• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Dual Tether Ropes

cedar paul said:
One factor that seems to be overlooked is arborist and rch's are meant to be suspended from ( especially arborist) during ascent/ descent while hunting saddles are more for hanging once at height. Also while hunting saddles are constructed out of some similar materials as work saddles they are fragile in comparison ( due to additional hardware and padding) but sufficient for intended use. Of course rope access professions I imagine do alot more gyrations and radical repositioning than the average saddle hunters.
Click to expand...
The padding in arborist saddles are usually in the back and since they don’t have a “seated portion”, they heavily pad the leg straps as they will be supporting the bulk of the weight. Thats done for comfort and also to increase surface area so that your legs don’t lose circulation….. As far as similar builds, that also depends on the saddle. Timber Ninja is padded but the build materials are no where near that of a arborist saddle in my opinion, The old aerohunter evo introduced a swing seat to a true arborist built saddle which changed the game and limited if not depleted the need for padded leg straps since the swing seat became the bulk of the weight loading instead of a back strap and leg loops.
 
OP, I used an "extra" tether in my first year hunting from a saddle, but attached it on the loop on my saddle's austrialpin belt buckle. I stopped using it about halfway through the first season, as I got more comfortable, and also realized that more ropes and such actually gave me more things to fiddle with/get in the way if I was to shoot something. Ended up not shooting anything that first season (doubt I can blame the extra tether) but I did away with it regardless.

If I were you I'd focus on safety during the climb and during the transition from steps to platform/stand. Those are the times where most accidents happen, and times where we sometimes add too much slack into our systems and could get injured even if tethered in.

There's also a video from the hownot2 guys about how much you actually need to cut a static rope to cause failure- short version is it's almost impossible for it to "snap", even if you accidentally hit it with a broad head, you have to slice though almost all of it for it to give way.

But all in all, climbing has some risk, and it seems like you're going about things in a safe and pragmatic way. Keep practicing, and keep asking questions. Also as an aside- the search feature here works, but using Google and including the search term site:saddlehunter.com along with whatever you're wondering about works even better.
 
cedar paul said:
One factor that seems to be overlooked is arborist and rch's are meant to be suspended from ( especially arborist) during ascent/ descent while hunting saddles are more for hanging once at height. Also while hunting saddles are constructed out of some similar materials as work saddles they are fragile in comparison ( due to additional hardware and padding) but sufficient for intended use. Of course rope access professions I imagine do alot more gyrations and radical repositioning than the average saddle hunters.
Click to expand...
True. One thing that stands out is SRT. That climbing method was never intended for the sit style saddle (read:every hunting saddle). It is a method designed with leg loops in mind.
 
Fl Canopy Stalker said:
Please forgive me if this comes across as direct but I was staying out of this until this statement….. Quick question, rock climbers typically climb on dynamic rope which is made to stretch 25% at 300 lbs and rated for multiple falls, while saddle hunters typically use static rope that is rated for MBS instead and only stretches around 3% or less at 300 lbs…. Rock climbers usually only add force to their gear when a fall occurs, while a saddle hunter typically applies load to their gear 85 to 95 percent of the time. Tree bark can and often does damage rope as quickly as smoother crag and rock climbers often use anchor and chafe guards to prevent rope abrasions. Finally which creates higher forces in your mind a 1.5:1 fall that is 2’ on static rope, or a 1.5:1 fall that is 20’ on dynamic?

Once you have considered all factors I’ve listed, what makes you so sure that rock climbers do put more stress on their gear than saddle hunters?
Click to expand...
Please be direct. In fact you are reinforcing my point. Climbers use dynamic rope because they use them differently and in more stressful scenarios. The fact that the rope is loaded does not in and of itself create wear. We are loading it at less than 10% of its rated capacity. I do not believe bark damages rope in the same way as rock but even if it does check your equipment before use and if you see wear replace it. A saddle hunter should never fall on their rope and it certainly should never be a 2' fall. That is a lot of slack for a saddle hunter. In any event whether or not the rope fails may be the least of your concerns... That is going to hurt.
 
I'm a backup redundant kinda guy. This coming year will be my second year saddle hunting. I'm still a little leary, but I'm getting there with the confidence thing. I do know I like the saddle much more than my climber. I hate that thing. I feel much safer in the saddle.

I climb with a rappel rope, on a madrock, with a friction hitch above my madrock, hooked to my main bridge. I also use a linemans belt to climb. Once at height, I throw the linemans around the tree like a tether, and hook in to a secondary amsteel bridge. So I effectively use two tethers once at height. The linemans has a kong duck, with a backup swabisch hitch on it.

I'm pretty sure the only single point of failure I have in my system is my saddle, and my one stick. I don't think the saddle is going anywhere though lol.

I know it sounds like alot, but I have a 4 year old at home that is much more important than any deer.

BT
 
TreeRecon said:
True. One thing that stands out is SRT. That climbing method was never intended for the sit style saddle (read:every hunting saddle). It is a method designed with leg loops in mind.
Click to expand...
Huh? Most all hunting saddles have leg loops.... it's really about how you climb SRT not the harness or saddle...imo.
 
Black Titan said:
I'm a backup redundant kinda guy. This coming year will be my second year saddle hunting. I'm still a little leary, but I'm getting there with the confidence thing. I do know I like the saddle much more than my climber. I hate that thing. I feel much safer in the saddle.

I climb with a rappel rope, on a madrock, with a friction hitch above my madrock, hooked to my main bridge. I also use a linemans belt to climb. Once at height, I throw the linemans around the tree like a tether, and hook in to a secondary amsteel bridge. So I effectively use two tethers once at height. The linemans has a kong duck, with a backup swabisch hitch on it.

I'm pretty sure the only single point of failure I have in my system is my saddle, and my one stick. I don't think the saddle is going anywhere though lol.

I know it sounds like alot, but I have a 4 year old at home that is much more important than any deer.

BT
Click to expand...
Did you make that amsteel bridge? My first saddle was a Hawk and I made a redundant amsteel bridge, since the main was not adjustable. The new Buzzard Roost is adjustable and I no longer use a secondary bridge.
 
bfriendly said:
Did you make that amsteel bridge? My first saddle was a Hawk and I made a redundant amsteel bridge, since the main was not adjustable. The new Buzzard Roost is adjustable and I no longer use a secondary bridge.
Click to expand...

No it's an openable whoopie from Eastern Woods Outdoors. The stuff I make with amsteel is only for hanging gear or similar. I don't trust anything I make to hold me lol.

doublesteps.com

Amsteel Whoopi Openable Bridge

Introducing the first openable bridge made by The Amsteel Guy! This bridge is a fully adjustable 3/16” Whoopi sling with a 10” eye. The 10” eye allows you to make a prussic on the bridge loop and t…
doublesteps.com doublesteps.com

BT
 
Samcirrus said:
Huh? Most all hunting saddles have leg loops.... it's really about how you climb SRT not the harness or saddle...imo.
Click to expand...
I meant to say leg cuffs. And the saddle definitely matters. Still have not seen a hunting saddle designed for SRT. In SRT, you should be using leg straps or cuffs that are weight bearing. 99% of hunting saddles don't have these. You're better off in a RCH if you like to SRT.
 
Last edited:
Black Titan said:
No it's an openable whoopie from Eastern Woods Outdoors. The stuff I make with amsteel is only for hanging gear or similar. I don't trust anything I make to hold me lol.

doublesteps.com

Amsteel Whoopi Openable Bridge

Introducing the first openable bridge made by The Amsteel Guy! This bridge is a fully adjustable 3/16” Whoopi sling with a 10” eye. The 10” eye allows you to make a prussic on the bridge loop and t…
doublesteps.com doublesteps.com

BT
Click to expand...
Is there a break strength rating on your Whoopie?
 
Black Titan said:
Now you've got me wondering about the working load limit on my 8mm oplux bridge. All I can seem to find is the max break strength of 5400lbs, but can't find anything on working load limits.

BT
Click to expand...
WLL is always 10% of the MBS for fabrics, polyesters etc when used for anything life safety. That's why the WLL Amsteel Guy listed is incorrect. If the MBS is 5400lbs, then WLL is 540lbs. He listed 20%, which is what gets applied to carabiners or non life-safety applications.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top