’s a plus but you add those easily with some webbing or a sling.

 

If you use a lineman belt often you might want to look at a harness that you can easily clip carabiners onto the sides or one that has side safety attachment points. I use a Petzl Corax (one gen old) for that reason...

 

I went to a RC harness years ago and will never go back. I see a lot of discussion on cold weather and bulkier clothes. I prefer bibs when it gets colder, so I wear my harness under them. I tie in thru the zipper. It may look a little goofy, but I feel more comfortable with the harness tight to my body just in case I get turned upside down in a fall.

 

The thing about clipping on the belay loop area is that if you are facing away from the tree and fall or the stand gives out your arm the line is under will take a pretty good hit since it is in the way when the line straightens out.... Clipping in that area works out well if your facing toward the line attachment point. I clip in on the side unless I am going up/down and facing the tree.

 

The petzl falcon has a rated loop at the back of the harness, this will keep any lifelines away from your drawing of the bow.

 

Anyone using a harness designed for ice climbing? They typically have a bit more adjustability in them to accomodate more clothes.

 

I've hunted with an RC harness for the past 3-4 years and it has been so much nicer than a traditional harness.
This season I bought a Tethrd Mantis saddle to upgrade the RC harness.
The mantis weighs pretty much nothing so you truly forget your are wearing it. I has built in linesman loops and a great tie in point to hunt from. The saddle also makes it much more comfortable to stand and lean into the harness because it cups your rear end rather than having the pressure on your hips.

 

you don't need anything padded, I'd say don't need gear loops, a straight up rock climbing harness with the ability to attach a linesman belt is all you need........and you really don't even need the ability to attach a linesman belt...........might be a nice feature for some

 

Well, since it is the SAME piece of webbing that secures the harness via the belt buckle it had better meet load demands or the whole harness is useless. What does Petzl say about facing away from the attachment point with the lanyard under your arm/clipped to the belay loop and falling so your arm is now taking a hit from the line due to the fact that you cannot negotiate with the laws of physics or gravity?

 

Petzl doesn’t deal with tree stand applications, they deal with sport/industrial applications, if they don’t give a recommendation or approval then it’s not okay to use a harness in the manner that you recommend, I don’t give a monkeys nuts if you do it but to recommend that it’s okay for someone else to use then I’d say your wrong.

 

We are talking about using a rock climbing harness for an application they are not designed to be used for when clipped into the belay loop area. Call any rock climbing harness manufacturer and ask if they recommend using their harness, clipping into the belay loop and facing away from the attachment point with the lanyard under your arm.....100% will say they do not recommend that. So, any harness discussion that recommends such a use is wrong in your opinion? This thread is full of such recommendations.....I believe your's is among them.

When using a product for an application it was not designed for some common sense modifications that ensure a better result may be advisable.....you and your monkeys nut may not agree but that's no skin off my balls.

 

We are talking about using a rock climbing harness for an application they are not designed to be used for when clipped into the belay loop area.

Do you actually hook to the belay loop on your RC harness when on stand?

 

Totally agree, that’s why you should be looking at and recommending a petzl falcon where it has en 358 2018 loading points at the sides and back.

You can’t acknowledge something is wrong and continue to recommend the incorrect use of equipment in a manner that goes against the manufacturers recommendations.

 

I never said where I attach is wrong or incorrect, you did and I do not agree. The harness I use fits my application just fine. I think if you looked into it you would see that the webbing strap that secures the belt via the buckle is rated the same as any attachment point on a harness since if it does not hold the harness is of no use......

 

It’s not whether I agree or not, it’s what the manufacturer says, does the technical info on the corax show the below, if not then commonsense says you can’t use the harness in the way you recommend.

 

Some of you guys need to educate yourself on fall restraints, those climbing belts will break your back when your life line catches you.
Buy the proper harness, stay away from a climbing belt

 

Just looked into the technical info for the corax, no en 358 2018 side loading shown, all I could see is

 

Rock climbers fall with climbing belts on regularly without hurting themselves...

 

Completely different falls. They do NOT fall into a slack climbing line and they don't fall into a static solid attachment point. They have a human at about their weight on the ground tending their slack and used as a counter weight if they fall. This isn't even in the same realm of what a tree stand hunter is set up with.

 

Actually climbers do fall while attached to a solid anchor point with a little slack in the line without breaking their backs....not all climbers climb with a belayer on the ground. A rock climbing harness will not hurt you any more than a traditional harness in the same situation, the facing away from the attachment point argument is valid, thou.

 

Yeah OSHA disagrees, rock climbers are always tethered so they dont ever fall far, thays why they are called climbing belts and not fall restraint belts, all the harnesses I own have the climbing belt built in.
Like I said some of you need to educate yourselves on fall restraints before some of you hurt yourselves
https://www.rigidlifelines.com/blog.../blog/entry/can-i-use-my-rock-climbing-equipment-as-industrial-fall-protection#