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SitDrag Durability?

swampsnyper

swampsnyper

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2015
Messages
4,463
Location
Warrior, Al
I can't help but to keep thinking of the safety factor of these things. Our life is supported from the webbing on the sitdrag. I'm pretty sure the webbing that we hook up to on the sitdrag end loops are the same webbing that the sitdrag tether is made from, which a few of has had said is junk. I know a few of us have drop tested them in the backyard and I think the webbing and stitches is good enough for that, but I'm pretty sure it would fail a true life support test, especially after some use. If you think about the loops on the ends that we are attached to, its just a loop of cheap webbing which I think is only joined together with one row of stitching holding 2 hemmed ends. Plus there is the row of stitching along the strap that attaches it to the seat material that gives some added support. So basically its an endless loop sling like the ones we use as a bridge. I know if that strap wasn't the seat, none of us would consider it as bridge material because there are no load baring stitching like box and X or load baring bar tacks. Yet it is supporting our life just the same as the bridge. Either one fails and we fall to the ground.
Its just things that catch my attention as I research load bearing stitches and stuff to customize my sitdrag. The more I research, the more I can't understand why I'm sewing all this webbing to the sit drag. Why not just make my own sitdrag with better webbing and support stitches. Its like painting a rusted out car.
Just my rambling for the day. Carry on.
 
Re: RE: SitDrag Durability?

swampsnyper said:
I can't help but to keep thinking of the safety factor of these things. Our life is supported from the webbing on the sitdrag. I'm pretty sure the webbing that we hook up to on the sitdrag end loops are the same webbing that the sitdrag tether is made from, which a few of has had said is junk. I know a few of us have drop tested them in the backyard and I think the webbing and stitches is good enough for that, but I'm pretty sure it would fail a true life support test, especially after some use. If you think about the loops on the ends that we are attached to, its just a loop of cheap webbing which I think is only joined together with one row of stitching holding 2 hemmed ends. Plus there is the row of stitching along the strap that attaches it to the seat material that gives some added support. So basically its an endless loop sling like the ones we use as a bridge. I know if that strap wasn't the seat, none of us would consider it as bridge material because there are no load baring stitching like box and X or load baring bar tacks. Yet it is supporting our life just the same as the bridge. Either one fails and we fall to the ground.
Its just things that catch my attention as I research load bearing stitches and stuff to customize my sitdrag. The more I research, the more I can't understand why I'm sewing all this webbing to the sit drag. Why not just make my own sitdrag with better webbing and support stitches. Its like painting a rusted out car.
Just my rambling for the day. Carry on.
Click to expand...
I agree. I think the sit drag is a great concept. But I wasn't happy with it and I didn't feel safe in it without an additional harness of some kind.
But I'm strange, and tend to buck whichever system I'm operating within.
Plus I'm wrong. A lot.
Plus I enjoy tinkering. Which brings me to modifying existing slings and making my own slings.
I tried to make a webbing sling from scratch but kept getting the dimensions wrong and it was "left"or "right"heavy (long). So I bought and traded for a couple Anderson slings and cut one of the up and am using one of the seat cradles as the basis of my new sling
 
I think it's important to consider that the SitDrag was load tested at over 800 lbs with no stress to any components. They cut that in half for their published safety rating of 400 lbs. The tether that comes with it is fine as far as being used the way it was intended from the manufacturer. Most of us that have cut the strap off have done so because we already had a preferred tether method, not necessarily because the stock tether was bad quality or didn't work.

You could definitely make a custom SitDrag with more heavy duty materials, which would arguably make it "safer". Is a 3000 lb rating safer than a 800 lb rating? I guess so, in a technical sense, but in a real world scenario there's no way I'll ever put an 800 lb load on my SitDrag.

I agree with you that safety is the NUMBER ONE priority anytime we enter the woods. Like most of you, I have little ones that need me to come home after every hunt. There's no piece of gear, or any set of antlers for that matter, worth compromising your safety. I personally don't feel like I'm compromising my safety with the SitDrag.

In the end, what matters is that the hunter feels 100% confident in their gear. If you don't feel 100% safe in a SitDrag, or any saddle for that reason, you shouldn't be using it.
 
I really like my sitdrag and just figure if I'm gonna be sewing a belt and support straps to it, I might as well use better webbing that is better rated for wear and tear and outdoor elements so that the work load rating won't decrease as fast over time and use. So back to the drawing board.
 
swampsnyper said:
I really like my sitdrag and just figure if I'm gonna be sewing a belt and support straps to it, I might as well use better webbing that is better rated for wear and tear and outdoor elements so that the work load rating won't decrease as fast over time and use. So back to the drawing board.
Click to expand...

You could easily make your own "SitDrag" with better rated 2" webbing and some cordura material. I've thought about it but honestly I feel safe in the SD the way it is. Like G2 said, it comes down to what you feel comfortable and confident in.
 
flinginairos said:
You could easily make your own "SitDrag" with better rated 2" webbing and some cordura material. I've thought about it but honestly I feel safe in the SD the way it is. Like G2 said, it comes down to what you feel comfortable and confident in.
Click to expand...

I went through the same thought process and concluded that it wasn't worth it for me. Keep in mind I'm only 165 lbs...maybe 180 with gear. If I were a bigger guy, like 250+ in my birthday suit then I might consider going with something more heavy duty.

I do like where you're going with this thread though, Swampsnyper. Safety is the most important thing to consider when hanging 20 feet up in a tree.
 
You bring up a lot of good points. Since the sit and drag revolution started I make sure to point out that these things are not approved to be used off the ground. You are right that you could make the same thing but better very easily.
 
I feel waaay more safer in my guido and sit drag that ANY climbing stand or lock on


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noxninja said:
I feel waaay more safer in my guido and sit drag that ANY climbing stand or lock on


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Click to expand...

When I got my Web I tried hard as I could to fall out of it about five feet off the ground. Couldn't do it!!


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g2outdoors said:
I think it's important to consider that the SitDrag was load tested at over 800 lbs with no stress to any components. They cut that in half for their published safety rating of 400 lbs. .
Click to expand...

A brand new SD was load tested at 800lbs.

I would watch for wear on a sit drag a little tighter than others. I know we all inspect our gear. But what I saw a little wear do to the webbing on the tether encourages me to double down on my safety checks with that sit drag this year. I'm going to use one, but I think a little rubbing can jeopardize the safety.
 
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