Old fart (will be 62 this season) going on my 3rd season saddle hunting. Started with a rock climbing harness then on to a Kestrel and currently have Mantis too. Use them both and like both for different reasons. As fer climbing I'm a decades+ lock-on user so sticks was the natural. Tried stepps and ring of stepps then a few rounds with a LW climber and inch worming with tether and 4 step nylon webbing girth hitched. After all that I have evolved to SRT/RAD climbing/descent 99.9% of the time. Have some helium sticks for the rare cases I hunt somewhere I know I'll have difficulty hitting a limb in the 25'-45' range to set my climbing line.
My RAD setup has evolved too. Started with Predator 11mm line and Petzl Rig, tried GriGri+ and now use Madrock on sterling 9mm HTP. Like many of you looking at Oplux for climbing and decent too. Already use Oplux for linesman belt and tether and like it a lot. So I think 60' of Oplux with sewn eye splice is in my near future.
From day one I've tended to take the approach of whether an arborist, rock climber or SAR team would use the gear the way I'm using it. If not I don't do it. Its good to see more guys talking about life support system integrity here too when the topic comes up with newcomer questions. I love the DIY spirit here, but safety has to be paramount.
Anyway thought I'd come out of the shadows and say hey. Attached are a few pics of a deer I took from my saddle this weekend in FL.
My RAD setup has evolved too. Started with Predator 11mm line and Petzl Rig, tried GriGri+ and now use Madrock on sterling 9mm HTP. Like many of you looking at Oplux for climbing and decent too. Already use Oplux for linesman belt and tether and like it a lot. So I think 60' of Oplux with sewn eye splice is in my near future.
From day one I've tended to take the approach of whether an arborist, rock climber or SAR team would use the gear the way I'm using it. If not I don't do it. Its good to see more guys talking about life support system integrity here too when the topic comes up with newcomer questions. I love the DIY spirit here, but safety has to be paramount.
Anyway thought I'd come out of the shadows and say hey. Attached are a few pics of a deer I took from my saddle this weekend in FL.
