The latest Matt Cornell harness

[Steve Connally]

Not finished but this is the preliminary. I’m going to have double bridges and I’m not necessarily happy with the length of everything One thing I’d change is how loose the webbing is where the vault is. I wanted to use a shembiner but there is way too much play in there. The shembiner is thin and rolls side to side. The vault has some play also and I think a tighter webbing loop might help. The 2 clips in the front could be shifted back one loop and the rings could go back one also. I’m not criticizing. Just giving feedback and if I could change things on the saddle this is what I would change. Other than that, so far I’m very satisfied with the quality and craftsmanship. It’s a great set of pads.

 

[Steve Connally]

My version of the Valiant. Double Braid all polyester from Knot and Rope Supply for the suspension. Ascender by Samson for the Bridges. Accessory cordage chosen by color. Side D rings are from Tree Austria, DMM Bat Plate for bridge, suspension and for using the lanyard in the suspension configuration. The Keeper. Aluminum ring by ISC. Anchor rings by DMM and DMM Focus Swivel. I was not able to add my Shembiner due to the diameter of the rope I chose for construction. Had I chosen a smaller diameter it would have worked. This is a work in progress and the beauty of it is I can change anything anytime I want. The pads are superior quality leather. I really love this saddle. I have used a MCRS since they came out and the Valiant is everything great about the MCRS with some
Amazing improvements. Thanks to Matt. Endor's Arborist & Rope Supply, and David Stice with the awesome team at WesSpur Tree Equipment

 

[rico]

Congrats Steve. That is one sweet looking custom ride you have there....

3/8" or 1/2" on the double braid for the suspension?

 

[Brocky]

Great job Steve! The girth hitched red cord for the back of the leg pads looks like it could easily become unbalanced, if one side were snagged while unloaded?

 

[Steve Connally]

Congrats Steve. That is one sweet looking custom ride you have there....

3/8" or 1/2" on the double braid for the suspension?

Pretty sure it’s 1/2” but it I’m embarrassed to say I don’t know.

 

[Steve Connally]

Great job Steve! The girth hitched red cord for the back of the leg pads looks like it could easily become unbalanced, if one side were snagged while unloaded?

It’s bungee. It sure could. In the past I didn’t girth it, just ran it through. Thought I’d try something different. I haven’t had that issue yet but if I do I’ll change it. All it does is keep the leg pads where I like them.

 

[rico]

Pretty sure it’s 1/2” but it I’m embarrassed to say I don’t know.

Yea it hard for me to tell from the pics.. getting ready to do a rebuild on 1 or 2 of my MCRS's, so I was curious what size you used....

I have recently been running my side dees in front of the webbing like the Valiant does. Changes the feel and suspension a little bit, but after getting used to it I am really enjoying it. No hardware or knots digging into your hip bones when standing in a flip-line....pretty freakin amazing me thinks....

 

[treegongfu]

That's a beauty!

 

[rico]

It’s bungee. It sure could. In the past I didn’t girth it, just ran it through. Thought I’d try something different. I haven’t had that issue yet but if I do I’ll change it. All it does is keep the leg pads where I like them.

An idea for your leg strap bungee that works wonderfully for me... Girth hitch the rear ring on harness and put a Treemo chingadera on it. Locked in place...



Grab the ring on the leg pad and also use a TreeMo chingadera on it-



Quick question/request Steve- Would love to see a close up of the knot you use for your side dees. Here's how I am running mine and it seems to work great, but am always looking to improve my setup....

 

[Steve Connally]

Its the same knot. Just an overhand where I capture the entire knot like yours

 

[rico]

Thanks Steve... Took a little getting used to but I am really digging the dees up front....

 

[treegongfu]

The new version looks like what I might have done to the original, if I had bought one, was too afraid I would spend the rest of my life customizing and changing things on it. The use of 16 strand rope on the original looks to be one of the compromises Matt mentioned.

Brocky, any rope suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[39Buick]

Now that the pads are for sale to the public, I'm hoping others will post up their configurations! Would love to see all the creative ideas!

 

[Steve Connally]

Brocky, any rope suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

M personal opinion is go with the smallest diameter you feel safe with. The only thing preventing me from using my shembiner is the diameter or the rope I chose.

 

[treegongfu]

What characteristics should the ropes have?

 

[Brocky]

Brocky, any rope suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

So many options, an old school option would be synthetic three strand. As
Steve suggested go small with dyneema. Knots or splicing, or both. Slowly converting a YZ Good from straps to rope, I’m going small with two or three strands separated to maybe spread the load. Waiting on another rigging plate, ordered first of the year.

 

[treegongfu]

Nice! Is that endura for the bridge?

I've been using that as a bridge rope based on a previous conversation with you, for over a year.

I found Matt saying Samson warpspeed in a video so thinking of going with that.

 

[rico]

Look what showed up at my mailbox last night. I certainly didn't need it, but being the strung out saddle junkie that I am I just couldn't resist.




My initial thoughts-
1. The craftsmanship and quality of materials is something you rarely see in a harness these dayz. Absolutely top notch all the way.

2. The snap and ring tool attachments on the left and right are old school west coast perfection, and a dream for someone like myself who grew up with this layout.

3. The backpad shape and size is very old school and will be quite different that what most around here are used to. It is not as tall nor does it have that hip hugging shape like many of the best modern harnesses (TM, MCRS, MB, ect). The Valiant back-pad actually has a very different feel than its older brother the original MCRS, which feels more like a TM to me. This old school type of backpad is gonna sit on the hips very differently, and not offer the same amount of low back support that most here are used to. Whether this is a positive or a negative will be in the eye of the beholder.

After spending well over 30 yrs climbing in similar shape/style harnesses none of this is a negative. In fact for someone like myself the Valiant might be the perfect melding of old school and new school. I feel others should be aware that this backpad is gonna feel much more similar to an old style Buckingham/Bashlin/Blair leather backpad than most modern harnesses, which as I said is most likely not gonna be everyones cup of tea.....

I quickly strung it up this morning and will report after I give it a hard run on a few removals this week.

 

[rico]

I also wanted to give a giant thumbs up to Endors...They had the harness boxed up and shipped within an hour or two, and sent me shipping updates along the way. Super smooth and painless transaction. Great outfit that I will be using in the future....

 

[SoftBankHawks]

Look what showed up at my mailbox last night. I certainly didn't need it, but being the strung out saddle junkie that I am I just couldn't resist.

View attachment 68768


My initial thoughts-
1. The craftsmanship and quality of materials is something you rarely see in a harness these dayz. Absolutely top notch all the way.

2. The snap and ring tool attachments on the left and right are old school west coast perfection, and a dream for someone like myself who grew up with this layout.

3. The backpad shape and size is very old school and will be quite different that what most around here are used to. It is not as tall nor does it have that hip hugging shape like many of the best modern harnesses (TM, MCRS, MB, ect). The Valiant back-pad actually has a very different feel than its older brother the original MCRS, which feels more like a TM to me. This old school type of backpad is gonna sit on the hips very differently, and not offer the same amount of low back support that most here are used to. Whether this is a positive or a negative will be in the eye of the beholder.

After spending well over 30 yrs climbing in similar shape/style harnesses none of this is a negative. In fact for someone like myself the Valiant might be the perfect melding of old school and new school. I feel others should be aware that this backpad is gonna feel much more similar to an old style Buckingham/Bashlin/Blair leather backpad than most modern harnesses, which as I said is most likely not gonna be everyones cup of tea.....

I quickly strung it up this morning and will report after I give it a hard run on a few removals this week.

View attachment 68769View attachment 68770

Hi Rico, thank you for the feedback, a couple of questions, the clip and ring please describe more of this ‘old west coast perfection’, how do you use them, does the clip hold the chainsaw high so no need for a hook type thing higher up on the harness?
your set up looks great, hope to keep all unwanted fluff off mine too, why such long legs of unused rope, are you gonna splice that anchor hitch later on?
I have a bunch of harnesses, all European lineage, excited to feel this old school American vibe.