I've had it! I'm making my Own Climbing Harness!

[Porkbrick]

i've climbed on the weaver leg strap old school, the butterfly, the tree flex, the tree motion, and now the nikosi. i like parts of them all, but none fit me right without some modifications. sooo... i'm going to build my own from the ground up. i've already got a prototype that ive been fooling around with all weekend. still some things to figure out (safety is at the top of the list), not sure where to go after that. ill post some pics if y'all are interested, just don't steal my ideas.

 

[Porkbrick]

these are the cardboard mock-ups (plus their admirer), and a shot of the leather blanks. i chose leather because its durable, easy to work with, and i cant find that rubberized belting material that handsaw scabbards and the treemotion are made of.

 

[SkwerI]

I hear cat fur has excellent insulating properties. It also wicks away moisture and is quite soft.

 

[Old Monkey]

Interesting. I hope it works out. Do you have use of an industrial sewing machine?

 

[jefflovstrom@sb]

What are you talking about?

 

[Porkbrick]

Interesting. I hope it works out. Do you have use of an industrial sewing machine?

i dont yet. there is a sail maker here in town ill hit up. so far im trying to design with a minimum of sewing.

I hear cat fur has excellent insulating properties. It also wicks away moisture and is quite soft.

i need him for design advice

 

[NeTree]

I hear cat sinew makes excellent stitching, too.



Just sayin'.

 

[Peter]

And cat arseholes make excellent band-its.

 

[MasterBlaster]

What are you talking about?

He's making his own saddle. Do you understand now?

 

[Al Smith]

Well now that strapping is stuff I can get nearly by the ton too in addition to the hardware .

 

[flushcut]

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Altissimus]

Ger's book shows two nicely crafted custom saddles.... I have always wanted one...should fit perfect without annoying things like extra material for the leg straps which conflict with my Dees....and too much material for the bridge putting the center point too high ....yep custom is the way to go

 

[Peter]

The Treemotion and TreeFlex harnesses were designed precisely the same way.

 

[NeTree]

But every body is different. I can't wait to see how this is gonna turn out; looks like you're on the right track.

 

[PCTREE]

I love making stuff, I just dont have the time to dedicate to enough projects. More people should push their limits and make stuff IMO

 

[NeTree]

I make a pretty good living at it.

 

[flushcut]

Making stuff rocks! It's so gratifying when it turns out well.

 

[cory]

Cool thread! Good luck with it! I always thought Ger's homemade saddles in his book looked amazingly cool in every respect. Btw, Gerr, where they comfortable and/or effective, or do modern saddles beat them out??

 

[Porkbrick]

Cool thread! Good luck with it! I always thought Ger's homemade saddles in his book looked amazingly cool in every respect. Btw, Gerr, where they comfortable and/or effective, or do modern saddles beat them out??

seeing those saddles are what made me think it was even possible. heres a few more pics of last weekends progress. i really liked the dual bridge on the nikosi, so i incorporated the idea into my design. btw, those bridges are temporary, just to figure out the right lengths. ill splice some permanent ones when i have it dialed in. thanks for the encouragement. jaime

 

[flushcut]

Well get up a tree! Are you going to put in the means to strap it to your body or did I miss something?

 

[Porkbrick]

there are buckles at the waist and legs, ou just cant see them in those pics. ill take some pics of it in the tree in the next few days

 

[sotc]

I'm impressed with your first prototype!

 

[flushcut]

Right on.

 

[pantheraba]

Great thread...fun to watch this happen.

 

[CurSedVoyce]

Very cool indeed.. Just a little more padding before the tree.....