Lineman's Belt

[Rick James]

I know that there are countless threads and videos on safety harnesses and I have seen quite a few that promote the use of rock climbing harnesses for tree stand hunting--some of which explain how to "make a lineman's belt" by modifying a rock climbing harness by adding attachment points on the sides of the belt. My question is why not just attach the lineman's strap/rope to the front attachment point of the rock climbing harness?? Is there really a reason that you need to attach to the sides of belt in order to achieve safety while hanging sticks and stands. I never thought about this until I went with my son to hang a stand and this is exactly what he did and he was able to do two hand work just like i do with the lineman's belt attachments on my Muddy harness...Anybody else do it this way?? Pros-Cons...what y'all think?
Thanks, Rick

[hickstick]

its just a stability issue.   the farther the attachment points of each end of the linemans belt are from each other the more stable you'll be.  think of it like a wide bottomed glass and a skinny champagne flute with a small base...which it more stable?

I have a Metolius Safe tech delux climbing  harness, all the loops are safety rated as apposed to most RC harnesses were the gear loops and haul loop are just there to hang gear from and are not weigh bearing. simply clip the the linemans belt to the front gear loops and climb.

[stagetek]

I hang all my stands using a linemans belt I bought at Graingers. Hick is right about the stability issue. But, my main reason for using one is so I don't sweat my hunting harness all up. I hang most stands in August, and usually leave the woods covered in sweat.

[Zbone]

Been a telephone man most my adult life, (started when I was 20) including over a dozen years in the field climbing poles, and still have my lineman's belt, and hooks... Lineman's belts are MUCH heavier than today's rock climbing harnesses and really wouldn't be practable dragging to a tree stand every day, although to set up a semi perminate stand (like a once a year deal) they're okay, but to lug one around all the time depending on how far the walk, would be a pain...


Some of those tree trimmer setups are pretty cool, but don't know much about them as to weight...


My linesman's belt was top of the line back in the day and believe I got it from either Bashums's or Halls out of Grove City, PA, both companies are located there, or used to be...


Now ya have me thinking about mine... Wonder if my belt is still stashed in my mom's basebent, or she gave it away like a bunch of my stuff...     If there, wonder if it still fits or shrank too much...  

[Yohon]

Check out this thread, got a pic in there on how I rig up my linemans belt on a RC harness

 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=146444#000001

[hickstick]

Zbone....most treestand safety harnesses (Like SOTP or HSS) have built in linemans loops.  no extra weight except the second tether to use as a flip line.

they make hanging sticks or stands so easy I couldn't see walking into the woods without one.  

a lot of guys are using linemans belts and tree gaffs (different from pole gaffs) to climb and hang stands or to climb for hunting out of a saddle.

[German Dog]

Originally posted by hickstick:
Zbone....most treestand safety harnesses (Like SOTP or HSS) have built in linemans loops.  no extra weight except the second tether to use as a flip line.

they make hanging sticks or stands so easy I couldn't see walking into the woods without one.  

a lot of guys are using linemans belts and tree gaffs (different from pole gaffs) to climb and hang stands or to climb for hunting out of a saddle.

An actual linemans belt like Z-bone is talking about is way overkill in my opinion too(i'm a lineman)but i'm sure others might use them if they have them.

Now a treestand style"linemans belt" is a little better than a rock harness with a single attachment in the front as the stability is better as one person mentioned.

However, since I switched to a rock harness I just use the single point in front and have no problems.

[Zbone]

Hickstick - 36+ years in the telecommunications business, believe me I know the difference between pole gaffs and tree gaffs, have cut out on them enough times and own 3 sets of hooks, Klein's, Bashums (sp), and an old, old, set of Brooks... I prefer Kleins... I have pole gaffs on my Kleins and tree gaffs on my Bashums...

Yeah German Dog, we need to learn them correct terminology...        

Now curious German Dog, what is your preference of hooks?

[German Dog]

Zbone,  I was handed down an old pair of hooks that are straight shafts all steel, not sure of brand about 22 years ago. About 5 years ago got some new aluminum Buckinghams with the large padded velcro uppers and they are super comfortable.

[Zbone]

Aluminum and Velcro, wow sounds cool...    My, how things have changed...      Been a while since I shopped hooks but figured technologies has came a long ways in the field...  

Yeah, never really cared for straight shafts, my Brooks are straight (like yours, handed down) I need offset...

Best of luck out there and strike for the heart of the pole...  

[Three Arrows]

I use the one from Treehopper.