New Onyx saddle

Joeybagodonuts said:
. . . The spreader bar obviously serves a purpose, but in all honesty, with that particular saddle you shouldn't need it in order to be comfortable. It should be more of a Luxury (like Dmm's Transformer). . .
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Well, I confess I am into luxury! With the bridge run out, the saddle did not pinch or cramp my sides, but shortened up close to get the multiscender low, it was extremely uncomfortable if I hung any length of time in it. Same issue I had with NT's Yellow Jacket saddle. Maybe when I was twenty or thirty years younger, no big deal. But I just climb for fun these days and if there are tweaks to improve comfort, I am all for it! As for the extra bends in the bridge rope now thru the spreader, well this is some bad ass rope anyway and, if I inspect it pretty often at those spots, I don't think I am going to have any problems with it. And I am not a pro arborist so won't be working the saddle very hard.
 
Hey Evo and Rico, just took a shot of the strap and buckle on the left D (white arrow to the buckle). The strap goes to the middle bar of the big side D. There seems to be about 3 inches of available adjustment in and out. That smaller second bridge rope under the main one is for my power ascender when it is in parallel to the multiscender on the main bridge.upper D strap.png
 
That adjusts the rise from the waist to the rigging plates on your bridge, and has nothing to do with the side D's. Dont feel bad though because the large majority of saddles today do not allow for an adjustment of the side D's, and that includes most of the best harness's available. I have had 2 Onyx's in the last few years and it is a killer harness, but for my issues with the side d's. I spend a ton of time in spurs and a flipline chunking big wood so I am a real ball buster when it comes to the placement of my side D's, and unfortunately the Onyx wasn't quite right for me. Otherwise it was a freaking Cadillac and one of my favorites.
 
I think I was talking about the wrong D's. Yes, the big side D's are permanently sewn on mine. I thought the upper D's were the ones with the paws. Anyway, I don't own spikes and don't make a habit of using a lanyard with the side D's so their placement is not an issue for me. I use them mostly for gear storage or the rare occasion when I am standing in a crotch for a while.
 
rico said:
That adjusts the rise from the waist to the rigging plates on your bridge, and has nothing to do with the side D's. Dont feel bad though because the large majority of saddles today do not allow for an adjustment of the side D's, and that includes most of the best harness's available. I have had 2 Onyx's in the last few years and it is a killer harness, but for my issues with the side d's. I spend a ton of time in spurs and a flipline chunking big wood so I am a real ball buster when it comes to the placement of my side D's, and unfortunately the Onyx wasn't quite right for me. Otherwise it was a freaking Cadillac and one of my favorites.
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Hey Rico..
You owned this harness as well as the MB.. what do you think the reasoning behind doubling the rise adjustment back to saddle was? Does the harness end up hanging different? Maybe one style allows more articulation than the other? Headspace on bridge to multicender? I'm coming up dry as to why go one style over the other..


Burrapeg said:
Well, I confess I am into luxury! With the bridge run out, the saddle did not pinch or cramp my sides, but shortened up close to get the multiscender low, it was extremely uncomfortable if I hung any length of time in it. Same issue I had with NT's Yellow Jacket saddle. Maybe when I was twenty or thirty years younger, no big deal. But I just climb for fun these days and if there are tweaks to improve comfort, I am all for it!
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Just a general observation here, but.. Burrapeg, don't put your full faith in that secondary bridge. I'm pretty sure under fall type loading those stoppers will pull right through those paw holes. It may feel alright now for your intended purpose but don't go treating it as ppe..

I noticed you said things are still extremely uncomfortable at one end of the spectrum.. something aint right, now that you have your rise sucked all the way in, try letting out your leg pads.. Personally, I'd set the bridge to a few inches longer than normal, lose the bar, let legs all the way out & little by little bring them in until it feels better. Once you get it bearable, add your bar back in if needed... For real tho, with a bar & an adjustable bridge, there shouldn't be anything unbearable. Unless it don't fit or isn't adjusted right. Keep in mind, it may or may not wear different than your last harness, so wipe that slate clean, what should work for the last one may or may not work for this one. Other than the discomfort Rico elluded to when dealing with work scenarios, that harness should have a decent level of comfort right out of the box.. otherwise we'd hear all about it here... Be safe Burrapeg.
 
Joeybagodonuts said:
Just a general observation here, but.. Burrapeg, don't put your full faith in that secondary bridge.
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I think the picture is confusing you! That secondary bridge would have to break before that knot passes through the paw! I have ran a similar set up on my MB using the tail of my adjustable primary bridge. In the moment using the PA its a sweet setup! I didn't reread the whole thread so i'm not sure what size cordage he is using but looks the same for primary and secondary.
 
39Buick said:
I think the picture is confusing you! That secondary bridge would have to break before that knot passes through the paw! I have ran a similar set up on my MB using the tail of my adjustable primary bridge. In the moment using the PA its a sweet setup! I didn't reread the whole thread so i'm not sure what size cordage he is using but looks the same for primary and secondary.
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Hey 39, my secondary bridge is indeed slightly smaller cordage, bulk hitch cord in fact. But the knots are not at the main paw hole. There is another small hole like the one the main bridge rope is thru. I don't see how I could put enough force on it to pull them into the hole. The secondary is just for the power ascender anyway, not PPE.
 
Joeybagodonuts said:
. . . Other than the discomfort Rico elluded to when dealing with work scenarios, that harness should have a decent level of comfort right out of the box.. otherwise we'd hear all about it here... Be safe Burrapeg.
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I would agree that the saddle is actually very comfortable right out of the box and a huge step up from my previous rec saddle. The issue is with me, not the saddle. I have enough aches and pains, and past injuries at 66 years old, that the comfort factor is rather more important than if I was a younger working climber. I just climb for enjoyment now and also I am a devoted tinkerer, so tweaking something like this saddle to squeeze a little more custom fit for my aged frame seems worthwhile. Dropping the leg pads down did help, by the way, thanks. I spent three hours yesterday afternoon in a neat tree on the South end of the island here, with a great view out over Puget Sound, and felt like a million bucks afterwards. Did some limb walking and a short traverse also. It is great having the length of the bridge quickly adjustable. I love this saddle!
 
39Buick said:
I think the picture is confusing you! That secondary bridge would have to break before that knot passes through the paw! I have ran a similar set up on my MB using the tail of my adjustable primary bridge. In the moment using the PA its a sweet setup! I didn't reread the whole thread so i'm not sure what size cordage he is using but looks the same for primary and secondary.
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Idk maybe i am. All i know is, if that 8mm Ocean Poly is stoppered with a regular fisherman's, it will indeed pull through that paws hole if loaded heavily or close to breaking strength... Hence me saying something along the lines of "don't put your faith in it for PPE"
Just watch a few break test & what cordage does when stoppered through rigging plates, if larger 10 & 12mm cordage with stoppers can start to roll out & or slip through, you bet your ass 8mm will too, with half the force.


Burrapeg said:
I would agree that the saddle is actually very comfortable right out of the box and a huge step up from my previous rec saddle. The issue is with me, not the saddle. I have enough aches and pains, and past injuries at 66 years old, that the comfort factor is rather more important than if I was a younger working climber. I just climb for enjoyment now and also I am a devoted tinkerer, so tweaking something like this saddle to squeeze a little more custom fit for my aged frame seems worthwhile. Dropping the leg pads down did help, by the way, thanks. I spent three hours yesterday afternoon in a neat tree on the South end of the island here, with a great view out over Puget Sound, and felt like a million bucks afterwards. Did some limb walking and a short traverse also. It is great having the length of the bridge quickly adjustable. I love this saddle!
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Ok.. cool man! So you dropped them a bit & it helped.. after you did that did you notice any difference with balance? What I'd suggest now is mark them with a colored crayon or fabric pen where the webbing doubles over the adjuster & tinker some more with it.. whatever you do just keep track so your not repeating the same adjustments.

Sounds like your getting around up there! Good to hear!
 
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