saddles

montanagrizzly

montanagrizzly

I am looking to buy a new saddle. Any suggestions on what is the best buy out there.

I used a Buckingham "Traverse" with an previous company, and I liked it. Now I use an old regular four dee ring saddle by Buckingham, it limits by abilities, but the boss won't spring for new ones.

Does any other company besides Buckingham make a saddle worth buying?
 
The Komet Butterfly is the preferred saddle for competitions, from what I've heard and seen. They're made in France, and are quite light. At TCI in Milwaukee, there were rumors of the "second generation" making it to the U.S. in the near future. I am patiently waiting, because I am interested to see what changes they have made. The only saddle I have ever used is a Buckingham Master Pro or something along those lines. I like it, but wish it were lighter. I do like the fact that it has many more tie in options than the Komet Butterfly. Most guys that buy the Butterfly have to end up modifying it to suit their specific needs. My boss recently bought one, likes the comfort of it, but admits that its design limits its tie-in options and accessory points. Hope this helps a little bit! Happy saddle hunting.
Kody "The Kid" Kraemer
 
I climbed on a Buckinham floating Dee for several years, then replaced it with an almost identical (but lighter) Sierra Moreno which I still like. Even though it's true a lot of guys are using Butterflies at contests, I think there is still some doubt as to whether they are legal (haven't been certified to US standards, though they probably could be). Maybe you get a stickler for a judge and can't use it.

The SM saddle has a nice, wide back pad and has held up well for about 3 years now. I like the separate leg straps for maximum mobility and the removable belt for accessorizing with additional rings. I also added a belt pouch I made myself which I use for a paint can in oaks, hardware and tools when cabling, a whistle for emergencies, a bandana for sweaty days . . . you get the idea.

A lot of guys I know like the Bucky series that includes the traverse. Most reject the Master as being a ball biter, but I wonder if they have been used to butt strap saddles. Anyway, they do like the plastic-reinforced butt strap of the others that is like sitting in a wooden swing when you have to hang, though it can be tricky when squeezing through a narrow crotch or sitting on top of a branch. Now Sherrill's has similar saddles under their own label.

keith
 
Gotta give a thumbs up to the butterfly. It is comfy and user friendly. It may not get you into every competition but I bought it to do tree work quick, safe, efficent, and comfortable.

Why are TUV, EU certified equipment not accepted here at all competitions???
 
i climb with a weaver that has 2 floating d's. i really like it alot and the price is right around 100 bucks. i really like the saddle. it has plenty of accessory points and weight is not an issue for me. i climb with a guy who uses sierra moreno and a guy who uses a buckingham. i would say all three stand by our saddles respectively, i guess it depends on what your climbing style is and what you have in your wallet. if your boss wont buy you one(as my company does not do) than weaver offers a good selection at a reasonable price.
 
La trinidad

I am the coworker of Chad's who climbs on the Sierra Moreno. It is the trinity model. It is a design of a fellow climber here in the Hampton Roads area of VA by the name of Bob Gallant. It is a great saddle with a non-rigid butt strap that works in unison with nice fitting leg straps. The back strap is also super-comfy. The saddle rides well and doesn't hang like others I've tried in the past. I come from a rock climbing background so a nice fitting saddle is key.
 
i like the Master series by Buckingham for its good back support, saw and accessory straps, and its mutiple tie in. i couldn't stand the uncomfortable fit. the side d rings cut into my hips leaving them black and blue. i switched to the Petzl Navaho and enjoy it greatly. Very very very lightweight. though it does lack the mutliple tie in and rugged back support ,it makes up it comfortablity. I did just see at the NC TCC a climber with Petzl's new Mini Boss and it looked like a cross between the Traverse and Butterfly. It had a button seat and a extra wide back with adjustable double d . the tie in looked similiar to the butterfly but without the strap in the middle. i also heard from equip judge that modified Butterflies will not be accepted in competion.
 
i also heard from equip judge that modified Butterflies will not be accepted in competion.

This is really confusing to me. In another post you wrote that your homemade false crotch was acceptable to the equip judge. How does taht balance out? If a climber can document that the change to the B'fly follows all strength standards it should be passed. If the rope or webbing that's used passes the 5.4k# rule and any splices are done to manufacturer's specs, it shouldn't make a difference if a rope has a knot in it on your saddle or your climbing gear.

I replace the yellow webbing with bow shackles that are stronger than 5k# and the webbing is a 12" spectra sling. All of the data for the parts can be documented too. If I was going to use the saddle in competition I'd be sure to have all of the documentation in hand.

Did the eauip judge allow climbers to use biners with a 22kN rating? Those come up 50# shy of 5k# and don't pass the strictest interpretation of the rules.

Tom
 
I am thinking about buying the butterfly, but I don't know if I will like the indiviual legs straps. I have always used a saddle with a seat.

Has any of you made the switch from the seat to the leg straps, and if so what do you think?
 
hey colorado,
I come from years of butt strap saddles and now I climb with the butterfly and would never go back.Its very light and the freedom of movement is fantastic.You may miss the seat at first but not for long.
 
hey! does anybody knows these "austria" duo saddles
i think these are better than buttefy, you dosn´t need
modifiet them, balance is good,leg staps are comfotable. and if ya want you an just click te seat under you butt.
only one thing sucks a little these side d rings turns... some times. www.drayer.de
 
I have one of those as well but for me the way my body was balanced in it was not as comfortable as the butterfly.But it is a very nice saddle but expensive just under $300
 
No laughing!@ Serious concerns!!

coloradoclimber wrote:
>Has any of you made the switch from the seat to the leg >
>straps, and if so what do you think?

Well, I've been climbing in a NEW TRIBE legloop saddle for a while (newtribe.com) and have just started climbing in a arborist style treedoctors harness made by VERTICAL in Western Australia.
http://www.verticalsafety.com/industrial.htm

My question is- no laughing now-, are all bumstrap harnesses so DANGEROUS to your testicles?
If you look at the treesurgeons harness image attached you'll see those red straps...if you move around or squirm it seems like next time you lean forward back into it you endanger your unborn children...Part of the problem is that they are anchored at the bottom too close together, and the double ring tighteners are too close to the center.
I've gotten around the problem by taking the red straps out of those double rings in front and wrapping them around my leg, in effect creating leg loops. Other than that the harness is top notch....but I;m still using the newtribe one and letting my (unfortunate...) field crew use the vertical one.

So colorado climber, to answer your question in reverse, Leg Loops Seem Better.
i don't understand how you guys have been doing it for this long.
 

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Re: No laughing!@ Serious concerns!!

Yoav,
On that 'bumstrap' style saddle you have- the only purpose of those leg straps is to keep the seat section from riding up around your waist when you are not sitting in it. I use a similar style saddle and have for many years. When I first got it, I tightened up the leg straps like they were needed to hold the saddle together. Someone commented about how my 'package' was well framed by the straps and I loosened them up a notch. MUCH better. Then I loosened them up more until they actually hung loose and was quite comfortable. I've been wearing them like that ever since.
 
Re: No laughing!@ Serious concerns!!

A story was told to me about a climber who was in one of the B'ham saddles. don't know which one but I believe it was a leg strap saddle. He and his wife were trying to get pregnant for quite a while. No luck. He ditched the B'ham and bought a Blair Ultra Light which is a leg strap too, just more testical-friendly. They practiced a little more and a few months later they had a baby! That saddle became known as the Castrator in that shop!

New Tribe has modified their saddle and calls it the Smoke Jumper. Sophia sent me a couple of pics. Some nice little changes. Fully ANSI compliant too. Watch for some other versions of this saddle.

Tom
 
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