Rec Climbing with a Rock Saddle

[Rookieclimber]

a few weeks ago i saw Sherrill's website had the petzl Corvus or some other rock climb saddle in the rec gear section. Are rock climbing saddles good/strong enough to rec climb in a tree with? i was extremely curious when i saw that. I know there is not a place to attach a lanyard on the saddle, but is it still acceptable to just get on a rope and go?

I ask this because my girlfriend wants to learn to climb and i have my rock climbing saddle laying around. Just curious what you fellas think.

 

[NickfromWI]

Strong enough yes, comfortable enough no.

I say if you have the rock harness, use it for now. If it seems like she's getting in to it, but the discomfort of the rock harness is inhibiting her fun, then get her a good saddle.

Rock harnesses are designed for you to fall into it, then get back on the rock. They don't expect you to hang around in them for very long.

I started with a rock harness. It worked okay. But boy was I happy when I got a proper tree harness!

love
nick

 

[treebing]

soetimes when travelin I take a rock harness, 120 ft of 9ml rock line (bouncy, but it will keep me from hitting the ground), throw line, a couple of micro pulleys and a few biners. My little silky pro sentei. Very light and it enables me to put it all in a bike messanger bag. This way when friend or family say "oh your a tree climber, I have this branch...."
Works fine. but you defintily end up climbing the tree more and hanging in your harness less. I think the biggest problem is there is no side rings for your lanyard. I noticed new tribe sewed some webbing on the side, But for simple climbs you usually dont need one anyway. You also dont hang around in your harness very much. defenitly would not use it everday. Ouch.

 

[moss]

Be nice to your girlfriend and get her a pro level NT saddle, something like the VI Special Saddle or the Tengu. She'll love you all the more for it.
-moss

 

[treebing]

It also depends on what kind of harness she has. Some of the aid climbing and big wall harnesses are very comfortable. I have a sport harness which I can basically stuff into my pocket, but it is not so comfy. I would say a rock harness in terms of strength is stronger than a tree harness. defenitly NOT okay to rock climb in a tree harness.
I am with Nick, do it for now, dont wait to find the perfect tree harness, take your time on that.

 

[d5md]

The petzel Navaho is a very light weight and comfortable harness. It weighs less than 2 lbs has a broad range of ajustments for size cost about 170 dollars

 

[Rookieclimber]

It is a Black Diamond Momentum Harness. Pretty well padded. I do plan on buying her a saddle, but being a student at the moment, the money situation is a little tight, but only for 5 more weeks!!