In my opinion the ESS is too little too late..... The "changes" made don't seem to enhance the sling, they seem to fit the mold that the manufacturer was trying to put the sling into so they could "...be sold into retail outlets as well as on-line in 2020"
I"ve modded a few andersons, this being my most refined one:
https://saddlehunter.com/community/index.php?threads/my-modded-anderson.8281/
People have used the big d rings before, I have used them with high ropes courses and they are a PITA, loud, and get hung up on everything. Even the petzl open rings I used on the modded anderson were better as they had a lower profile.
The leg loops aren't safe in my opinion and are a poor choice for a 2 panel sling. Moving the bottom panel up and down introduces slack to the leg loops, and the "g-hooks" fall out. you would have to continuously be adjusting them to keep them hooked, and they are attached to the d ring....keeping them tight essentially tilts the ssling more in the upright position(more leaning than sitting) and defeats one of the bennefits of a sling, which John E. mentions: you dont feel like its riding up. To remove them, they'll have to be cut off. I like the rocen better in that all I had to do was slide them thought the webbing slot and they were gone..can be added back or passed on with it if I ever sell it(wont happen). No modifications needed.
IMO a sling is supposed to be simple and comfortable. Everything they added made it more complicated and "techy". The one feature I was really hoping they were able to come up with and stick to that I REALLY liked that John E. Developed with his modded anderson was the bridge/tether combo he had built out of the old trophy line tether. IT was adjustable with a slide buckle, and always stayed connected to his saddle, but still had the benefit of a bridge(unlike the original anderson). I believe
@Nutterbuster has been experimenting with something similiar. Bringing something like that to market would have been innovative, and an example of what I believe John really brings to the table with his vast experience, instead of just capitalizing on him for marketing as it appears Tethrd has done for a couple years now.
On the made in china front, this has been discussed here before. I find it misleading, they go out of their way to say made in the USA all over their site and tote the US flag everywhere.... They have many products made over seas. This was brought up when sys haulers, and predator packs were starting to be made over seas. They never changed their wording or the image they were projecting, I dont expect them to do otherwise. Also, the Recon is made in the USA and cheaper, and the worksmanship is EXCELLENT, so it can be done, chances are just not at the profit margin the manufacturer is requiring for production along with the royalties John is going to get from it.
All in all everyone who is re-manufacturing the anderson is having to address 2 main things, leg loops, and a belt. Everything else is trivial. I think the ESS missed the mark on those, and though I can see Johns input in the saddle, I feel like it wasnt put at the top of the list and some of the features he probably really pushed for fell short- I"m a little bummed on this as I liked the modded one he developed on his own and has shared pictures of. I like the belt on the recon, but have tried at least 4 different options, included a 2" cobra buckle. The leg loops on the recon are just ok, they work, but arent rated-- I took mine off without effecting the integrity or modding the sling itself, an option I really like.
