What saftey harness and why

[Cyclic-Rivers]

School me on saftey harnesses.  I'm in the market for a new one. I want to be able to put it on at the truck or cabin and walk to the woods. I'm looking for comfort and ease of use as well as quietness.

[Tater]

   I like the Muddy, it's the one in my avatar, light weight, easy on and off and you can walk with it on comfortably.

[KSdan]

Muddy Magnum Pro.  Light. Simple.  Under $40 on popular sites. .  .

Dan in KS

[Jock Whisky]

A bunch of us went to a rock climbing harness. We figured if you're tied in right you'll only fall about one foot. It also leaves you facing the tree.

[limbshaker]

Rock climbing harness. Cheaper, safer, easier to put on, doesn't need a tether replaced after a fall, and doesn't rip you a new one from the jolt of a fall. 

I worked at Seat-O-the Pants for a few years and tested all of them and wore them very briefly. They are fine until you fall out of the tree. You can smack your face into the tree, and it feels like getting kicked in the nads. Not to mention your legs lose circulation and fall off if you get stuck there too long. Seriously, full body harnesses are dangerous and I can't understand why they are still popular.

Think about it, a climber may fall several times in an afternoon and it's no big deal. You are just left sitting there, actually fairly comfortably. And no worries of your face smacking into the tree without your knees/legs actually taking some of the blow.

YMMV, and use what you feel most comfortable with. The one you don't wear for whatever reason is the only "bad" choice.   

[dbd870]

I use a HSS ultralite because well, it is

[Dave Lay]

The muddy is a good harness I wore one for years but have recently moved to a lone wolf, I like it’s fasteners better and it includes a strap to take the load off your thighs in case of a fall, other harness may also have this I don’t know. But the lone wolf is a more comfortable harness for me. In cold weather I wear a harness under my jacket with the tether out the back . I know a lot of construction workers working in high risk elevated areas wear a full harness that closely resemble our hunting harness the drawback I see in a rock climbing harness is you attach your rope to the front by the waist, I think I’ve read where users are modyfing to work better in a hunting situation

[ksbowman]

I use a Muddy and am extremely happy with it. Like Tater said easy on, easy off and very comfortable in the stand and walking/climbing.

[Hummer3T]

rock climbing harness...comfy to  wear and walk in.  fully adjustable.  keeps the line low.  when or if you fall turns you towards tree and sits you down with weight on legs so easy to move and recover.   very light.  most have no metal parts...and ljke said above truly made to fall in.  I always put on at truck or for walk and wear in...half the time I still have it on when I walk in house after hunt.

[tippit]

No matter what harness...consider using a Petzel GriGri 2 self belay devise to get yourself safely down to the ground by yourself if you fall.  I used to have detailed post on Pow Wow but seems like it is lost.  tippit

[Doug_K]

Picked up the hss ultra lite flex last year, so far I'm happy with it. Light, comfortable, easier to put on/take off than my old stock harnesses, doesn't get tangled in transport. Haven't hung from it for long periods of time yet though.

[MnFn]

I have been thinking about a rock climbing harness for a while, just haven't got around to it.  I think it makes a lot of sense.

We used to make them out of rope, and I have repelled in them, but I am sure a harness would be more comfortable for walking.

[joel0711]

Got rid of my 30 pound stand and going to saddle hunter---automatic harness and 5 pounds

[limbshaker]

Thing about full body harnesses that construction crews wear, is they usually aren't working alone. So there is help available to get down after a fall. They likely won't be stuck there for long periods of time.

In the woods, you are on your own. Something I like to keep in mind

[limbshaker]

I have been thinking about a rock climbing harness for a while, just haven't got around to it.  I think it makes a lot of sense.

We used to make them out of rope, and I have repelled in them, but I am sure a harness would be more comfortable for walking.

My ultralight setup is a piece of 1" tube webbing. I just tie it up into a harness when I get to the stand. Works great! And it will fit in the pocket of my Arrowmaster.

[Dave Lay]

Thing about full body harnesses that construction crews wear, is they usually aren't working alone. So there is help available to get down after a fall. They likely won't be stuck there for long periods of time.

In the woods, you are on your own. Something I like to keep in mind

good thought .. on the rock climbing harness how are you guys keeping the tree tether out of your way since it attaches in the front ?

[bigbadjon]

I use an HSS body harness but I would not say I have a specific preference. I you guys are setting your tethers at the correct height you shouldn't be taking much of a fall if you slip from your stand. My harness is pulled tight at the sitting position, so if I were to fall even standing up there would be no slack to drop me before I leaned off the platform.

[old_goat2]

I've gone to a rock climbing harness, , way I have it set up I can't fall more than about 2 foot and will be facing the tree and close enough to climb back in the tree. Way way way more comfortable and light than the other harnesses I've used. Won't cut off the circulation like most of the other designs.

[mec lineman]

black diamond alpine bod, one of the few rock harnesses with leg straps. i love it! light and you can hang as long as you want without the risk of suspension trauma.

[Bow man]

We use the HSS easy on and off comfortable and easy to use