New Saddle Shopping

Brando CalPankian said:
So just an update on the MB. I'm selling it to an employee. I could not get it dialed in to fit me comfortably. Many things I liked about it but for the price I didn't love it.

Will probably try the kinisi or the ta pro. Grrr.

Like y'all said, someone will buy it if I didn't like it. Lol
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Out of curiosity, could you be a little more specific in what way you were dissatisfied with the MB? Have used less than well fitting harnesses in the past I can appreciate your decision. I'm just having a hard time understanding how ack of fit or what component of it applies to the super wide range of adjustability that the MB has.

I know body type and climbing style are individual in nature, but I personally fine the MB to be the most comfortable and functional of any harness I have used.
 
DSMc said:
Out of curiosity, could you be a little more specific in what way you were dissatisfied with the MB? Have used less than well fitting harnesses in the past I can appreciate your decision. I'm just having a hard time understanding how ack of fit or what component of it applies to the super wide range of adjustability that the MB has.

I know body type and climbing style are individual in nature, but I personally fine the MB to be the most comfortable and functional of any harness I have used.
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I didn't like the front paws, couldn't ever get it adjusted to my back nicely (even with lumbar adjust it just didn't hold me like a tm or ta did). Gear storage was still way further behind me than I'd have liked (I have severe thoracic and cervical damage from previous injuries). I wanted to take the gamble on cost to see if it would ride itself out but I finally had enough the last removal I did.
It was nothing hugely wrong, for most people it'd work great. My spine issues are limiting what I climb in and how I climb these days.

Hence, the new guy has a kickass setup.

I will miss the shoulder harness though. Best part of the setup imo.
 
DSMc said:
Out of curiosity, could you be a little more specific in what way you were dissatisfied with the MB? Have used less than well fitting harnesses in the past I can appreciate your decision. I'm just having a hard time understanding how ack of fit or what component of it applies to the super wide range of adjustability that the MB has.

I know body type and climbing style are individual in nature, but I personally fine the MB to be the most comfortable and functional of any harness I have used.
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I'm with Dave. I find the MB 2.0 to be supremely comfy and functional, and the best all around work saddle have ever flown. August and crew have put a lot of thought into its design and it really shows. I like the 2.0 enough that I just purchased a second one (in black multi-cam) to be my main work ride as I finish up my climbing career.
 
@Brando CalPankian. Regarding your comment on having the tool attachment points too far back, did you try lowering the tool Ds, like this?
 

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Yes I did. That's how I'd set it up from the start. It's not terrible, but just was enough to aggravate things.

I'll take a picture of how I've got the tag set up. Climbed 4 hours on a massive cottonwood retrenchment in the ta, was more comfortable.

Saddle shopping is so weird. So much is individual. My climber is tickled pink with the MB. Honestly the boost to his confidence was worth it. He rocked today. Said we was so comfy. Happy happy happy.
 
rico said:
The TA is a wonderful saddle that flies under the radar..Shame it doesn't get more recognition..
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I love my ta 3.2. it's at the "end" of its technical service life. It's baller on removals. Can dangle big saws no issues. It's only downfall has been SRS climbing. Does it but lacks adjustability to be real upright.
 
Does anyone have any opinions about the Buckingham Navigator?

I need to replace my ancient Buckingham Variobelt. It's still in perfect condition but it's a torture device and is very old so for safety (and comfort!) sake, it's time for a new one.

I'm not a professional (mainly maintain a couple of large Oak trees on my property) and only climb a couple times a year. 99% of my work is pruning/traversing. I don't mind spending a decent amount ($650ish?) as I keep my stuff for a long time. I found the Navigator can be had for $525 direct from Buckingham with coupon code "BINO".

The Navigator seems to have a lot of flexibility with double-rope floating bridge as well as a bunch of rated-attachment points. Seems like it would give me a lot of positioning options. Just wonder about it's comfort.

I'm also considering the Monkey Beaver 2.0, as so many here rave about it's comfort, however it doesn't have as many rated-attachment points.

Any saddle hints/wisdom greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
I just got the tree Austria pro. It is great. The little changes they made really add to the comfort. I think about my saddle less than before, and I hardly thought about the 3.2 before my injury.

I didn't like the mb 2.0 personally. The way my spine is (cervical and thoracic injury) limits what I find comfortable. For the price the ta pro was perfect.

I've flown older Buckingham's, OG treemotion, sequoia, and some weavers. A lot of times it's a try it and see what you like endeavor.

If you have an outlet near you they test saddles. I didn't have that luxury, but most reputable arborist gear sales places let you try and return if it isn't right, within reason.

What style of climber are you? What's your big needs/wants? Mine was an out of the box great fit with enough gear storage for work, very forward gear placement, upright for SRS climbing, suspender integrated, and padded enough for long climbs. Lower D's were a must too. The TA checks all of the boxes for a really palatable price point.
 
Brando CalPankian said:
I just got the tree Austria pro. It is great. The little changes they made really add to the comfort. I think about my saddle less than before, and I hardly thought about the 3.2 before my injury.

I didn't like the mb 2.0 personally. The way my spine is (cervical and thoracic injury) limits what I find comfortable. For the price the ta pro was perfect.

I've flown older Buckingham's, OG treemotion, sequoia, and some weavers. A lot of times it's a try it and see what you like endeavor.

If you have an outlet near you they test saddles. I didn't have that luxury, but most reputable arborist gear sales places let you try and return if it isn't right, within reason.

What style of climber are you? What's your big needs/wants? Mine was an out of the box great fit with enough gear storage for work, very forward gear placement, upright for SRS climbing, suspender integrated, and padded enough for long climbs. Lower D's were a must too. The TA checks all of the boxes for a really palatable price point.
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Thanks for the reply. I haven't considered the TA pro. I'll take a look. I climb MRS and mostly do light pruning in sprawling Oak trees. I rarely need to carry a chainsaw. I've only twice delimbed/removed spars (a dying pine that completely covered me, my lanyard, my chainsaw in a mass of water-impervious sap! and a cluster of three Birch trees that were planted way too close to the house).

Mainly looking for something that provides all-day comfort and easily lets me move/twist/hang without excessively digging into my hips or pinching. I often find myself fighting against my rope/attachment-point when trying to twist out and reach small stuff at the end of a limb so I would like to try a floating-bridge.

My current harness's main-line attach points include just one center-D and two soft-attach points slightly L/R of the D.

I thought the Buckingham Navigator was interesting as it looks well padded and has both a floating bridge as well as many other rated-attach points. Found almost no reviews of it though...
 
I gotcha. What's your build? I'm 6'2 200lbs. I love the webbing soft lower D's and the webbing floating bridge. I am pruning heavy with my company and spend long spans hanging and dangling. I'd say 60/40 pruning/big shit pile removals. This saddle has been great.
 
Brando CalPankian said:
I gotcha. What's your build? I'm 6'2 200lbs. I love the webbing soft lower D's and the webbing floating bridge. I am pruning heavy with my company and spend long spans hanging and dangling. I'd say 60/40 pruning/big shit pile removals. This saddle has been great.
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5'8", 140lbs, 31 waist. That probably puts me into a small MB or Buck. The TA seems to have a wide range - Size 1 covers 30.3"-41.3"...
 
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