It is time for me to upgrade my safety harness and I'm looking for feedback from those that use the Rescue One CDS.
Is it comfortable to wear for all day hunts?
Is it easy to put on in the dark?
What is your favorite thing about the harness?
If there was something you could change about this product, what would it be?
-Dave
I won't climb a tree without one again. It is not the most comfortable harness out there and it is heavier than other harnesses but if you fall it is the MOST comfortable harness as you can quickly and safely lower yourself to the ground. If you fall in any other harness and can't get back on the stand all the harness did was keep you from dying with broken bones; but your still dead.
I haven't had the opportunity (or need) to hunt with mine "all day" but I have practiced shooting with it most every day at home, since I got it (see my write-up under Product Reviews forum). I agree with what Flingblade said. I don't find it heavey "on" but I do know it's weighty when I pick it up - LOL, even though it's only six#. I do find it comfortable on and to shoot with, which keeps me shooting more during the season than i ever used to. I still am very impressed with it (both quality and design), and feel much safer in general with it on. I also find it handier (for me) to use the lineman's safety strap (climber) when climbing up and down with either a loc-on or climbing stand. Also much easier/safer when installing, or retrieving, a loc-on stand. That alone makes it much safer, because I always used to tend to forego that safety precaution in the past. Of course that may just be that I'm becoming more "safety conscious" all the time, as I age. I encourage others to "become that" at a much younger age than I - whether you "think" you need to or not. It is just not worth the chance of wasting your, and your family's, youth due to an unexpected fall, or being found hanging from a regular safety harness/vest in a tree.
At the very least, carry a "recovery system strap", ON YOUR PERSON (not in a pack or somewhere else that you may not be able to get to). This is soooo important, and there is one installed in the waist band of the rescue one, at the small of your back - which might allow you to get back on your stand after a fall, and not even have to deploy the lowering device/line, and/or quit your hunt.
Please think about it, my friends!
I have a CDS II and love it. It gives me more peace in the stand. The one thing about it is the lowering ability that I like but a properly use harness will save your life if used properly, that is the strap around the tree needs to be high enough so if you fall you can still get back on your stand and not hang below it. When you sit it should be taunt with some pull on the suspention rope.
Love mine also.
I have the cds II and it's great the company is very easy to deal with http://www.mountaineer-sports.com/ :archer2:
they have a sale on now