Has anyone adapted a vest for tree climbing?

If I really need extra gear on my person as I am working, Ill sometimes rock a sport backpack like a camelbak. It has the water bladder in it so I am able to keep hydrated as well as make room in the ditty bag on my saddle for other stuff, but there are webbing loops sewn into the straps that I can clip gear to as well as clipped to the actual bag portion of the backpack. But that is on rare occasions and I usually only do it when Id want the extra water capacity the bag affords, (long hot days). Usually I can get away with just looping a sling onto a central branch where I am working, and leave extra gear, then I can just swing in and access it when necessary.

-Steven
 
Steven,
I've never tried a Camelbak. Do they get hot sitting on your back or does the water resting against you tend to cool you off? I've always thought they'd be a vapor barrier.
 
Mine doesn't get too hot, as it doesn't cover my entire back, just a small portion, but it does result in a big sweat spot on my shirt where it goes... the way ill compare it is climbing in some types of climbing pants, they may be hot to begin with, but you get used to it cause of the benefits. I also wear it hiking and mountain biking, so again, I am more accustomed to it.

I rock the camelbak maybe 6 or 8 climbs over the entire summer, and some of those are rec climbs where ill bring up some snacks when i hang in the canopy as well.

-Steven
 
wow, I even have one of those Camelbaks...and never thought to uses it in the tree. It even has attachments on the front that I could clip carabiners to and stuff. I don't have the water reservoir anymore which is why I haven't thought of it at all. I could even get a replacement and bring some water with me. Nice idea Steven.

And thanks marlinspiker - I'll keep an eye out for them.
 
Just my $.02, carry only what you need. Drop the extra weight of useless stuff you don't use on every climb. I climb with only the bare essentials on my saddle- 15' lanyard, hand saw, friction saver, blood stopper kit, friction saver retrieval link, foot lock prussic, -anything else I need whilst in the tree I have my ground tie on and I haul up. What do y'all carry on your saddle that's weighing you down so?
 
TimberJack said:
What do y'all carry on your saddle that's weighing you down so?
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Webbing loops, extra biners, light rigging pulley, slings, throwline/bag, another micro pulley, saddle bag, chainsaw, handsaw, to name a few. Not all the time but at times I've had all that. Sometimes even an impact block and sling and maybe a rigging rope. Only when moving from station to station, but it'd be nice to have some extra spots to clip that stuff. Something to help keep the skirt from getting pulled down.
 
I usually travel pretty light, but some highly technical climbs with a lot of rigging and redirects or speedline sort of scenarios - I can have a load of loop runners with carabiners (I normally climb with a few anyhow) ...

eeeeerrk...I see TreeLogic beat me to it and said pretty much what I was going to say.

But mostly the concern is not the weight, but the flexibility, variety and the options the extra attachments would provide.
 
For example: being able to clip things to your chest while playing around with gear up in the tree...more like the 3rd arm most of us wish we had.
 
John_KAYS said:
For example: being able to clip things to your chest while playing around with gear up in the tree...more like the 3rd arm most of us wish we had.
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I would just cut to the chase and buy the third arm.
 

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Oh, I see how you did that. That really would work for my saddle.

And Treestuff.com has their rope by the 'foot' on their shelves, so I would assume they would have an arm too, maybe by the suspenders. I'll look to see.
 
Id like to see someone take a pair of those daisy chain runners they sell at sherill/tree stuff/ etc and make them into a pair of suspenders. lowest loop is for a small carabiner or screw link to hook to saddle, then you have plenty of loops running up the front of the suspenders, then connect them the same way in the back, maybe crossing them to get more saddle support. throw in some old foam for padding, and then chafe sleeve over it to keep it all smooth, (with small cuts made in the sleeve for the daisy chain loops to pop through). That seems like a perfect little home made rig.
 
John_KAYS said:
Oh, I see how you did that. That really would work for my saddle.

And Treestuff.com has their rope by the 'foot' on their shelves, so I would assume they would have an arm too, maybe by the suspenders. I'll look to see.
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I'm going through my laundry list of follow-ups...
Did anyone get my stupid joke? "Rope by the foot" as in, there is a foot sitting next to the rope on the shelves at Treestuff... Therefore they possibly might have arms for sale too. I just couldn't let this one go unnoticed, it's too good.

Oh, and you'll see that this was in reference to:
Adkpk said:
I would just cut to the chase and buy the third arm.
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See it's funny! ha ha. :D
 
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