No More TreeFlex Saddle?

chris_girard

chris_girard

Branched out member
Location
Gilmanton, N.H.
I personally think the best SRT harness/saddle ever made was Paolo's TreeFlex. Unfortunately, it never caught on with many climbers. I have 2 of them, though one of them is almost worn out.

It seems that the company in the UK, that had the rights to make them is no longer doing so. Does anyone know why? Is there another company making them?
 
The Treeflex harness was unlike any other before it. Specifically setup with a "hard" central webbing attachment point for clipping in a chest ascender such as the Petzl Croll, for SRT ascent climbing and a separate webbing bridge for work positioning.

The Kolibri-Click (though a nice looking harness) does not have this "hard" attachment point. The only other harness that I can find that is similar to the TF, is one of the Arbpro harness'. IMO, they took "their" design from Paolo's TF. Yes, I own one (having bought it only after I could not find a TF for sale) and it cannot compare to the TF.

I did talk with Paolo last night and though I don't want to go too far into the discussion that we had about the Treeflex (not my place), I can say that the harness has been pulled from the STL line, due to some contract issues. ABSOLUTELY, nothing wrong with the Treeflex Harness. Like I said, IMO, still the best SRT harness ever designed and made.

Huskyman, thanks again for forwarding Paolo's email address to me. We've been trying to contact each-other for awhile now. He used to post on the Buzz, and I will forward him this link to see if he has anything else that he might like to add to it.
 
The bridge can be adjusted easily with the webbing straps, though IMO, not as easy as the sequoia.

Tom D. had a nice, easy adjustable modification that he made to his TF Harness bridge. Maybe he can tell you a little more? I will also try and find a photo.
 
I find the hip adjustment easy. Both sides pull forward
To tighten.

The unique feature of the TF is that the belt is meant to support the climber on their hip bones not
The soft part of the back. This takes getting use to at first. After its dialed in its soooooo comfortable

I don't have pics of the adjustable bridge on my phone. There's at least one thread about it. Richard Mumford took the idea the next step.
 
Yes, still in great shape!

My setup is a little different than that.

The rope is 7/16" KMIII. The rope goes through the left shackle and tied with a double fisherman's as a stopper. The Micro Cender is attached the the screw from the saddle shackle not a separate shackle
 
Tom Dunlap said:
Yes, still in great shape!

My setup is a little different than that.

The rope is 7/16" KMIII. The rope goes through the left shackle and tied with a double fisherman's as a stopper. The Micro Cender is attached the the screw from the saddle shackle not a separate shackle
Click to expand...

That sounds like it was basically meant to be.
It makes me want shackle bridge termination points.
 
Had the Tree Motion but sold it. It was a very good saddle for doubled rope, but it was never designed for SRT. They tried to come up with a way to attach a chest ascender (which I tried), but it was too cumbersome for my liking.

Yeah, my next saddle will be the Petzl SRT.
 
I climb almost exclusively SRT and haven't found any issues with the tree motion related to srt climbing. I currently have two tree motions. One is setup for removals and crane days and it has a pair of homemade suspenders that work very well when having a big saw all day and the other is setup for pruning.
 
Do you ever SRT using a Croll chest ascender? I use a chest ascender all the time and the TM isn't designed for one. If you ascend and work using a hybrid SRT system, then yes, its a great saddle.
 
chris_girard said:
Do you ever SRT using a Croll chest ascender? I use a chest ascender all the time and the TM isn't designed for one. If you ascend and work using a hybrid SRT system, then yes, its a great saddle.
Click to expand...

Chris, can you show a picture of your setup with a Croll. Been wondering about that for awhile, I assume it helps to keep you upright?
 
Chris just found a picture of your setup in the Hitch Hiker thread. Sweet harness, never heard of it.
 
chris_girard said:
Do you ever SRT using a Croll chest ascender? I use a chest ascender all the time and the TM isn't designed for one. If you ascend and work using a hybrid SRT system, then yes, its a great saddle.
Click to expand...
I no longer use a croll in my climbing system however I did start out climbing SRT with a croll. I used a swivel as my bridge attachment point and you can simply attach the croll to the bottom of your swivel and attach your climbing system to the top of the swivel. It works very well
 
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