Tree Tether + Lineman’s DIY vs Buy

[Kaskadian]

Hey everyone,

I’ve been using my Hunter Safety System tree tether but it’s 20’ long, heavy, and really designed to be a permanent rope setup for a tree stand. I wouldn’t want to lug around a 20’ section of rope onto public land and fumble around with it setting it up in a tree.

I’m using an AeroHunter Kestrel Flex + Platform. I know AeroHunter sells both tree tethers and linemen’s belts. They’re not cheap at roughly $60 each but I know they are (or were) using 11mm (7/16) Samson Predator rope which is solid stuff.

Have any of you built a tree tether and linemen’s belt for less? I’ve been eyeballing some 11mm Bluewater Assault Line which is also climbing rated at 35+ Kn. I’m pretty sure I could buy a length of this rope with the eyes spliced. Then in theory it should be as simple as adding a carabiner + Prusik/rope man, etc.

Safety is obviously the number one priority for me so I’d love some advice from you all.


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[Westdesign03]

I know they’re expensive but personally I would just go with the purchased tethers and linesman’s. Then you’ll know what you’re getting is rated for safety and is held to an industrial standard. When you DIY anything for safety, you’re using it and trusting your life to it at your own risk. Not that you wouldn’t DIY correctly or safely, I just tend to favor the tested and certified products and assume that I don’t know what I don’t know about all aspects of it to make something better than what is manufactured. If that makes sense.


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[Kaskadian]

I know they’re expensive but personally I would just go with the purchased tethers and linesman’s. Then you’ll know what you’re getting is rated for safety and is held to an industrial standard. When you DIY anything for safety, you’re using it and trusting your life to it at your own risk. Not that you wouldn’t DIY correctly or safely, I just tend to favor the tested and certified products and assume that I don’t know what I don’t know about all aspects of it to make something better than what is manufactured. If that makes sense.


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That makes perfect sense to me. I used a lot of climbing gear when I was doing search and rescue but I wasn’t the guy setting the lines or equipment. I’d rather spend $120 vs $80 and risk ending up with a broken neck.


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[Westdesign03]

That makes perfect sense to me. I used a lot of climbing gear when I was doing search and rescue but I wasn’t the guy setting the lines or equipment. I’d rather spend $120 vs $80 and risk ending up with a broken neck.


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Cool. Yep exactly. No amount of money savings is worth that.


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[Kaskadian]

Cool. Yep exactly. No amount of money savings is worth that.


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Amen to that. Thanks for sharing your opinion! Safety is the number one priority and it should be for all of us. Honestly safety is the primary reason I started getting into saddle hunting.

I wasn’t sure if there was an easy option for DIY so I still figured it was worth asking. If not it’s not worth the risk (as you said).


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[Westdesign03]

Amen to that. Thanks for sharing your opinion! Safety is the number one priority and it should be for all of us. Honestly safety is the primary reason I started getting into saddle hunting.

I wasn’t sure if there was an easy option for DIY so I still figured it was worth asking. If not it’s not worth the risk (as you said).


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You’re welcome! Yeah it should be for everyone. Yeah it was one big reason I got into it too, and for the portability of course. I was already somewhat shaky in a tree stand to begin with, but being strapped to a saddle the whole time going up, sitting and going back down has made all the difference in my comfort level with this whole tree hunting thing. Especially the feeling of your weight tensioned to the tree the whole time as opposed to a loose safety strap connected to the tree and you know it but you don’t feel it. That little aspect for me has revolutionized the whole experience for me. Yep for sure. Never know until you ask. I’m surely not all knowing here either. Have not been doing all this very long yet.


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[Kaskadian]

You’re welcome! Yeah it should be for everyone. Yeah it was one big reason I got into it too, and for the portability of course. I was already somewhat shaky in a tree stand to begin with, but being strapped to a saddle the whole time going up, sitting and going back down has made all the difference in my comfort level with this whole tree hunting thing. Especially the feeling of your weight tensioned to the tree the whole time as opposed to a loose safety strap connected to the tree and you know it but you don’t feel it. That little aspect for me has revolutionized the whole experience for me. Yep for sure. Never know until you ask. I’m surely not all knowing here either. Have not been doing all this very long yet.


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Glad I’m not the only one! Personally I hate heights and like you being strapped to the tree the entire time and feeling that rope tension makes me feel a whole lot better. I took a lot of bow shots in my 20’ stand sitting because I hated standing up in the thing even with the safety line.

I’m also new to saddle hunting and haven’t hunted out of it yet. I ended up getting mine after the deer season ended with as long as shipping was taking.

Stay safe!


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[Westdesign03]

Glad I’m not the only one! Personally I hate heights and like you being strapped to the tree the entire time and feeling that rope tension makes me feel a whole lot better. I took a lot of bow shots in my 20’ stand sitting because I hated standing up in the thing even with the safety line.

I’m also new to saddle hunting and haven’t hunted out of it yet. I ended up getting mine after the deer season ended with as long as shipping was taking.

Stay safe!


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You’re definitely not the only one! Yeah I have not hunted out of my saddle almost at all either. Didn’t get it until almost the late season last year. I got my first buck last year also out of a lock on stand and I couldn’t stand up to shoot in it for the same reason. But I feel plenty comfortable shooting out of it sitting down so it works. I think the saddle will be a different story. Haven’t shot anything out of it. Need to practice shooting out of it more too. But the few times I have practiced shooting out of it, it felt different but wasn’t bad. So I don’t foresee a problem with it. Stay safe too!


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[Kaskadian]

Hey guys I wanted to follow up on this. I went the DIY route - I ended up talking with a friend who is an avid rock climber and showed him the linemen’s and tree tether I wanted to build; he said this was very easy to make but advised me to get professionally spliced Prusiks.

I ordered 25’ of Samson Predator rope, two professionally spliced Prusiks, and I had a few new Black Diamond climbing carabiners laying around. All in all it cost me $73.68 shipped ($55 before shipping/tax). I would not have gone this route if I didn’t have a knowledgeable rock climbing friend who sets his own lines to supervise the process.

That being said it was actually very easy to make. I used a box cutter blade that I got red hot to cut the rope in half. Made sure the ends were sealed, and got to tying the knots. I used a simple figure 8 follow through to attach the rope to my saddle, and the other end to the carabiners. Stop knots were added to prevent Prusiks from sliding off the end of the rope should they ever fail.

I’ve been testing the linemen’s belt with body weight at ground level. Here’s a couple early pictures before all the knots were fully set. The lines all held great. I’m 6’3 250# and both the linemen’s and tether held my weight perfectly.

I’ll be doing some additional testing before the season begins at ground level. I’ll also have my friend double check everything before it ever goes up to hunting height. I figure if he handles his rope at 1000’+ on big rock walls I should be able to trust his lines at 20-30’.

 

[Hardly_Hangin]

I bought HSS shorter 8' setup for my tether and lineman belt, which work great (asife from carabiners not being big enough for my trophyline 2" webbed bridge, but that's an unrelated topic).

 

[Shane6491]

Hey guys I wanted to follow up on this. I went the DIY route - I ended up talking with a friend who is an avid rock climber and showed him the linemen’s and tree tether I wanted to build; he said this was very easy to make but advised me to get professionally spliced Prusiks.

I ordered 25’ of Samson Predator rope, two professionally spliced Prusiks, and I had a few new Black Diamond climbing carabiners laying around. All in all it cost me $73.68 shipped ($55 before shipping/tax). I would not have gone this route if I didn’t have a knowledgeable rock climbing friend who sets his own lines to supervise the process.

That being said it was actually very easy to make. I used a box cutter blade that I got red hot to cut the rope in half. Made sure the ends were sealed, and got to tying the knots. I used a simple figure 8 follow through to attach the rope to my saddle, and the other end to the carabiners. Stop knots were added to prevent Prusiks from sliding off the end of the rope should they ever fail.

I’ve been testing the linemen’s belt with body weight at ground level. Here’s a couple early pictures before all the knots were fully set. The lines all held great. I’m 6’3 250# and both the linemen’s and tether held my weight perfectly.

I’ll be doing some additional testing before the season begins at ground level. I’ll also have my friend double check everything before it ever goes up to hunting height. I figure if he handles his rope at 1000’+ on big rock walls I should be able to trust his lines at 20-30’.

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Glad ya got your system figured out. I was going to say either is a good option. I’ve bought linemen’s and tether. I also currently run 35’ of 11mm for repelling. I actually run my rope out of pack Thur linemen’s loop on right side to keep it tight to me. I just use my mad rock safeguard to hang wile hunting/climbing so I’m all ready to repel when done hunting. So that’s my current set up works well for me. Sounds like your friend knows what he’s talking about. Don’t think he would steer ya wrong.

 

[ThorHunt16]

Hey guys I wanted to follow up on this. I went the DIY route - I ended up talking with a friend who is an avid rock climber and showed him the linemen’s and tree tether I wanted to build; he said this was very easy to make but advised me to get professionally spliced Prusiks.

I ordered 25’ of Samson Predator rope, two professionally spliced Prusiks, and I had a few new Black Diamond climbing carabiners laying around. All in all it cost me $73.68 shipped ($55 before shipping/tax). I would not have gone this route if I didn’t have a knowledgeable rock climbing friend who sets his own lines to supervise the process.

That being said it was actually very easy to make. I used a box cutter blade that I got red hot to cut the rope in half. Made sure the ends were sealed, and got to tying the knots. I used a simple figure 8 follow through to attach the rope to my saddle, and the other end to the carabiners. Stop knots were added to prevent Prusiks from sliding off the end of the rope should they ever fail.

I’ve been testing the linemen’s belt with body weight at ground level. Here’s a couple early pictures before all the knots were fully set. The lines all held great. I’m 6’3 250# and both the linemen’s and tether held my weight perfectly.

I’ll be doing some additional testing before the season begins at ground level. I’ll also have my friend double check everything before it ever goes up to hunting height. I figure if he handles his rope at 1000’+ on big rock walls I should be able to trust his lines at 20-30’.

View attachment 28435View attachment 28436

I know this thread is old and all but I’m trying to save some money and seeing as you had a rock climbing buddy help you out I’m guessing it worked out pretty well? I’m brand new to all this and save $50 and learning how to do it myself would be pretty nice. Could you show more pictures of it if you ever see this?