saddles for bucket work

[Maui Palm & Tree Care]

ill be both climbing and using a bucket with my new employer so i need a fall arrest capability. what in your experience is a good long lasting light and comfy saddle for this kinda work?

i was thinking about saving for a tree motion but hear they dont last that long and dont have fall protection. hows the ergo? i hear a lot of good things about it but would like some feedback from people who have climbed in it at work.

 

[unatool]

love my ergo for big firs/cedars here in PNW.

When I am in my bucket, I wear a $100 fall arrest harness from Wesspur. I think it is a buckingham.
I went cheap (at first) with a $29 harness from the construction supply store... but then upgraded to the better one.

 

[Tony]

I use my ergo as a fall arrest and work positioning all the time. Did a lot of climbing out of the bucket this winter on snow/ice damaged white pines. Worked real well. Top 40' to 45' climbing; bottom 65' out of the bucket. In warm weather the "H" style suspension chafes my neck a bit without a collared shirt.
I freely admit the ergo is to the heavy side, but that does not bother me most days.

For everyday not-climbing-out-of-the-bucket work, a Petzl Navaho is the saddel of choice. You can climb in it and I have, but the "Ds" are not placed to my liking and after a bit my lovely singing voice goes up by an octave!

Other than bridge replacement and changing over to rigid leg pads my ergo has gone full time for two years and no signs of wear. I would recommend it to anyone.

Tony

 

[PUClimber]

Hey Josh don't worry about spending the money if it's what and who I think you're talking about. The buckets are equipped sometimes with harnesses. I would say more often than not but every now and then. I have a petzl bod that I used and it works great but I also use it for competition climbing.

 

[Jman]

Where do you get the ridged leg pads?

 

[surfarmer1]

Josh I use an Ergo evry day for climbing, it is a great tool and I would recommend it as an all around saddle..

You should get a tree supply catalog and read about all the different saddles and then try some out and look for the add ons such as suspenders, bosun seat, etc...and go from their...God luck in your new venture..be safe..ps I read the TM phamplet that it comes with and you are correct that it doesnot last that long..the Ergo parts can be changed as they wear..

 

[Tony]

Connections, my friend, connections.

PM or E mail I'll fill you in.

Tony

 

[mark_sauls]

Petzl Navaho croll fast bod. Ventral and dorsal rated rings for fall arrest. (Ventral attach is very comforable when riding crane ball) Built in croll for SRT and rescue work. Good harness for classes because it easily adjusts for almost everyone and the dorsal ring is great for out of the way belay. Grab a lanyard and a climbing line and you are ready to climb out of the bucket. If I was only allowed to have one harness this would be my choice due to the versitility. It may look big but when you use it is not. Chest roller fits right over if thats your bag. Just my two cents.

 

[Maui Palm & Tree Care]

what do you guys think about the master deluxe with Y style chest harness?

 

[classictruckman]

I use the y chest harness with my glide 2, its nice if I'm in the bucket and the tree, but if I'm in the bucket all day I use my petzl navaho Vbod2 because its much lighter.