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New to saddles - are my ropes ok?

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dk_ace

New Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2022
Messages
10
I’m going to try saddle hunting this year after a grueling year of carrying a heavy LW Alpha setup around on public land last year.

I was looking at some of the saddle kits, but I don’t think I actually need the ropes they sell with them so a kit may not be necessary.

I have a Lone wolf tree rope and a LW lineman’s rope. These appear to be essentially the same as the ropes the saddle companies sell just with figure 8 knots instead of sewn loops, non-locking carabiners, and a little loop on the slack end to keep it on the carabiner instead of dangling free. I’ll probably switch to a locking carabiner for the tree tether.

Am I missing something? I’m not looking to skip important safety upgrades or anything like that, but I see no need to spend $100+ for something that is exact duplication of what I already have. Being new to this, it’s possible that there’s more to this than meets the eye and I need new ropes, thought I should check in here.

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dk_ace said:
I’m going to try saddle hunting this year after a grueling year of carrying a heavy LW Alpha setup around on public land last year.

I was looking at some of the saddle kits, but I don’t think I actually need the ropes they sell with them so a kit may not be necessary.

I have a Lone wolf tree rope and a LW lineman’s rope. These appear to be essentially the same as the ropes the saddle companies sell just with figure 8 knots instead of sewn loops, non-locking carabiners, and a little loop on the slack end to keep it on the carabiner instead of dangling free. I’ll probably switch to a locking carabiner for the tree tether.

Am I missing something? I’m not looking to skip important safety upgrades or anything like that, but I see no need to spend $100+ for something that is exact duplication of what I already have. Being new to this, it’s possible that there’s more to this than meets the eye and I need new ropes, thought I should check in here.

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The ropes that came with your LW are fine as long as you inspect the ropes for frays, and other deformation.
I spent my first season using old muddy life lines that I cut to length.
Another great cheaper way for tether or linesman ropes would be to go to Eastern Woods Outdoors, Knots and Ropes, or Wesspur and order climbing rated rope by the foot. Tying a figure 8 for your eye and a fisherman knot for your rope stopper is easy.
 
dk_ace said:
I’m going to try saddle hunting this year after a grueling year of carrying a heavy LW Alpha setup around on public land last year.

I was looking at some of the saddle kits, but I don’t think I actually need the ropes they sell with them so a kit may not be necessary.

I have a Lone wolf tree rope and a LW lineman’s rope. These appear to be essentially the same as the ropes the saddle companies sell just with figure 8 knots instead of sewn loops, non-locking carabiners, and a little loop on the slack end to keep it on the carabiner instead of dangling free. I’ll probably switch to a locking carabiner for the tree tether.

Am I missing something? I’m not looking to skip important safety upgrades or anything like that, but I see no need to spend $100+ for something that is exact duplication of what I already have. Being new to this, it’s possible that there’s more to this than meets the eye and I need new ropes, thought I should check in here.

D
Click to expand...

100 percent only use locking carabiners from known companies that are climbing rated and do not buy carabiners from amazon or ebay, only from climbing/arborist companies with good reputation

there are some things you can't save much money on in this hobby, and those things include anything related to life support (such as ropes and carabiners)

i'd also toss your old lone wolf ropes, the fact that they look just like another rope doesn't mean anything (you can't tell a rope's type or rating that way), a new tether is like 20 bucks if you can tie knots
 
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Well, there’s one vote for keep them and one for replace them. Anyone else?

FWIW, these are not the items included with the stands, they are the upgraded ones you purchase separately. They look like new despite a few years of use.

Thanks,
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I'm with GeoFish.....don't risk it. For the sake of < $100...get new ropes that are climbing rated. Lots of threads on what to get here on SH
 
I bought Amazon ropes and used them with no problems known….all this safety talk made me spend like $50 for some canyon elite ….boy is that some sweet rope! Then later after messing around with one of the Amazon ropes, I notice bad areas(like internal separation) and am really glad I didn’t keep using them. I’ve since bought resctech and really feel much better about my ropes. I no longer have any qualms about spending $50-80 on some good stuff.
Your rope may be fine and 20’ up doesn’t seem too extreme, but would you trust the same rope at 120’? I’d chince on items not holding my weight, seriously.
 
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$30 will get you 30’ of Sterling htp from @DanO with Eastern Woods Outdoors. https://doublesteps.com/product/sterling-htp-static-rope/
That’s more than enough line for a linemans and tether. Go on animated knots and tie you some knots, get some locking gate biners and you’re in business. LW rope might be fine but it’s not rated for what we do, sure some of the gear we use isn’t rated for what we do with it but the ropes are.
 
Learn to tie a couple of knots and then order enough rope from a reputable dealer like Eastern Woods Outdoors or a rope company then tie up your own. Saves money over buying them made up and will give you peace of mind knowing your hanging from new ,climbing rated ropes.
 
Mschmeiske said:
Can you post a picture of the ropes? I might say, if you can afford it… when it doubt, throw them out and get new ones!
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Posted pics of the tree tether. The lineman’s rope isn’t really in question I don’t think. I like it and it’s undamaged, see no reason to consider switching it out.

I’m only asking this in case there are significant differences in tree tethers that I’m unaware of. It’s rated and meant for treestand use and appears identical to the ones sold by saddle companies and is undamaged.

Many of these comments I don’t quite understand, you guys seem to be saying to throw it out for no real reason. Are you saying you think lone wolf sells unsafe tree tethers? No one has said that there is anything special about one over another which is what I was really looking for. I thought there might be some material difference between “saddle” tree tethers and “other” tree tethers. I can’t tell whether or not there is from the comments here.

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This is definitely one of those times when a picture is worth a thousand words. I definitely would not put my life on an overhand loop, particularly one with inadequate tail. It doesn't matter if that's the way you got it or you think you got it. 1. Ya need at least a couple inches of tail. 2. use a secure loop such as figure 8 end loop.

We have a responsibility as climbers to know what knots were using a know how to inspect them and to untie and retie them.

After ya get that figured out, think about how you're gonna climb and stay tied into the tree the whole time. Most are not... but they are also the ones at risk. Just because they haven't had a problem yet, that doesn't mean they're not going to. I haven't spent any of my 14 saddle years not tied into the tree.

If you have any questions, let me know, but of course make sure you have Googled it first. There's plenty of knot tying vids on the web. Mine are fairly specific but u are welcome to them as well.


Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
 
John RB said:
This is definitely one of those times when a picture is worth a thousand words. I definitely would not put my life on an overhand loop, particularly one with inadequate tail. It doesn't matter if that's the way you got it or you think you got it. 1. Ya need at least a couple inches of tail. 2. use a secure loop such as figure 8 end loop.

We have a responsibility as climbers to know what knots were using a know how to inspect them and to untie and retie them.

After ya get that figured out, think about how you're gonna climb and stay tied into the tree the whole time. Most are not... but they are also the ones at risk. Just because they haven't had a problem yet, that doesn't mean they're not going to. I haven't spent any of my 14 saddle years not tied into the tree.

If you have any questions, let me know, but of course make sure you have Googled it first. There's plenty of knot tying vids on the web. Mine are fairly specific but u are welcome to them as well.


Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
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I posted pics of the tree tether above. It looks exactly like the others I’ve seen that are tied, but maybe I don’t know what I’m looking at which is why I asked.

While I’m new to the saddle I’m not new to tree hunting. I don’t spend any time not tied in either.

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dk_ace said:
Why? What do you see that is wrong?

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overhand knot with nearly non-existent tag end

i am less concerned with the overhand knot, on good rope and with plenty of tag end it will be strong enough, but a figure 8 is better

the tag end is the left over little piece of rope that if it slips through your knot comes untied...for something like a tether, I want bare minimum 2 inches and actually run at least 3 inches

just because it came from lone wolf doesn't matter, i've seen questionable stuff from muddy and hunter safety systems also

also, there's no telling if they used a rated rope that was designed for climbing....rated black ropes are rare but do exist (bluewater assaultline, etc)
 
As @John RB said, that overhand knot forming your loop is not really a good idea. They have been know to pull out. With one more loop thru you can change that to a figure 8 knot forming that loop and you'll be much safer. Google search Figure 8 knot and you'll find lots of references on how to tie them.

 
Exhumis said:
$30 will get you 30’ of Sterling htp from @DanO with Eastern Woods Outdoors. https://doublesteps.com/product/sterling-htp-static-rope/
That’s more than enough line for a linemans and tether. Go on animated knots and tie you some knots, get some locking gate biners and you’re in business. LW rope might be fine but it’s not rated for what we do, sure some of the gear we use isn’t rated for what we do with it but the ropes are.
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It will cost another $13 in shipping though. So you might as well add some stuff to the order if you go that route....for efficiency.
 
As others have said, we don’t know the rope and what it’s rated for. Those knots and the small tail end is enough for me to say start over! A figure 8 and 3-4” of tail should be good to go. I’m a worry wort and leave enough tail to throw in a back up knot as well. Some may say it’s overkill, but it makes me feel more at ease.
 
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