Kids climbing equipment

[squisher]

I know it's been covered before, but I'm not sure where to find the info.

I'm wondering about what types of harnesses/set-ups y'all use for getting your kids aloft? I'm also wondering about suppliers that sell the gear?

My daughter is only three but she is bugging bigtime to go up a tree. Don't worry I'm not a psycho, slow and low. But heh she wants to try it out so I'd like to give her the opportunity.

[MasterBlaster]

Sherrill sells them.

[squisher]

Cool, I started this thread to find out if people have had good or bad experiences with certain styles/brands.

[Paul B]

I bought a kids sized petzl rock harness for my neice when she visited, she is about 4'6 and thin, like 65 pounds, it fit her fine. After I bought it I realized there is a full body harness style for the smaller ones, so they dont fall out of it upside down. I think it was also Petzl. try www.mec.ca , they are like 5 mins away from me in north van or they ship anywhere.

I found the most fun the kid had was when I put a pulley up in the tree, put the rope through it and she treated the harness and rope like a tire swing.

oh, and dont forget to wear your plastic hat, I think I got heck for not having mine on and not having one on the kidlet. :)

[OTGBOSTON]

http://www.newtribe.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=32&products_id=138


really can't beat New tribe for comfort

[Paul B]

oops, I just figured out that the one I bought is a Black Diamond Wiz Kid
MEC kids harnesses (http://www.mec.ca/Main/home.jsp?bmForm=mec_quick_search&bmFormID=1203891773508&bmUID=1203891773508&bmIsForm=true&bmPrevTemplate=%2FMain%2Fhome.jsp&bmText=quick_search&quick_search=kid+climbing+harness&bmSubmit=search)

I was steered away from the Petzl Oustiti (http://en.petzl.com/petzl/SportProduits?Produit=168) as it is a webbing harness and apparently not comfortable at all.

[No_Bivy]

Singing rock has the smallest full body........:Dpeapod swears by it:lol:

[squisher]

Thanks guys. MEC don't know why I didn't think of that I've only been a member for the past 18 years.:|:

[sotc]

im watching with much interest as im supposed to do a climbing thing in june for a kids camp that a freind is putting together for the state somethingorother dept. and i need a kids saddle

[Bounce]

The Petzl Oustiti seems like a rock harness (only built to hold your weight if you fall) and can be pretty uncomfortable if you have to dangle for a while. The New Tribe kids harnesses are much more comfy.

[squisher]

The new tribe looks cushy but I'm gonna want a full-body to start for her, she is only 3 I think that'll be the route to go. I'm thinking maybe this one?

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp;jsessionid=HC9BbZYNpJGLkNvlQx6p n29WhyYdJgVX3HH7k1TNQvynvn73Sjkd!-1481534509?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302735271&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441775009&bmUID=1203912066136

[MasterBlaster]

That looks like a torture device.

[squisher]

Lol I know. Here's the one Bivy suggested.

http://www.singingrock.com/GoodsDetail_LS.asp?nDepartmentID=427&nGoodsID=421&nLanguageID=2

[Burnham]

I'd go with the New Tribe, too.

http://www.newtribe.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=32&products_id=138

I bet you could figure out how to arrange an attached chest harness to keep the little one in it, if that is your concern.

[No_Bivy]

full body if they are little....4 or less....above that, they can listen:D

[sotc]

so i got the new tribe. what have you guys done to make it fun? im supposed to do something with 4th-6th graders. put up a bell for them to ring? looking for some ideas for quick climbs.

[Bodean]

We had arbor day 2008 at the Presidio, luckily I brought a yates mountain harness, one size fits all.
25 lbs to 250 lbs.

I think I put that harness on 50 different kids, we tied a blakes and pulled
them up about 6 feet, then let them pull on the knot to come down.

They loved it, we let them kick against the tree for about a minute.

[Skwerl]

Long sleeves? And jackets? In the last week of May???? :?
Must be nice... :|:

[Paul B]

cool stuff Bodean!

[MasterBlaster]

VERY cool!

[Bodean]

I'm looking at a new tribe for one of my friends' kids.

Tell me Willie, how it goes.

[sotc]

i will, thanks for the shots! supposed to be tues june 17 i think, if enough kids sign up

[Old Monkey]

Its funny this thread got bumped, I put Haley and her friends in my tree today. I used the GRCS to crank them up a little ways up. We have the Petzl kids saddle and I don't think it is the most comfortable for hanging.

[MasterBlaster]

Well of course! It was made for a kid, not your big butt!!! :lol:

[sotc]

haha.

[lumberjack]

I've had good luck with New Tribe.

I took 6 of my cousins (4-16yo) in it without any scares or complaints. The 7 year olds and up went up a goodly 40' or so. A couple did some limb walking.

[squisher]

Y'all have inspired me newtribe has been ordered for Julia.:)

[lumberjack]

You got one with side D's eh?

[Paul B]

You got one with side D's eh?

you been practicing speaking canadian LJ? :P

[MasterBlaster]

Take off ya hoser!

[No_Bivy]

Its funny this thread got bumped, I put Haley and her friends in my tree today. I used the GRCS to crank them up a little ways up. We have the Petzl kids saddle and I don't think it is the most comfortable for hanging.

just add some balloons

[squisher]

You got one with side D's eh?

No I don't beleive so just the 'basic' that Wesspur is carrying. In the pic I see no side D's.

Custom order?

[lumberjack]

I got a stock one from Sherrill, the ultra light with fabric side D's and a fabric bridge attachment.

[squisher]

I got this one, third one down on the page, the kid's one.

http://www.wesspur.com/Saddles/new-tribe-saddles.html

[Wagnaw]

I wanna get a kids saddle for Mandi's little brothers. The oldest is Josh, who is 8. I think he'd love to climb around. I just debating whether to get a rock or tree harness. I just can't find any rock harnesses with strong side attachment points.

[MasterBlaster]

Quick question: How does this saddle cinch up? Is there a waist belt buckle I'm not seeing?

http://www.wesspur.com/images/product/sad516_01_500.gif

[lumberjack]

Yep MB.

Wagnaw, you're debating if you should get a tree or rock harness to take an 8 year old climbing? Is he going to be climbing rock? If not I think the side D's are handy for climbing trees/structures.

[squisher]

Well yah now that I've thunk about it a bit the side D's sure as hell come in handy for me. I wonder what the thought is not including them on the kids harness?

[sotc]

they figure kids are not working i guess

[Bounce]

I have no idea why New Tribe doesn't put side d's on the kid's harness, or why the belt on it isn't adjustable. Regardless though, everybody I've ever talked to has given rave reviews. I think it probably could be better, but it seems to be pretty good as it is. I'm getting one for my son when he's a bit older. Right now he'd just drool all over it. :lol:

[sotc]

you can customize your newtribe for 30 bucks, just tell them to add dees

[squisher]

So a guy could probably send it to them if it seems to become a nescessity? We should be fine for a few years atleast. My kiddo's only 31/2, some low dangling to start, let her get a feel. And she's really, really stoked on it. Asked me all about the colors it was and whether or not it's a girls or a boys saddle, ya know the important stuff.:)

[Skwerl]

Sounds like she's well versed on the important stuff and just wants to make sure you order the right saddle, Justin. :D

[sotc]

i dont know justin, ill ask tommorrow. picking up a saddle for one of my guys

[squisher]

Cool Willie thanks.8)

[NickfromWI]

Perhaps lack of side d's on kids harnesses stems from the differences in the ways rec climbers climb compared to how work climbers climb. Rec climbers are far less dependent on side d's than are work climbers.

love
nick

[Burnham]

Heck, brothers, even the adult version of the New Tribe rec saddle doesn't have side D's. It's the rec climber ethos...I guess.

[sotc]

i dont think they know what their missing, some times its just nice to flip in

[Burnham]

But the horror of it all...those nasty D's disrupt a tree huggers good night's sleep in their little treeboat hammock, don't cha know...;)

[sotc]

well, maybe some biner loops would do the trick!

[hmm]

On the kid's harness (NT), you back tuck the belt/strap and over sinch it, My 9 year old and 8 your old grands climb on one they always complain that it is TO TIGHT. We have taken water ballons up the tree in the summer and play catch and put up a treeboat with ridged side for them to sit in.

we have served lunch also up there.

we have also put treats in the tree for them to find - WITH IN limits of their climbing ability.

for very small or young children the rock harness is better as some are full body where the NT is not.

[sotc]

justin, they cant add dees to an already made saddle. they can custom make one though

[squisher]

Thanks for asking Willie.

[lumberjack]

Re: Rec climbers side D's.

They make fabric D's, like on my Ultralight Small.

[pantheraba]

IT seems to me that side Dees on a kid's saddle could be a liability. I have heard of adult climbers not snapping a lanyard in correctly...kids probably do not need to option of being able to remove safety or positioning items.

You can argue that they will always be tied in with the climbing line...but if they have been lanyarded in to a position that is not vertical (in line with the climbing line) and they detach while in the wrong position they could swing out and get hurt?

Just speculating....

[MasterBlaster]

The lanyard would always be the second tie-in. :drink:

[sotc]

we did the kids day today. it was fun and the kids seemed to enjoy it. the adults did also! a few kids had to use my saddle so i had to get my friend into one of the smaller ones to counter and assist, she had her feet off the ground more than once:D

butch, i can only load 1 photo at a time:(

[MasterBlaster]

The dickins you say. I just saw 10 or 11 pics!

[sotc]

i could only upload one at a time, ive been loading 5 at a time lately

[OTGBOSTON]

Nice job Willie!

I like the set up:)