Hip Bruising

[Weta]

Do other women climbers get bruising on the hip bone area after they have been in the harness working for more than a day or two? If so, how do you counter it?
I now climb using a TreeMotion, which is more comfortable than my old Buckingham Traverse, but it is still not perfect, and if I have been spiking all day - with a lot more pressure across the hips from the lanyard - it still causes bruising.
If only there were tree climbing harnesses designed specifically for women, like there is in rock climbing...

 

[tomthetreeman]

Have you tried using the two forward rings for your lanyard? I find it alot more comfortable in most situations.

-Tom

 

[JDS]

When I was climbing a bunch I would have the hip bruises. I am not sure if it was from the saddle or my clumsiness. Probably both.

 

[Blinky]

[ QUOTE ]
[...]
If only there were tree climbing harnesses designed specifically for women, like there is in rock climbing...

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm curious, what would you do differently if you were designing a tree harness for women? For one thing, sizing should be different. I'm 6'-1", 185# and wear a SMALL. There's no way I can get a work harness to fit my daughter.

About the bruising, could it be the waist belt is riding too high or low? I had hip bruising with a Buck Master and it turned out the harness was too big and riding low whenever I had a saw with me.

 

[Weta]

Cheers Tom, I'll give the two forward rings a go.
Blinky, if you have a quick surf on the net regarding rock climbing harnesses, you'll see that a few models are offered in both male/female. The women's ones are apparently "ergonomically designed to fit the female figure". Don't know how exactly, and maybe it's just a clever marketing ploy, but women do generally have smaller waists, wider hips and (unfortunately) bigger butts than men and it would be great to find a tree climbing harness that reflected this.

 

[Blinky]

That was the experience I had getting my girl a rock harness. The women's harnesses had proportionally larger leg loops. Apparently that and color are the only real differences.

I'm wondering what could be done to deal with the hip bruising. I'd be pretty pissed off if I had to worry about being bruised and sore after a couple of days on spikes.

 

[jerseygirl]

That is one reason that I love my harness, the butterfly would ride above my hips and sits about the waist. the treeflex is on the hips - the d's are way on the side and the harness stays on the hip.

 

[chris_girard]

I too climb in a TreeFlex and find that the side rings are positioned perfectly at the pelvis area and do not hurt my hips at all.

The only time that my hips hurt is if I have my legstraps too tight and riding too high up, other than that the TreeFlex is awesome.

 

[classictruckman]

One of the women who worked with me liked the Petzl Navaho, I had a size larger and found it to be the most uncomfortable belt I've ever worn, but she thought it was very comfortable "as if it was designed for a woman".

Since then they have changed the belt abit, added more padding and such, so I don't know if it would work as well.

 

[Kathy_Holzer]

[ QUOTE ]
If only there were tree climbing harnesses designed specifically for women, like there is in rock climbing...

[/ QUOTE ]

can't say i've had more or less bruising on spikes - have worn four or five different saddles, landing apparently permanently in treemotion. second that about lower rings for flipline only anchoring.i'm pretty sure that ed carpenter, co-designer w/his sister of the ergovation, would be interested in your feedback. have spoken to him a few times about saddles for women, but myself am a bit atypical w/rather narrower than average hips and broader than average shoulders for a woman.

he's on here - send him a pm at Tree_teacher, and let him know your suggestions for a saddle that would suit you. he is likely the most receptive audience you will find who can actually make something happen.

best of luck, and let us know what happens
k.

 

[SMAdams]

[ QUOTE ]
Do other women climbers get bruising on the hip bone area after they have been in the harness working for more than a day or two? If so, how do you counter it?
I now climb using a TreeMotion, which is more comfortable than my old Buckingham Traverse, but it is still not perfect, and if I have been spiking all day - with a lot more pressure across the hips from the lanyard - it still causes bruising.
If only there were tree climbing harnesses designed specifically for women, like there is in rock climbing...

[/ QUOTE ]

I get really great bruises on my hips and Iliac crest nearly every time I climb. Granted I climb using a Weaver Floating Dee Extra Wide Back Saddle w/ Leg Loops, so it's a bit bigger and dumpier than the newer nicely padded nylon saddles. I had to call Weaver and ask them to piece together a medium waist with large leg loops, they were more than happy to accommodate my needs.

 

[TNT]

I have been using iliac crest with extra whitener
for that pepsodent smile...