lets talk safty

[hill boy]

I wear a safty belt when in a tree stand.But the more I evaluate the circumstances if a man fell he could end up hurt badly if not wearing a harness type apparatus to keep you in an upright position if you fall.So if a hunter wants a good simple,light, comfortable safty harness what would it be.I want to know what ya'll wear and the advantages and disadvantages you can tell from experience.Thanks for your input in advance.

[Fletcher]

Mike, you have made a wise choice to wear a full harness instead of the belt.  I tried a few and now wear a Seat of the Pants Fastback harness.  I can put it on it the morning dark without any problem, it is as comfortable as a harness can be and I have confidence in it.  I also like the SOP rope and prussic knot setup for attaching to the tree and it doubles as a lineman's strap for climbing and while hanging the stand.

I didn't care for the full vest type harnesses.  They go on and off easily, but the vest just doesn't work for me.  The pockets are wrong, don't like the camo and I like the harness under my vest or outer jacket. (Not recommended, but it works best for me.)  Whatever you get, make sure the leg straps go around the meat of you thigh and below your butt, not up thru your crotch.  Just visualize trapping your boys between the straps and a 180 lb rock.

[hill boy]

I took a look at those just now per your recommendation and they definitly look as though they could fit the bill.Simple and light.Two things I like when hunting.Thanks for the tip Rick.  

[GMMAT]

I've gone from the SOP to the HSS to the Muddy Outdoors harness.  Comfort is key.  Weight is also an issue.  Heat (goes back to comfort) dictates what I wear in early NC temps.

I'm looking forward to the Muddy, this fall.

[Pat B]

The SOP Fastback is as easy as it gets. That's what I have. I guess they are comfortable but for me none are. I wear it anyway when I am in a tree.  Even though they will help you from a fall if you remain hanging in a harness for more than 15 minutes your life is in danger. I keep a small knife attached to my harness in a handy place so I can cut myself out if necessary. You can never have too many knives in the field anyway. d;^)

[Three Arrows]

Use a ladder stand for the safest elevated stand.  Someone always has a problem with this safety belt or that safety belt for one reason or another.  They all pretty much is uncomfortable or has camo you don't like.  My last fall from a tree was from 25 ft up.  I caught my bow haul rope on the lock release of my climber and was hanging by the hand climber portion.  After I dropped the platform from the hand climber, I had to make the descent down to retrieve the platform.  I made the climb back up to retrieve the hand climber.  Another time, I got all the way to the top by a hang on stand only to have a tree step break off.  Yes, break off.  I ended up with a tree step shoved under my armpit.  Anything shoved under your armpit like so is life threatening if it is sharp.  You must always figure you can and will fall anytime you climb.  I think it is best to stay away from tree stands all together since each time you climb, you narrow down the odds of falling.  I always make sure there are no sharp saplings, no rocks, nothing to land on when I hit.  I always make sure I have a place to grab if I fall, and I have fallen many times.  Your chances of falling decrease with all the good safety stuff supplied nowadays.  If you climb, stay attached to the tree all the way up and down using a tether of some type.  Be prepared to fall out.  The shock of falling causes many to panic.  I will tell you that I have only come out of the tree once since I started using the safety stuff.  I can recall each how and why of the times I have come out of the tree but it would horrify you! Hunt safe. Chuc

[Bill Carlsen]

My wife and I use the safety harness by Loggy Bayou which we got thru Cabela's. It is not a vest and we both were them under our fleece. When we got them they were about half the price of the vests that were on the market at the time. We also use our own home made version of the rope and prussic knot set up where you are hooked in going up and coming down.

[jcprintz]

SOP for me. 80% of all treestand accidents are getting into and out of the stand. Please never leave the ground without a Full Body Harness/Fall Arrest System. Everyone will have thier own preference but consider safety above all else. It's much better to take a few extra seconds to use a lineman's belt or safety line climbing up or down the tree than to possibly never be able to hunt again or worse

[hill boy]

keep it coming guy's.I appreciate the info.

[metsastaja]

SOP with 2 pursik knots on the climbing rope. One to attach harness and the other then stays at about last ladder rung before platform.  That way I have a movable foot loop if I do fall.

[bowmofo]

I stay out of trees!   :D  If I do climb Its not high enough to need a parachute! Mike

[Running Buck]

Good Idea, A lot of folks don't take the safety idea to the next level. What do I do if I fall? Some don't know it but, if you hang for any extended amount of time it can kill you just as quick as a fall can( Fall Suspension Trauma) This is where a little back yard practice with your buddies comes in handy.

[Peachey]

I use hang on stands with stick ladders to get to them. I have a rope tied to the tree above my head and again at the bottom of the ladder. With a prusic knot on that rope you hook your safety harness to it before you start to climb and slide it up as you go, and down as you descend. That way you are always attached. I feel pretty safe with this setup. I've seen these safety ropes and knots for sale for around $30 bucks. But you can go to the hardware store and make your own for less than $10

[Onehair]

I am of the old school. I use a safety belt tied pretty close as like to lean into the shot. If I fall it won't be vertical and only about 6 inches. Plus most people can't get out of a harness if they do  fall and that has it's own problems. The harness craze is the result of lawyers and not due to a better hunting system.To each his own.

[jcar315]

I use the standard full harness that comes standard with every Summitt stand. Works great for me. As a husband & father I would not get into any type of elevated stand without a full harness.

I'm not that old and I can remember when there were no safety belts or harnesses of any type. I thought I was being "safe" by wearing an old leather weight lifting belt around my waist and then tying off to the tree. So thankful I never fell wearing that thing!

I have 2 kid size safety harnesses my two kids can wear anytime they leave the ground. Teaching them safety young.

[Curveman]

I like the vest system as the straps just stay untangled that way and it makes it so much easier to just slide into it in the dark without making any noise. Full harness is the safest, no question! I confess that I haven't used a rope climbing up but have it set up so that I hook in before I swing into the treestand. I have a fast grip on the tree prior to that.

Rick, thanks for the visual!          

[calgarychef]

I use a linesmans harness, they are quirt, safe, and color coded so I get the straps in the right places.

the chef