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Saddle Longevity and safety my .02

JCLINE84 said:
Material snob here tossing my 2 cents into the discussion. The big thing polyester brought to the table when I was researching materials was the UV resistance. That can be offset if you choose better materials like the UV treated nylon webbing @Fl Canopy Stalker uses in the Woods saddles, which is the same webbing I prefer. Polyester is softer than nylon but I don’t really like soft webbing on a saddle because briars will pick it to pieces. The treated nylon webbing brushes off briars and abrasions really well. This one only matters to weirdos like me but the quality and selection of colors are much better in nylon webbing. If I’m going to pay a premium for something I want it to look as good as it performs. There is nothing wrong with polyester I just prefer nylon in most cases, and it’s mostly just personal preference. Both are good enough for what we are doing with them. It’s definitely cheaper to use polyester and I too wish I could use it. It would save me half the webbing cost of building a saddle.
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Thanks Jamie. Definitely more to think about for pluses for the nylon choice.

For me, I don’t wear the saddle until I am at the tree, so briars aren’t really an issue. Plus, I am a sweater and, due to sweating, my saddles do get wet.

The additional info. gives me more to think about in future personal saddle builds.

Thx
 
Fireprojectile said:
If we talk UV resistance, the storage in darkk condition is important in my opinion.
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Depends on the type of lighting in your home. Most lamps now are LED which emit very very low UV like barely existent. Incandescent bulbs generated a small amount but not really enough to cause rapid degradation. Fluorescents and compact fluorescents (the little twisted looking bulb with that large plastic base) create enough UV that constant exposure could definitely degrade the materials. Keeping them away from the windows (even with curtains or blinds) is super important. I hang mine in my garage in front of a fan to dry it out, and I store it in my room, in a clear seal tight tote with an unused filter from a fish tank (similar to activated carbon) to absorb any odors
 
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Swampwalker said:
Does exposure to ozone come into play regarding saddle making products/ materials?
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I’ve done a little experiment using the materials I use on saddles. I have a gate in the back yard that the dogs figured out how to open. I made a strap with clips on the end to keep the gate closed. Used the same webbing and thread I use on saddles. Put it on the gate a couple of years ago so it’s been in the sun/elements for two years. It hasn’t fallen apart but it has bleached out and gotten to the point that I wouldn’t trust it with my weight on it. So UV and the elements can definitely degrade nylon over time. I don’t know how long it would take to do the same to a saddle since it isn’t exposed 24/7 to direct sunlight like this strap has been.
 
JCLINE84 said:
I’ve done a little experiment using the materials I use on saddles. I have a gate in the back yard that the dogs figured out how to open. I made a strap with clips on the end to keep the gate closed. Used the same webbing and thread I use on saddles. Put it on the gate a couple of years ago so it’s been in the sun/elements for two years. It hasn’t fallen apart but it has bleached out and gotten to the point that I wouldn’t trust it with my weight on it. So UV and the elements can definitely degrade nylon over time. I don’t know how long it would take to do the same to a saddle since it isn’t exposed 24/7 to direct sunlight like this strap has been.
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I took his question to relate more to ozonic machines. People use them on polyester hunting clothing for “scent removal” and I think he’s inquiring if it’s safe to do his saddle the same way.
@Swampwalker ,
I researched this pretty extensively when I was considering ozone machines years ago. Needless to say I don’t use them on my hunting gear
 
bowhunthard88 said:
Evidently, ropes should be replaced frequently, that's a given; of course it's all going to be dependent on how often you use them. Breaking something in, to me, is a beneficial part of the equipment use process (saddles/packs/ropes/boots/gloves/etc.). Most gear, once formed to your body and/or tensions usually will work WITH you better. I'm really not an Amsteel groupie, so there's that; and I do run a RescTech and Beal Jammy bridge setup. A rope sheath that has started to "fuzz" doesn't necessarily mean it's bad either.

You can get an arborist saddle to conform to your body as well, trust me lol, just gotta use it enough! Also, I've seen arborists use rope that would skeeve me out, as to condition, although I do get that the safety factor is less on 8-10mm vs. 11-13mm...
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I’m using the same ropes basically and I do move around the cords on friction hitches. II too would think memory in the right places should be better…..like a new pair of shoes
 
I haven't tried all the saddles but the 1s made of more ridged materials are more comfortable as a general rule. I dislike amsteel cause of the flat spots it developed over time.

I use 8mm rope and it does get some flat spots/irregularities. Untie knots, remilking, and swapping ends every once in a while will help with longevity but I plan on placing ropes every 3 seasons or as needed on the thin stuff

The rope Wood saddle sells and the 9mm htp rope like ewo got and equivalents are gonna last u a long time but not pack down as nice
 
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