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Using a rock climbing harness for backup with a Sitdrag

P

PhilSch

Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2019
Messages
79
Location
Sacramento area
As backup I attach the center loop on my RCH to my tether with a second distel hitch/carabiner below the carabiner attached to my bridge.

I have read some go without a harness, relying solely on the Sitdrag without backup. Thoughts on that?
 
PhilSch said:
As backup I attach the center loop on my RCH to my tether with a second distel hitch/carabiner below the carabiner attached to my bridge.

I have read some go without a harness, relying solely on the Sitdrag without backup. Thoughts on that?
Click to expand...

I did it for 1.5 seasons. Had my mother in law sew on a 2” webbing belt and I got a rated/heavy duty buckle. I personally never had a problem and never felt unsafe.
 
Yeah, I really do not condone what I did or suggest it. Honestly the sit drag is comfy but if there were the “readily available” options there are now I would of never used a sit drag to start with.
 
PhilSch said:
As backup I attach the center loop on my RCH to my tether with a second distel hitch/carabiner below the carabiner attached to my bridge.

I have read some go without a harness, relying solely on the Sitdrag without backup. Thoughts on that?
Click to expand...
I always erro on side of sar
PhilSch said:
As backup I attach the center loop on my RCH to my tether with a second distel hitch/carabiner below the carabiner attached to my bridge.

I have read some go without a harness, relying solely on the Sitdrag without backup. Thoughts on that?
Click to expand...
I always choose to err on side of safety, over saving a few ounces weight,I'm a firm believer of Murphy's law! Just my two cents!
 
PhilSch said:
As backup I attach the center loop on my RCH to my tether with a second distel hitch/carabiner below the carabiner attached to my bridge.

I have read some go without a harness, relying solely on the Sitdrag without backup. Thoughts on that?
Click to expand...

For backup of sit drag, I just tie an alpine butterfly in tether and hook that to belay loop of RCH with a biner. Alpine butterfly is super easy to tie and there is no need for An additional Distel hitch.

In the pic, I also daisy chained the tag end and hooked it to biner to remove rope hanging down. But the alpine butterfly is the backup to my RCH.

71f40abf963323e822895b6a769fbd99.jpg
 
Will the sit drag fail? Probably not, but ask yourself... What are you saving vs. what are you risking? Is it worth it?
 
The sit drag probably won't break, assuming you have a robust, serviceable bridge.... But if you fall asleep, are you confident that the sit drag will hold you and you won't fall/slip out?

Just some things to think about...
 
This is pretty manageable risk with very low impact on weight, time, or mobility and tremendous potential payoff if something undesirable happens.

Frankly, I don't even like to speak about the lesser damaging outcomes b/c it turns my stomach.

Male stubbornness is probably the root cause of our life expectancy being shorter than that of the fairer sex.

Just my thoughts.

Happy and safe hunting - HCB
 
I added a waistbelt on mine and used it last year. The belt is all that is required for rock climbing safety. A rock climbing book from the 1990s I have says so. That is why the little label on the RCH says you must have the belt tight enough so it will not go over your hips or your ribcage.
I used two carabiners to attach the belt to the sitdrag.

 
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