need feedback on New Tribe Smoke Jumper saddle

0

046

Location
USA
Hi all, I'm thinking about getting a New Tribe Smoke Jumper saddle from Sherill and was wanting to get some feedback.

It's looks like it will be an excellent rec saddle, but is it a good work saddle. The largest saw I'll be lugging around will be my 335 and only on the larger cuts. Most of the time I'll be using my silky.

I'm using a 16' DEDA w/distal triple fisherman to the side D's with a brass snap in the center holding up extra rope. Thanks,
 
I talked with a climber who was climbing in a tree while wearing the saddle. He said it was light and comfortable. He liked the positon of the floating D-ring and how it positions the bodies center of mass. He said the leg pads were great for big cabling jobs. He has me thinking about buying 1 the next time I need a new saddle.

Joe
 
I just called up New Tribe and questioned them about the smoke jumper saddle. Since they are not aborists, she couldn't help much with my questions.

Sherills was not much help either. I need feedback from someone that has climbed with it. I seemed to remember someone was using a new tribe saddle in the treehouse project.

Anyone know who that was?
 
I've been climbing on a New Tribe saddle for several years, and couldn't be happier with it. Works well for me both on rope and on spurs. It is the most comfortable saddle I have worn, and is holding up. The work saddle I have is a custom-built Work Saddle that is very similar to the Smokejumper. For the cost, I think it's a good value, too. What questions did you fail to get answers to from New Tribe or Sherrill?
 
Tree Scount, Many thanks for the feedback. I'm looking at the smoke jumper VS Work saddle.

The smoke jumper does away with all the snaps, rings etc and go to three loops and has the coool loops on the leg straps.

My question was concerning the attachment points for hanging the saw. After speaking with Sherill, there is one small ring on each side next to the D that might work.

Since the belt is sewn to backing, you cannot simply attach at will, but only at certain points. I've come to the conclusion that I will need to get a custom saddle made. Not a big deal, since new tribe only charges $20 extra + materials. I'll probably end up with a pro-gear saddle with hardware simular to work saddle custom sewn on.

Even with the extra charges, it's still an excellent value.
I want the extra large leg pads for better hang support.
 
046--those little rings on the Smokejumper are also on the Work saddle, and are there for attachment of an over the shoulder strap to help support the weight of heavy gear. I wouldn't hang a saw from one of those...they might be strong enough, but they are oriented for a load upward, and are not very thick and are not a solid welded loop, just bent to shape. One of the available custom items is a stiched on rolled aluminum ring that is 2500 lbs. test. Get them to put one on each side behind the D rings, and you'll be set. They will also place biner slots anywhere along the back strap, so you could have optional placements for the saw. The rolled rings work for me. You are right, their Pro saddle looks very good...with a few mods it would be perfect.
 
Burnham_Chamberlain, thanks for confirming what I thought about the orientation of the two small rings being the wrong direction. It looks like I will need to go the custom route.

The saw lanyard breakaway is on the right side, I use 3 sturdy plastic lock ties w/brass snap on my saddle. If/when the breakaway happens the bungee lanyard will spring to the saw instead of whacking me. I've done drop tests w/weight to make sure it holds.
 
Hi 046 , I 'm just catching up to speed on all these post and was reading yours.

I believe I was the only one wearing a New Tribe saddle on the Tree House Project. If your going to wear a saddle for working and your interested in the Ness saddle , then go with the Original work saddle.. Customize it to your liking. I've been wearing one now for about seven to eight years and couldnt be more happier with it. Very durable to and comfortable. However , thats my opinion after wearing six or seven saddles before that one.

Thanks

Greg
 
klimbinfool, Thanks for your much apreciated feedback. So you would recogmend the original work saddle over the new Pro-gear/smoke jumper saddle?

I like hardware setup better on the work saddle. I was planning on custom adding that setup, but on the pro-gear saddle. I may need to rethink this.

The tree house project looked just awe-some!!!

Thanks,
 
046 (not a bad saw by the way)
I have been using the ness saddle for a real long time dont know how many years. Very durable very comfortable.
I rec. you get a custom saddle.
Get gear loops sewn on the back. Might want to try out vertical loops unstead of the traditional loops. (see saddle X for an example)
Frans
 
i was just looking at the new tribe saddle.
looks comfy, which it had a sliding d though.
how does it work using a split tail system? i've always had a floating d strap since switching to split tail
 
4869-Resize%20of%20IMG_0704.JPG


This is a pic of the Ness Work Saddle in the Treehouse. It has the extended legpads, which turn this rig into a floating Barca-Lounger. They were very nice in helping modify the triangular pads. This is my second one, they last about 3 or 4 years.

This saddle is made to my measurements, for a great fit. I step in to both the waist belt & leg straps at the same time. The stainless pear Maillon Rapide stays on, never needing disconnecting or reattaching. The saddle is extremely lightweight. The amount of support is just fine.

I recently tried the knock-off of the Butterfly that Buckingham makes. The floating attachment point is one desireable feature.

The undesireable part is all the heavy metal. Since noone else uses my saddle, the adjustment buckles seem to be a waste of perfectly good steel. I need no adjustments, since nobody borrows it. Two side buckles and two legstrap buckles, plus two aluminum leg rings are all just dead weight, to me.

The pic is of the ascent. The upper handled ascender is an original Jumar, along with a Pedale foot loop, connected with a safety tether to the hip. Middle ascender is a Microscender. Right foot is a Pantin. This setup allows pushing either one foot at a time in a ropewalking rhythm, or Texas frogging with both feet alternating with both hands in a sit-stand motion.

Note the daisy-chained 25' Fly lanyard, running thru a Grillon adjuster. It has a Kong aluminum rope snap spliced by Lance Wallace into the eye. The figure eight is for lowering limbs and bailing out, both.

In the bag is another 120' length of Fly, compliments of New England Rope.

http://treedr.net
 
Three or four years ? hmmm ...Ox you draggin that saddle behind your van between Jobs ? I 've had mine for seven to eight years with not that much wear , but I suppose weight may have something to do with it also .

Greg
 
The New Tribe saddle does have a semi floating D on the lower suspension. A small (1 3/4") D allows the legs to move independently by letting the mini D slide along the webbing bridge that connects the two legstraps.
sash.JPG

As far as allowing the climber to turn sidewise, this floating arrangement doesn't provide much pivoting power. The D is linked to the Maillon Rapide connecting the two halves of the hip belt.

Quite often my saddle will slide around my hips when turning around to face away from the tie-in point. When I spin back around, the saddle spins back around, readjusting itself. It's usually a relief when things are back in place. I never have looked at this issue as that big of a problem.
 
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