- Location
- Chattanooga
I wanted a 'work' saddle and to celebrate a recent event that I need not go into, ahh what the heck - I was having chest, left shoulder, and arm pain and it wouldn't go away. I almost went to emergency twice but didn't; you can critique the wisdom of that. Anyway, I did go to my doctor; he did an EKG and said, "It ain't your heart." It turned out to be stress; but the reason behind that is too boring to get into. Anyway I figured that was enough to celebrate, so I went to Logan's for lunch on the way home and had a steak, baked potato, salad, and iced tea, and then went home and gave my wife an extra special hug, and ordered a Weaver Cougar saddle.
So, it's certainly worth keeping in mind, I'm not an arborist, I just like climbing an playing in trees, but I have done quite a bit of dead limb removal. I said that to say that if I say something in the following that reads like I don't know what I'm talking about, it just may be that I don't.
I've tried the Cougar twice now, the second time was better. The first time the leg straps got rotated and the unpadded portion was on the inside of my legs - that wasn't nice.
My first impression (on the ground) was wow, this thing is heavy - manufacturer specs set the weight at 6.5 lbs compared to my New Tribe Tengu saddle of a mere 3.5 lbs. I figure though, so what, it's a work saddle and it does have a replaceable rope bridge and that's what I wanted, and it was reasonably priced. Hmmm, is that why it's called a work saddle - you have to work harder to climb with the extra weight?
I learned something the very first climb - keep and eye on the bridge. I was in a co-dominate ash and moving from one leader to the other when I noticed I had the rope bridge in a 90 degree twist, which I immediately untwisted. The rope twist was not my concern however, I had a Hitch Climber pulley on the bridge and had just read a warning (Life on a Line) about getting a twist in a pulley. Sure enough the rope was heavily loading the side plates of the pulley, which the warning claimed could cause a failure.
The second climb I was in the tree about 2 hours and it was right comfortable. This time I made sure the leg straps were positioned correctly. I was up there to remove a long limb that stretched out over my shop and shop porch. Not a big limb per se, but looong - well long for me anyway.
Some puzzlement:
What in the world is the purpose of the two gear loops at the back of the belt? I know - "gear loop" - but, how do you know what gear you're getting if you can't see behind you? In contrast, my Tengu has gear loops on each side - you just look down and get what you want.
Second puzzlement:
What are the little rubber rings on the rope bridge for?
Summary:
I like the rope bridge. I kinda get the impression it may not be needed a lot - but then again, what do I know about tree work, etc. - not much. But it's fun, I see-sawed back and forth a while and then pretended to be reaching sideways to cut a limb like you guys really do.
Other than being heavy and gear loops in the back where you can't reach them, at least I can't, I like the Cougar - not disappointed at all.
So, it's certainly worth keeping in mind, I'm not an arborist, I just like climbing an playing in trees, but I have done quite a bit of dead limb removal. I said that to say that if I say something in the following that reads like I don't know what I'm talking about, it just may be that I don't.
I've tried the Cougar twice now, the second time was better. The first time the leg straps got rotated and the unpadded portion was on the inside of my legs - that wasn't nice.
My first impression (on the ground) was wow, this thing is heavy - manufacturer specs set the weight at 6.5 lbs compared to my New Tribe Tengu saddle of a mere 3.5 lbs. I figure though, so what, it's a work saddle and it does have a replaceable rope bridge and that's what I wanted, and it was reasonably priced. Hmmm, is that why it's called a work saddle - you have to work harder to climb with the extra weight?
I learned something the very first climb - keep and eye on the bridge. I was in a co-dominate ash and moving from one leader to the other when I noticed I had the rope bridge in a 90 degree twist, which I immediately untwisted. The rope twist was not my concern however, I had a Hitch Climber pulley on the bridge and had just read a warning (Life on a Line) about getting a twist in a pulley. Sure enough the rope was heavily loading the side plates of the pulley, which the warning claimed could cause a failure.
The second climb I was in the tree about 2 hours and it was right comfortable. This time I made sure the leg straps were positioned correctly. I was up there to remove a long limb that stretched out over my shop and shop porch. Not a big limb per se, but looong - well long for me anyway.
Some puzzlement:
What in the world is the purpose of the two gear loops at the back of the belt? I know - "gear loop" - but, how do you know what gear you're getting if you can't see behind you? In contrast, my Tengu has gear loops on each side - you just look down and get what you want.
Second puzzlement:
What are the little rubber rings on the rope bridge for?
Summary:
I like the rope bridge. I kinda get the impression it may not be needed a lot - but then again, what do I know about tree work, etc. - not much. But it's fun, I see-sawed back and forth a while and then pretended to be reaching sideways to cut a limb like you guys really do.
Other than being heavy and gear loops in the back where you can't reach them, at least I can't, I like the Cougar - not disappointed at all.
