New SRT Harness

chris_girard

chris_girard

Branched out member
Location
Gilmanton, N.H.
A few months back, I saw this new SRT Harness (Saddle) Arbpro Tree Access that is being manufactured (in Italy I believe) and sold overseas in places like Australia and the UK. I couldn’t find any place in the US that was stocking this saddle, so I contacted Luke at TreeStuff.com to see if he could special order one.

As always, Luke and TreeStuff came through for me. He was able to get a saddle in with the next order of Arbpro gear. Arbpro, if you guys haven’t seen them yet, makes some of the best climbing boots around. Go to TreeStuff.com and check them out here; http://www.treestuff.com/store/catalog.asp?item=3444

So the first thing that struck me when looking at the Arbpro Tree Access Harness was its similarity to Paolo B’s TreeFlex saddle. The TreeFlex was the only arborist saddle (that I know of) that had a separate fixed ventral attachment point for SRT use, ALONG with a sliding ring on a webbing bridge.

TreeFlex is an awesome saddle (I own 2). Unfortunately, you can no longer purchase them here in the US. I’ve used both of my saddles an awful lot and knew that someday I would need to replace them, so I decided to try the new TreeAccess.

So anyways, here’s some pics of the TreeFlex first and then the Tree Access. I hope there aren’t any patent violations! I’ll let you guys know what I think and post some work pics after I get back from the EXPO next week.

Picture 1- TreeFlex
 

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This saddle is incredibly well built in IMO.

Boy, I sure wish Paolo still posted here, but that was before being harassed off the boards by that witch hunt over the TreeFlex rated bridge rings, which was totally unfounded.

Tom, you and I both have Paolo and Dee's contact info. Do you feel it is even worth getting in touch with him to ask his opinion? I can't believe that he hasn't already heard about this Harness, as I know that Honey Brothers has them in the UK already.

Who knows, maybe he and Dee were consultants in the design?
 
I'll get hold of my brother over there.

Ever since the Butterfly started the newer harness designs they seem to be minor variations on a theme. Little variables but still, BF and especially BFII set the tone for modern harnesses.
 
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Thats cool Chris..Maybe Ill buzz Luke tomorrow and see what he says bout it !! GOOD find dude!!

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Thanks Paul. I told Luke yesterday morning that I was going to start a thread about the harness here on the Buzz.
 
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I'll get hold of my brother over there.

Ever since the Butterfly started the newer harness designs they seem to be minor variations on a theme. Little variables but still, BF and especially BFII set the tone for modern harnesses.

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Tom, one of the little variations between the TreeFlex and Tree Access is the shackles near the leg loops. Tree Access ones are much larger, but I have never had any issues with my TreeFlex ones. People just think that they're too small, but Paolo knew what he was doing when he designed them.
 
Tom,
Those are some good insights.I remember Cruising the floor at Expo the year the BF1 came out. I was so excited to find something new,different and in K E W L color. I bought it and never looked back. That was my first Leg saddle..I had always been a Seat saddle dude.....Kinda neat how we all learn and grow..
 
Like I said, I have 2 TreeFex saddles. One is for tree work, the other is setup for my rock scaling work.

The TreeAccess one will be set up for SPRAT work on bridges and towers, but first I'm going to run it through its paces up in the trees, which IMO is the hardest at height work environment there is.
 
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