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Good question. The Sit-fast looks better the Variobelt with Side Straps I climb on. I love having the central tie in for SRT (chest ascender) while keeping my bridge free. I don't like having the double back buckles next to the side D's, or the stupid back pad, or the..... Petzl has some great ideas but they seem to be lacking in the final package.
How about the TreeFlex? It appears somewhat similar but a whole lot cleaner.
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Well, interesting you should say that Jumbo Monkey! Interesting thread Grover.
I purchased the variobelt with sidestraps as part of research for TFX and Frog systems. It had to be the Variobelt for the sidestrap attachment (slot on the GIANT hip Ds). The great thing about the set up, is the Chest ascender clip point, plus sliding D (as JumboMky states). This is also handy for a close attachment for small pole/Palm climbing & working - a sliding D bridge presents too much length, requiring reliance on hip Ds. The fixed waist pulls from the legs and waist with a good centre of balance in this situation - this keeps the climber closer to the work. The Podium is great as a bosuns chair when needed.
Unfortunately, this package wasn't suitable for what we required as a true ergonomic design. Which was a shame at the time, because we really didn't want to go the trouble and expense of trying to find someone willing to make me a custom harness -
"I must create a system or be enslaved by another man's." - William Blake - Nice one Jumbo Monkey
just to avoid typical MSDs that any harness wearer could suffer from. Some observers have stated that TFX appears a cross between a Glide/Butterfly/navaho. Its obvious to see where they are coming from. However, TFX is much more than that. Creating a different looking saddle is as straight forward as creating a familiar looking saddle. Creating something to fit with ergonomic correctness was a real challenge. The fact it has turned out so simple and affordable is a triumph!
We have had various requests to incorporate the TFX back pad into other harness designs. However, this is unlikely to be effective in the way that it is with TFX:
- The way the 'Pelvic' pad is shaped to the pelvis, requires special strap routing to ensure it stays low, exiting under the waist and inboard of the hips (all other designs are outboard). The straps running on the pad, would not work (they would buckle) if the pad was any stiffer; the pad has to flex as the straps seat it on the pelvis (particularly the steeper taper of the wider female pelvis to narrower waist - the co-designer is a female remedial specialist). Straps on existing designs are routed and lengthened to wear around the waist. This means stiffness to prevent compresion of internal organs. We believe current design philosophy leads to other ergonomics issues.
- The pad lining is designed for sportsmen and women; it flexs and supports with the pad, massaging the skin/circulation without buckling/creasing. It is closed cell foam so doesn't absorb water, yet the hexs are surrounded by air channels and lined with a soft, elastic and breathable liner.
- The sacrum pads takes loads away from sensitive areas, and keeps the pad seated on the pelvis.
- The pelvic pad is cut to free the hips and nerve lines - I suspect you could run the 100m hurdles wering this thing and hardly notice
- The leg risers are shorter than other harnesses, though not so short as to encourage tipping back. This would require a longer bridge to help correct, with its own problems. Standard box stitching programmes won't fit such a length, so we had to trial something else. This enables good positioning without altering the tension on the leg loops, which can lead to hyperextension of the spine. (tight leg loops make for much more efficiency with the Frog technique).
- The leg risers to the chest ascender clip point are shorter than typical industrial harnesses, to keep the belt and Chest ascender low.
- There is a tunnel for an 'Ice clipper' or 'caritool' centre back, and a centre clip point.
- The leg loops are free floating, prevent discomfort when twisting and allow a change of position if sitting a long while.
There are many more design points, but these are the most relevant to the claim TFX 'is JUST a cross between a Navaho and Butterfly'. It is a new concept in commercial harness design amd manufacture.
The great thing about TFX, is it has been designed to work optimally whether sitting, ascending, standing on spurs with heavy equipment or branch walking. All of this is based on freedom of movement of the spine, by loading the fused bones of the pelvis, and back of the hams.
And it only weighs 1.7kg, which makes it great for rec climbing too.
