Matt Cornell Harness

Kevin,

It would seem that as stated earlier, if the load bearing portion of the saddle was totally rated rope, if any rings, bieners or other connecting links were in turn rated for life support, if they were oriented so to always be loaded correctly. (i.e. carabiners always loaded along a major axis), if any knot were unable to loosen of come unsecure (think the problems of using abowline for climbing line termination as opposed to a cinching type knot) and the saddle was adjusted so that the climber could not fall out or capsize if unconscious, then, to my mind, it would be fine. All adjustments would have to "locked off" or such that if they loosen a climber will remain secure.

In effect a totaly rope supported saddle is a series of knots used in conjunction to support a climber. That is also one definition of a climbing system. However, unlike a climbing line draped over a limb, the climber is inserted and becomes part and parcel to proper functioning and not just metaphorically speaking.

If you want to use it at the ITCC now is the time to get the ball rolling! Or perhaps I should say saddle up!

Tony
 
The gear check for Charlotte TCC starts in about an hour and a half. I'll be curious to see what I'm presented with.

'Fit for purpose' is something that I follow. But, that comes with an understanding about gear and applications.

Great discussion here!
 
Thanks to the charlotte judges for letting it fly. Matt cornell showed off his custom harness made by a local toledo saddle maker. An absolute work of art. The smell of it. Leather is such a beautiful thing and it goes so well with rope and trees. I think the simplicity really is so apparent.
 
My personal opinion from just seeing pictures and videos of the harness so far and not actually seeing it would be that I would myself let it pass gear inspection on the basis that all knots would be checked and tied properly and that the wear on the rope itself looked minimal as well as rope used is a non self abrasive fiber. In addition to this I would also check the hardware to make sure it was stamped/etched with the mbs. One other thing that might show a sign of safety would be to possibly lock the tail of the knots with stitching as to add an extra security but as a judge myself I would let it fly and wish him the best.
 
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Thanks to the charlotte judges for letting it fly. Matt cornell showed off his custom harness made by a local toledo saddle maker. An absolute work of art. The smell of it. Leather is such a beautiful thing and it goes so well with rope and trees. I think the simplicity really is so apparent.

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I got to try it on, it was sweet. The leather stamping was off the chain.

SZ
 
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[ QUOTE ]
Thanks to the charlotte judges for letting it fly. Matt cornell showed off his custom harness made by a local toledo saddle maker. An absolute work of art. The smell of it. Leather is such a beautiful thing and it goes so well with rope and trees. I think the simplicity really is so apparent.

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I got to try it on, it was sweet. The leather stamping was off the chain.

SZ

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It was super cool looking, I think beaver tail would look really good too.
 
While I was doing a gear check another tech came over holding a saddle up like a stringerof fish. He said...what about this harness, Tom? Ooooo...I'll look it over when I get done here.

Besides being a beauty to look at the core materials...rope, rings, etc. are all fit for
Purpose.

The saddle was a Go!!!

I have some pics. When I get home I'll edit them and post the pics.

Breakfast at Waffle House outside Birmingham lunch tomorrow in Austin !
 
I had the opportunity to check this harness out at the OH TCC this past weekend. It is a work of art, beautiful leather work and splices, and it felt comfortable too. Didn't climb in it just tried it on. Matt is on to something with this harness.
 
I got a look at it in Charlotte. I like the idea a lot and the tooled leather was just badass. I agree, Matt has something with this harness.




...and can we PLEASE stop calling harnesses 'Saddles'?
First, no one is riding you... saddles go on horses.

Second, and much more importantly, the general public thinks we're a bunch of toothless alcoholic rednecks with a death wish. Talking about your 'climbing saddle' kinda confirms that notion. It's a HARNESS.

Obviously that's a small thing but things gotta change or we are going to keep getting labor pay for professional work. Little things count.
 
Chip, I don't know that HARNESS is really any better. How about Overhead Personal Suspension Device, OPSD for short??

I am still amazed that Matts HARNESS is making such a stir. I do like it and I like that he was thinking outside the box. He did tell me how much he had invested in the leather prototype and for what it was, the cost really wasn't too bad! I think the Charlotte folks might want to think about possibly using it for the grand prize instead of just a buckle
 
Both harnesses and saddles are things you put on horses. Typically made out of leather. A harness is used to pull a cart, a saddle is to carry a rider. I'm not sure if one has a better connotation than the other. I think that there is a lot of shared blood between horse people and tree people, sailors as well.
 
You wouldn't believe how much time was spent at the last couple of ANSI Z133 meetings discussing harness/saddle!

There is another ANSI committee that is working on developing standards for fall arrest harnesses. In order to keep the language in common between FA harnesses and work positioning harness/saddles we went around and around...making suggestions...voting and revoting.

In the end...what difference does the word make? No one has ever been hurt or killed because they called a saddle a harness.

Harness...the horse/climber is 'in'
Saddle...the horse/climber is 'on'
 
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...and can we PLEASE stop calling harnesses 'Saddles'?
First, no one is riding you... saddles go on horses.

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It was made by a saddle maker....
 
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