I have been using the Summit harness that came with one of my stands, (actually have 2 of these harnesses) and I am looking for opinions/experiences on what you think is the best all around harness. I bought an HSS Pro last season and wore it once... Sold it. Too bulky and don't like all the vest material...too hot. Give me some good advice guys.
I like my HSS can't imagine using anything else. Too hot never been a issue for me as we only have 2 weeks of warm weather anyway.
I use the old style SOP harness too. I like it, but there are more user friendly harnesses now, with some better features as well. I recently saw a review that bowsite did on the top ones, they chose the new SOP version as the best one in their opinion. Here is the link to the test, pretty good info - pretty thorough. I haven't used any of the newer styles, might upgrade next year. http://bowsite.com/bowsite/features/articles/harnesstest2009/index.cfm
im a hss guy also. i do really like it and havent had any real problems with it. buddy just bought a muddy harness and he seems to like it...
Jeff, do the skinny leg straps concern you at all on that harness? I'm assuming you've never had to test it, so its obviously opinion. Ever since they came out - that to me looked to be the weak link. Not saying it is, it may well not be...I just don't know why they chose to make them so skinny. I would think a thicker strap would be stronger and offer better support. ??
I hear a lot of folks talking about the Muddy "safeguard" harness.... http://www.gomuddy.com/shopping/Departments/Safeguard-Harness.aspx
I like the HSS also, but don't discount the ones that come with Tree Stands. I found out this past weekend they ain't so bad. I had taken the HSS out for a rewash and descent, I was almost to my hunting spot a 40 minute drive-away, when I realized I'd forgot it on the back deck! Now contemplating what my next move was, I realized in a moment of overkill, I put the harness from my latest stand in the back of the truck "just in case" Turns out it was a good move! I was surprised, it was light and not as complicated as I remember they used to be. It saved a hunt!
Thicker doesn't always equal stronger. It's all about the material. The straps on the Muddy harness are MORE than adequate enough to hold 300 lbs, which is more than most of us need. Truth be told, they will probably hold a lot more than that. And like Jeff said, unless you plan on hanging around up there for a long time comfort is not my foremost concern. Safety is. I too use the Muddy and really like it. And again like Jeff said, you're gonna get it, go with the black over the camo. 99% of the time I wear the harness under my outer most layer anyways, so you never see it.
I use a climber almost exclusively. If my climber should go crashing to the base of the tree I'm going to hanging by my harness until help arrives. I sure as heck want it to be as pain-free as possible. I think the thin straps would be killer on nerve and circulation restriction. I use the old style SOP. The only thing that would make it better is if Justin gave me back my old tree strap.
I have to agree with Christine on this. If I am hangin at 20ft I am not planning on cutting my rope. I will do my best to recover or use something to relieve pressure until help gets there. I may just get the newer SOP.
Thick or thin, suspension trauma is going to kick in long before help arrives in most cases. You're better off being prepared for it, and being prepared to either get down to get to a secure position to prevent it than just waiting for someone to show up. And you're never getting your strap back. I sleep with it under my pillow because it smells like you.
There is some truth to this. I still feel the narrower straps are more likely to dig in to your legs than the wide ones, but to each his own. That is just sick JZ. (But a good kind of sick):D
At least I'll die in comfort with the wider straps. Okay, then keep the tree strap. You didn't do anything to the hunting jacket I just bought from BH.com did you??? :p
All this talk about plunging out of your stand confuses me... isn't it the idea of the harness to keep you from doing that? Even if I do fall out of my stand and my harness is secured correctly, my head (at the very most) is going to be even with the platform of my stand. If I'm hanging below that, I did something extremely wrong. That being said, my Muddy harness will be here tomorrow.
I put my safety strap high enough on the tree that I won't fall more than a foot. (I can't even touch the base of my climber if I try to bend over.) Because of my bad shoulder, I have almost no strength to pull myself upward. So, I could try a controlled descent... but it probably wouldn't work so I'm better off hanging around and waiting for help. Sure it's unlikely to ever happen... but then so is falling out of the stand and yet we all preach on about the importance of wearing a harness. I mean, why even bother with a harness if you're not going to be needing it long and comfort isn't an issue? Just wear a safety belt then.
Suspension trauma sets in rather quickly in a harness. I believe like 10-30 minutes you are unconscious..... we used shock lines at lincoln, wonder why they dont have those in stands
I asume you are talking about the bottom???? If you are and are not useing a piece of rope to tie the two sections together you ought to.
