Thread: Climbing saddles

Only if I can try your Pantin Mike. Will have the photos by Friday,I hope.

Many here may disagree with me, but I do not like the rolling D. Besides the above mentioned liposuction possibilities, I use my lifeline as a 'third leg' when working a tree. I am constantly leaning against the tension on my lifeline for balance. If my lifeline were attached to a moving pivot point, it would be much harder to depend on it for balance. I can limbwalk much easier having my third leg anchored securely to a non-moving attachment point on my saddle. With a roller I could turn the wrong way and it would roll possibly causing me to lose my balance.

But that's just what I'm comfortable with.

Fresco sells the Butterfly:

http://www.frescoarborist.com/

Originally posted by mikecross23
Besides some of the slidding D ring saddles have extra positioning loops sewn in. Do those extra loops do a good job for clipping in to instead of clipping in to the roller?

Yes, they do.
You can get a wide spread in the ropes.

I Like Blairs saddles too, aside form the butterfly they are the only ones realy designed by climbers, though arbormaster did help adapt the new ling of B'ham.

If any of you little guys are looking for a full body, check out the BriDan Blair has. i liked it for utility,, but my high center of gravity made it impractical to use.

I talked to Don @ TCI and he has a harness that adapts to a regular linemans belt.
I may get to use large D's after all.

With the B'ham Versatile, you can have it both ways at once. Clip in to 7 diff. loops, or use your hdp rollers. This can change many times over the course of one climb especially if doublecrotching. If I'm on gaffs on an angled lateral and tied in behind me the line comes right to my hip over my flipline for perfect balance. Show me how to do that with stationary attachments.

For those of you that use the hdp roller system, don't you ever have a problem w/ losing balance while limb walking?

For example if you are walking out on a limb and the hdp roller unintentionally slides an inch or two, that could be enough to throw me off balance and send me for a swing.

Having only used a fixed anchor point, the sliding D seems kind of scary to me. I don't want to rule out the possibility of something that I might really like, so please let me hear your comments.

I had a friend who tried the Butterfly. He wound up returning it. After numerous adjustments he couldn't keep this saddle from pulling really tight in the crotch area. Was he adjusting something wrong?

I've been getting my nuts smashed for the last 5 years climbing in an original buckingham master saddle. i guess I've grown used to it. Honestly it hardly ever happens but when it does you know it down to your toes. Just ordered a komet butterfly from fresco,
I'll see if its a nut cracker or not, plus I want to try a sliding d ring saddle . Too many times I'm fighting the saddle and trying to turn
my upper body to make a cut. I 'll let you guys know how it turns out. Otherwise you'll see it on e-bay!

Corey

Mike, I switched over to a sliding D saddle a few years ago. They get promoted for the increased mobility but I am, frankly, unimpressed. The difference isn't that great. It is possible to position your self somewhat differently with the sliding D but your concerns about limbwalking are partially valid. Mostly it is a matter of getting used to the different characteristics but I never have been as comfortable limb walking with the slider. They can pinch your belly.
Sliding Ds may be perfect for other climbers but personally I am not looking to buy another.

Lync, Let me hear it. I'm taking my time 'cause I want to pick the right one. Need the Jewels!

Stumper, I've been looking at the Arbormaster Pro Versatile. It has options to clip into I think it is 7 sewn loops or use the
roller(s). I just want to know if it's comfy for me. The closest Vermeer/Sherrill dealer is 2 hrs away. I think monkeypuzzle and I are gonna make a trip in the next week or two.

Thanks for the input!

You can tweek the tegstraps on teh b'fly by putting some quicklinks in the connection on the front of you thigh.

Maybe someone here has the mod already and can show a picture. Or email Toney Sakket for a pic.

I love my stock bfly - thanks for the help from here.

I learned quick to adjust the leg straps tight but make sure you don't strap in anything other than your legs!!! You will know real fast when you put weight on the saddle.

I don't like the little elastic straps. They are really small and flimsy.

We have a saying about Texas - everything here will stick you, sting you, or bite you. Trees are no exception. I have had those straps snag a handful of times.

Butterfly saddle was delivered a few days ago, frankly it seems a little lightweight ( as far a durabilty and construction.. I took a non-working climb up a 40 ft maple in my back yard. The strap that the beaners slide on seems very light weight. It is a 1" wide nylon strap tripled over and stitched. I was hoping it would be as heavy as say a buckingham friction saver strap. The rest of webbing is about an 1.5 inches wide, and very lightweight. I hope it holds up. On a positive note the backpad is nice and wide and firm, the quick release buckles are fast on and off.
The hip rings are bigger then the minis on buckinghan, but a little smaller that the old style ones. No stress on the jewels.

Anybody replaced the sliding strap yet? Any ideas would be welcome. The original strap is not going to last!!!

Corey