Not to seem like I want something better because what you guys are doing is awesome but do you guys know or have a HSS harness that you might want to get rid of for cheap!!!
I'll take one. I fell out of a tree yesterday and my harness saved some broken bones for sure, maybe even more even though it was choking me. Did its job with only one leg strap and the choking part was my fault for it not being tight enough.
Too bad about his ankle but easily could have been much worse of course. Sounds like he could have benefited from a safety lifeline rope. I bought 5 this year for my hang on stands and they were not cheap. Between 30-40 bucks each. Amazon had 3 packs for like $99. I figured if I fell it would probably be from climbing up near the top while monkeying with strapping my harness into the attached rope around the tree by my stand. Has anybody made their own safety life line ropes that keep you attached from the ground to the stand? Seems like with the right rope and a few basic knots they could be made for cheap. Also, if anyone is in the Twin Cities MN area I have at least half a dozen of those basic, comes with purchase of a deerstand, harnesses they could grab for free. Sounds like plenty of people willing to mail them already.
Tony, I've thought about using repell knots and a safety line which you could set on constant break and then unbreakab while you climb. Would actually be pretty easy and wouldn't need a linemans belt at all. Just a Swiss seat which you can tie with a 15' rope then attach to your mainline. I've ausie repelled (head first) with this setup and trust it pretty well.
I mailed two out today and have one left. Looks like several others here have offered them up also. Again, you need to PM one of us with your mailing address to get one.
My last one is gone. But, there are plenty more available from others on this thread. Don't hunt without one. Shipping on the ones I sent today was only $9. Small price for safety.