Im not a arborist but....

[WVBarker]

...Im a Deer hunter and I want you guys to help me get the proper equipment to keep me safe. I see alot of people are buying the Black Diamond Vario Harness...is it a good one? I have always used the regular hunting harness but after watching videos and doing some research, it looks like those can kill you if you dont get out pretty quickly. Also I use a prussic knot and carabiner to attach to my harness...is there another knot or piece of equipment that would be better? Do I need a harness with a linemans belt or a safety line in case my climbing treestand falls. Sorry about all the questions but I know you guys are professionals and know better than anyone...thanks in advance!

 

[lknchoppers]

I have not used the Black Diamond Vario Speed harness. It looks like a climbing harness not really a tree stand harness. For hunting I use the Pro Model Hunter Safety Systems harness. It is like a vest. The biggest issue with a fall while wearing a harness is being knocked unconscious and hanging in the harness. A few years back I saw the type of harness that you could let line out and rappel down the tree. They seem to be gone now so their must have been issues. Tree climbers use spikes to ascend and descend from the tree, obviously you can't use them in a climbing tree stand clanking around on the platform. Most of the climbing tree stand accidents seem to happen going up or coming down and people falling asleep falling out. It seems that all types of harnesses have limitations as well as strong points and weak points.

 

[capetrees]

...Im a Deer hunter and I want you guys to help me get the proper equipment to keep me safe. I see alot of people are buying the Black Diamond Vario Harness...is it a good one? I have always used the regular hunting harness but after watching videos and doing some research, it looks like those can kill you if you dont get out pretty quickly. Also I use a prussic knot and carabiner to attach to my harness...is there another knot or piece of equipment that would be better? Do I need a harness with a linemans belt or a safety line in case my climbing treestand falls. Sorry about all the questions but I know you guys are professionals and know better than anyone...thanks in advance!

If you're using the harness now and the prussic knot, do I assume you have a safety line already in the tree as you ascend/descend the tree with your climber?

 

[JTM]

The system I used required the safety line to be choked around the trunk and moved before you ascend/descend, while sliding the prussic between movements. This system was about 15 years old. I did not like that the lanyard only attached to your back, you could easily create a loop around your neck. If I use my climber I will only tie off after I have ascended the tree, any other way for me seems to create more of a hazard.

 

[waross]

I have not used the Black Diamond Vario Speed harness. It looks like a climbing harness not really a tree stand harness. For hunting I use the Pro Model Hunter Safety Systems harness. It is like a vest. The biggest issue with a fall while wearing a harness is being knocked unconscious and hanging in the harness. A few years back I saw the type of harness that you could let line out and rappel down the tree. They seem to be gone now so their must have been issues. Tree climbers use spikes to ascend and descend from the tree, obviously you can't use them in a climbing tree stand clanking around on the platform. Most of the climbing tree stand accidents seem to happen going up or coming down and people falling asleep falling out. It seems that all types of harnesses have limitations as well as strong points and weak points.

If your climbing trees for a living and climbing live trees to prune them then you should not be wearing spurs. Spurs do tremendous damage to live trees. It's wrong and a disservice.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk