Get a Petzl Corax.....

 

I’ve been shopping too and the Petzl Corax made my short list for the adjustable waist. The Petzl Aspire seems popular here on AT as well. It’s very similar to the Vario Speed.

 

I've got a Misty Mountain, but it is different then what you've listed. It is comfy and safe. I don't like that mine has set leg straps that don't adjust. I have a couple Mammut harnesses that have leg loops that adjust AND I prefer. However, I prefer the adjustment on my Misty mountain waist belt better SO I wear it 99% of the time! To me, if you can get to a rock climbing wall OR store that has these to try on, then that is my best suggestion. Like bows, they feel and fit everyone different.

Neither of the rock climbing harnesses that I have loosen up while I'm hiking in. These rock climbing harnesses come from one serious sport, as far as I'm concerned, so you won't find much stuff that is garbage.

Besides the harness, all you need is a good locking carabiner, and I think that the only other thing you need is a treestrap. In my opinion, the best treestrap on the market is the Qsafe. It is made to make climbing up and down a tree faster, quieter, and safer. Check out his videos...

 

Just need the tether. Something like the Petzl connect adjust lanyard

https://www.amazon.com/Petzl-Connec...djust-Lanyard/dp/B012EJ2W1Y#productDescription_secondary_view_div_1511741736792

 

I used to have an Alpine Bod and went to a Vario Speed Harness. Like it much better bc it has more waist adjustability and you can pee from it.

 

I pee with my alpine bod harness on all the time. Not sure what issue you were having there.

 

I would suggest you go try some on if you can. Get the right fit. Don’t just go for a name or price point.

 

misty mountain mil-roc gets my vote.....................I have owned black diamond, petzel, mammut, and some other no name brand............tried the mil-roc, it was much better. Has a lot of adjustment in it

 

Ttt

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

 

I love my Black Diamond Vario Speed harness and have used it the past 4 seasons. I got to admit I'm taking a good look at this harness because it has metal loops to install a linemans belt and it is affordable. :secret:
https://www.amazon.com/Professional...02661_1_29_sspa?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1511804815&sr=1-29-spons&psc=1

 

i like the design with the metal side loops but no way am i trusting my life to to some off-brand, chinese made harness that probably has undergone zero testing.

 

Sierra Trading Post has some overstock/closeout climbing harnesses for 30-to-60% off retail.

https://www.sierratradingpost.com/s~climbing-harness/

 

Here is another one with metal linesman's loops. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075XLQCM...=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9014432&hvtargid=pla-377411192525

 

Backcountry has cyber sale on harnesses now.

 

I bought all kinds of stuff, harness black diamond vario speed, dragon fly rope, various locking carabiners, 2 or 3 rope man 1, that iam going to use and trim my tree. But that will be the only time I will use it, thought about getting a tree stand, but I would never use it either I don't think. So just wondering if there is any interest in this stuff once iam done ?

 

I am interested if you want to send it this way......:wink:

 

Whatever you get, I would ensure it only has a single loop attachment at the waist. I have the Petzl Aspir and the Petzl Gym (a BD Vario clone), I'm sure there are other that will work. Good luck.

 

I don't really care if tma is doing the actual testing or not. I just want to know that some third party agency has made sure the design and construction meets a standard. If you want to trust your life to that harness you posted then by all means go for it. I'll stick with reputable rock climbing companies like black diamond, petzl, etc. that are UIAA certified.

 

Just woke up from my nap......give me a few and I will post a photo.

 

Reputable r/c harness? When I started using R/C harnesses 5 years ago I had never heard of Black Diamond or Petzl. It was just through trial and error. Can you tell me anything wrong with these other harnesses with metal loops for Lineman's belts?

 

yes reputable. as in having a reputation within the climbing industry for producing high quality equipment that is third party tested to meet the standards set forth by the climbing community in order to make sure they are safe for use. i'm surprised that when you decided to trust your life to a rock climbing harness 5 years ago you didn't put enough research into what you were buying to come across those brands. "trail and error" is not really how i want to find out if my harness is going to work. i started rock climbing 20 years ago and even at the age of 16 i had enough sense to buy equipment made by actual rock climbing companies in the industry. check out the instructions that amazon seller has in the third picture. those are black diamond harness instructions and don't even match the harness they are selling. take a look at the sellers other items for sale, grow lights and random electronics. if that doesn't seem fishy to you and you want to test if the harness works through trial and error then go for it.

 

I have used a Misty Mountain Gym Dandy for about 5 years now and it's been great. Very similar to the Milroc but the Gym Dandy's waist belt completely separates and eliminates stepping through a closed waist belt which makes it easier to get it on/off over heavy winter clothes. I tried at least 6 different climbing harnesses before I found this one and I haven't found anything that I don't like about it.

I've posted this video several times over the years demonstrating how easy it is to put on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk70lc7_JY0&t=7s

 

I'm loving that video of the Q-Safe. How have I not heard of this thing? Buying one today.

 

I also have the Petzl Aspir and like it a lot. Things to consider are whether the leg straps are padded (the Aspir does have padding). Some have complained that they do not like sitting on the padded straps, but it does not bother me at all.

You may want to buy a rabbit runner or other dyneema runner. This is a strap with loops at both ends that you attach to the harness with a girth hitch and connect to the tree strap or lifeline prussic with a carabiner. It is an extra inexpensive piece that provides extra room to adjust the length of your overall tether. I find it is useful.

And I would not want metal buckles when hunting due to the potential to make noise when moving in the stand, or even when climbing a tree. Maybe if sprayed with rubber coating.

 

So, dumb question about these rock climbing harnesses: Don't they attach at the front? They are meant for you facing the cliff while you climb, right? So if you are in your tree stand with your back to the tree, can you attach the safety line to your back somehow? You don't want to wrap the line around you to attach it at the front, right?

Am I missing something?

 

When attached properly it will lay across your waist and go around you to the tree (right or left depending on how you shoot. They is only about 2-3 inches of slack making it impossible to fall below stand level. RC harness is not designed for any back connection as you want to be facing the tree with a mid body front connection for mobility.

 

Actually you can tie off anywhere on the main belt, I clip in one the side that gives me the best mobility to move and shoot.

 

To each his own. I would not recommend this.
A. Because of how you’ll end up when you fall and,
B. Because you’re tying off to a part of the harness that wasn’t designed for that type of load.

Not saying it will fail, just bad to recommend to others. I believe you probably understand this risk already.

All of us with the lineman’s belt modification on an RC harness are taking some level of risk, however, most folks are just using the webbing of the belt to tie homemade attachment points to.

 

Interesting. Thanks for the responses!

With my current safety harness when I stand there is some slack. But when I sit I have tension on the safety line from my middle back to the tree. This way I can lean forward and feel it holding me in place. You can take a nap this way, not that I would ever do such a thing!

I guess switching to a rock climbing harness means you have to give this up. But doesn't seem like a big deal.

I just watched some youtube videos. It does seem like a plus that if you did fall you'd be facing the tree with a RC harness. But as someone said above, I wouldn't let it have enough slack that I could even fall in the first place.

 

20 feet up made the best harness it was a rock climbing harness that was modified for hunting, but they went out of business because they were too expensive, but worked well from what I saw.

 

If you are attached around the main belt there is no difference whether your attached to the front or side or back as far as holding power/safety from failure of the belt.

Now if you are attached in the front and facing away from the anchor....and the line is under your arm, you fall and the line pulls tight....the arm is in the way of the line and momentum swings you face first toward the tree....if your hooked on the side not only is there less slack but your arm is not in the way of the line becoming tight and is, along with your shoulder, between you and the tree. Hanging from the side presents me with no problem as far as self rescue.

There is about a foot less slack in the system and I can maneuver much better except for turning 360°.

As far as designed attachment points go many folks hook to the belay loop for a safety and it is not designed for that...the belt is what you want to hook onto.

Interesting discussion.

 

interesting could you post pics of how you do it,