Just wondering about thoughts on different hanesess.
Ihave been using a waist belt for 30 years with no problems. I am now looking at some other options.
I tried the HSS last year and didn't like the vest style. Just bought a SOP harness and don't like leg straps going between the legs. Going back to my old waist belt. Seems like when falling from the tree the waist belt suspends you facing the tree and then it is just a matter of climbing back onto the stand. No hurt body parts and the boys stay unharmed.
Any ideas or comments would be appreciated
HSS is about the best one out there now... I used the waist belt once, that was it for that one.. I have a full body harnes, but want to get the HSS.
I've got the SOP and really like it. Took a little bit to get used to, but now I don't feel comfortable without it. If it ever was needed, I would feel much better in a full body harness of some type than a waist belt. From what I have read the waist belts can be very dangerous if you hit the end of them with any type of force at all. (As you would in a fall from the stand) They can cut off your air supply, and you only have as long as you can hold your breath to get back in the stand. I think that would be much harder than it sounds after a sudden drop out of one.
Be safe!
I'm in Whip's camp on this one,a hard fall with only a waist belt could leave you with a lacerated liver,or so I've heard.The full body harness may be a hassle & take some getting used to,but at least you'd still be able to hunt after a fall.
I really like my loggy bayou harness. It has a lineman's belt to hang stands which is very nice. You forget it's there after you put it on.
I always used a waist belt but a few year ago I got a SOP and have been using it lately. I hate the restriction the harness creates but it is better than the alternative. Its one of those things you just have to get used to...or stay on the ground. Pat
I switched to the HSS last year from the waist belt. Hunted from trees without either in my younger days (long past). I have never done an honest test of the HSS, waist belt OR bouncing off the ground - but I know the HSS sure makes me feel better about heading into the trees. If I am going to be hanging above the ground for any length of time - I sure want those leg straps.
A hunter was found dead hanging from a tree in a neighboring county last year (by his son). He was wearing a harness that did not include leg straps. He reportedly suffocated as internal organs pressed on the lower side of the diaphragm.
I am adding a safety rope and prussic knot to my system this fall. One mistake is all some of us will get.
They teach in bowhunter ed around here the waist belt type can cause injury or suffocation by isolating the pressure. A full harness is the safest type to wear because it's not just grabbing your body in one thin area like a belt. I wear a HSS vest and love the simplicity, plus it is reversible for the times we have to wear orange in the PA archery season.
Even a full harness can be deadly if you don't get out of it within about 15 minutes after falling. I keep a sharp knife attached to the strap of my harness. Pat
KC- what size did you get?
Steve
Another danger of the waist belt is that when you fall out, depending on how high or low you have it on, it can suspend you in an upside-down position. If you hang that way for long, you will lose consciousness. They are better than nothing, but the vest or full body harnesses are much safer.
That's what I wanted to hear some good opinions of the harnesses. Maybe I'll give the SOP another chance.I'm a tree climber by trade so I just need something to keep me from falling to the ground. after that I'll figure out how to get back unto the tree. My problem with the full body harness and I may be wrong is: You have potential to fall further down the tree than with the waist belt, since it is secured to the tree above the head. My waist belt with a two foot teather only aloows me to drop that two feetand then I should be hanging against the tree facing it.Do they make something like a hyprid combining the best of both types?
This is what I tried. Set your platform up about 2 foot off the ground and slowly step off with the waist belt and try hanging there, either around the waist or up high around your chest. Now imagine falling out of the stand. Now try the same thing with SOP harness, then decide. No comparison in my mind.
Maybe I'll try getting a smaller SOP or try the loggy bayou. My first HSS was a large and my second one was a small medium. the vest just seems too large. I guess dropping 45 lbs this off season had it's drawbacks. The SOP that I'm trying is a medium. I'l try again with a small.Irish's SOP is stored in a waist pouch and then is put on from there Mine did not have the pouch. Did I get the wrong one? Mine is called a sop fastback.
Hunter saftey system
I have my strap set so when I sit down it is just starting to tighten. So if I fall I can't go far. My strap is pretty far over my head to do this but I feel safer knowing I won't be able to drop far. I stand mostly when in the stand so I don't notice it being adjusted tighter.
Be careful of testing your harness by stepping out of your treestand. If its a SOP or HSS the tether has a section thats sewn together that's designed to pull apart in the event of a fall, it slows your fall and acts as a shock absorber. The tether will have to be replaced if this tears apart during "testing". BTW I have the SOP and my son has the HSS. The HSS also has a strap that you can put down for your foot after you fall. You can put your foot in and stand up and it takes all the pressure off. They are both very nice, but the HSS is a little easier to get in and out of. I think the SOP is more comfortable in the stand, however. I used the old style waist belt for years, but there is no comparison to the modern full body harness.
David
John, Like someone else mentioned, I also added a safety rope and prusic knot to all of my stands last year. I tie the safety rope to the tree or limb above my head. While seated the harness and strap are pretty much tight. When I stand there is some slack of course, but that would be the extent of any drop I might make. Attach your harness as high above you as you can to minimize any drop you might take.
I made a commitment to myself (and my wife) that I would learn from the mistakes of others. I've just heard to many horror stories of guys you were badly hurt or worse from something that is completely preventable. It does take a little effort and expense, but is good insurance in my mind.
whats a sop harness
Seat O' the Pants. It is a brand name that I think is manufactured by Summit? Most of the major sporting goods outlets that carry treestand safety gear sell them.
I used just the waist belt about 5-6 years ago. Heard something behind me and stretched too far. Out went the stand and there I am hanging there. :scared: At least I didn't drop my bow. :bigsmyl:
After I gained my composure back, I was able to gtet the stand back under me and get back up. I immediately went home cause I was pretty shook up. Now mind you , those days I got up about 25 feet.
The next 2-weeks left my back in some pretty bad pain. I was lucky!
Went and bought a Screaming Eagle full body harness and love it. They are no longer made but you can still find them.
Anyhow, your doing the right thing going to a harness. There are several good ones. Find one that is comfortable for you. Another I've used that is SOP and it's a good one.Best of luck and stay safe.
Mike
KC, I have both SOP styles, and like the Fastback better. I put it in a separate bag but it is easier to put on than the other model.
I'm one of the safety geeks at work and have trained with harnesses and belts. Belts are not made to catch you; only to keep you from getting to the edge where you might fall. If you fall with only a belt, it can very easily hurt or kill you. Go with the harness.
A harness should be designed to support your weight by your legs. That is the only part of your body that can take the impact and weight of the fall. Stay far away from the HSS or any other model where the straps go down thru your crotch. Just visualize your boys catching the brunt of your weight at the end of a two foot fall.
OK OK consider me converted. Don''t want to become a statistic. I'll use my sop fastback and get used to it. Joe, whip that safety line you mention , is that the one that goes all the way to the ground and the prussick slides on it, so that you can be tied in all the way down if needed? Do you use that going upalso? How does it secure at the top of the tree? just a loop or does it have a snap or carabeener? Surely you dont have to tie it onto the tree each time do you. I guess the flat web belt isn't needed around the tree to hook your teather with that set-up?Thanks guys this has been interesting and helpful. on't want to give up the tree hunting like my buddy Irish who made a commitment to stay on the ground this year. Kind of the fish out of water story with Mel.
I bought a seperate safety line for each of my stands. When I first hang the stand or secure the ladder it just loops around the tree over my head and stays there all fall. I clip into the prusic knot before ever stepping from the ground, and remain clipped to it until I come back down. Seems like overkill maybe on the ladder stands, but man, does it make me feel good! It's not hard to slip when climbing one of those when things are wet or slippery. It sure has eliminated a lot of the danger of tree stand hunting for me.
I don't hunt out of trees, but go back and read Pat B's post. Hap
I work as a steel inspector and if anyone has ever seen videos of men falling from improperly rigged harnesses or those of old design you would never think of going up without a good fall protection system. A lot of tough guys have been killed by thier fall protection after dropping some amazingly short distances.
Your a tree climber by profession so I'm sure your in shape and like me heights don't bother you. However trust me and the folks at TMA/OSHA full body harness sytem is the only way to go. Once you get used to them they are not so bad.
By the way my tether to the tree is a retractable type that stops when you pull it with any speed like a cars seat belt. I either bolt or strap it to the tree with a load bearing caribeener type set up. If it is in a permanent stand location the web strap is long enough to put in place at the top od the tree and clip off at the bottom of the stand so i can climb while tied off.
No one is above the laws of gravity and physics.
Good Point, regarding those videos.
My stand came with a DVD that showed falls, and even though staged for a camera, it happens pretty darn FAST.
I liked WHip's statement about "overkill", like him, I have a wife and kid's depending on dad to be safe.
A guy near here (NH) fell of a five foot ladder, putting up Christmas lights, last December. He will never walk, move his arms, or legs again.
I think about being 20' high on a wet/slippery stand... Yes, I keep the tether tight!
Lots of folks talk about how good the HSS is, but how many ever tried to hang from one? I saw a test video done on it where a guy easily let himself off of the stand. The straps wedged up into his crotch to the point where he could hardly breath and definitely did not recommend that item. I'm thinking about buying the Gorilla Safety Vest. The straps go around the legs in such a way as to not put the bind on the boyz down below.
I also think the SOP is about the best out there, I have a older one, and use a 2nd rope when climbing so going around limbs or the stand, i am always attached.. This has saved my hide more than once. from a guy that has hit the ground from to high.. The waist belt can turn ya wrong or cut off your wind. I dont like the HSS because of the bulky buckles and over all weight..
I've used SOP, HSS, and Loggy Bayou. The Loggy is by far the best IMO.
Bearbow, I took the sop back yesterday. Heading to basspro today to pick up a gorrilla harness. Looks like it would be much more comfortable to use and hang in. BD, how does the loggy model fit on the legs? between them or on the outside?
Thanks guys for all of the comments.
QuoteOriginally posted by kctreeman:
Bearbow, I took the sop back yesterday. Heading to basspro today to pick up a gorrilla harness. Looks like it would be much more comfortable to use and hang in. BD, how does the loggy model fit on the legs? between them or on the outside?
Thanks guys for all of the comments.
It's a small strap(that will not tangle) that you step into and it has adjusting straps with quick release. The best harness I have ever used.
I learned in a fall protection class that an average size man puts 1400ft/lbs of pressure on the body in just a 4ft fall with a waist belt.....that's why the construction industry did away with them. Like someone said earlier....Guys were getting killed by their own fall protection!!!!Only full body harnesses allowed now.
I've been using the Loggy Bayou for 4 yrs now....simple,lightweight, hardly know you're wearing it....
I know nothing about hunting from a tree stand but... I do know something about climbing.
Whats wrong with a rock climbing style sit-harness?
I sit in mine for several hours at a time, 4 days a week, over 40 ft off the deck and also regularly fall 10+ ft (up to 40ft) in it.
Light, economical and pretty hard to screw up. Just make sure you have some sort of dynamic tether. Seems ultra safe to me.
I'm not the expert here, but I believe those rock climbing harnesses do not stop you from flipping over?
Yeah you got a point. It takes some know-how to stay upright.
QuoteOriginally posted by Pat B:
Even a full harness can be deadly if you don't get out of it within about 15 minutes after falling. I keep a sharp knife attached to the strap of my harness. Pat
BS! How many times have you seen on the news where window washers/ roofers have scaffoloding collapse and they hang there(comfy and content as is possible in the situation) for hours waiting on help??? Happened just this week in Indianapolis. waist belts will kill you if left hanging there long at all.
Trapper Dave, Pat B isn't to far off base. My supervisor at work recieved a letter here while back about from OSHA about harness related injuries and deaths. Wish I had the memo, I'd post it here for all to see.
Hunted with the loggy bayou harness system, works excellent. Hunt in Wisconsin in cold weather, with no issues. Jerry
We are going to keep screwing around up in trees where we don't belong and it will eventually be banned I think. Harnesses have gotten very complicated to the point of looking like one has to wear a harnessed hunting suit! Maybe tree elevators will be next? Treeclimbing... it aint for everybody. Most have no business being in one since mistakes and falls are inevitable. I've even seen squirrels fall out from 40+ feet up in a tree! I am not picking a fight or argument here, rather just making a statement. I have been in trees and falls with and without harnesses myself. I even can even climb most trees I hunt from without aids. If you climb trees, you might fall. If you cannot be comfortable, stay on the ground. No?
QuoteBS! How many times have you seen on the news where window washers/ roofers have scaffoloding collapse and they hang there(comfy and content as is possible in the situation) for hours waiting on help??? Happened just this week in Indianapolis. waist belts will kill you if left hanging there long at all.
It's called suspension trauma and it does happen. If you'd happen to be unconscious while hanging from a harness, it is very likely. It happened to a hunter not far from here last year. His young son found him, sad deal.
Suspension trauma, or orthostatic intolerance, is a natural human reaction to being upright and immobile, where a complex combination of blood pooling in the legs and cardiorespiratory restriction leads to unconsciousness.
Morning Star thats exactly what was stated in the paper I saw from OSHA. Very interesting read and something to be especially wary of.
kctreeman,
The video clip I told you about earlier showing how the HSS could cause a lot of pain, also shows the SOP.(watch the video segments of the safety harness tests in the link below). Though the SOP was favaored by this test, I bought one and took it back also. I just didn't like it. The Gorilla Safety harness is the one I prefer. It also includes a linemans belt and a knife in the front pocket to cut the harness as a last result if need be. It sounds like a good deal to me. And again, I don't think it would put the clamp on the crotch like most other harness systems.
http://www.bowsite.com/bowsite/features/articles/harnesstest/