Raven27
Participating member
- Location
- Pittsfield, Ma
No will look
Tree Motion Light
- Thread starter Frax
- Start date
moss
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Carlisle, Massachusetts, U.S.
Frax, I've been flying the regular TM for a year and like it a lot. However I tried out a TM light a friend has and I prefer it, the change I would make is put the regular TM waist/belt padding in as everyone mentioned. The main reason I like it is the waist belt adjuster is great! The buckle/clasp adjuster on the full TM is terrible, It can only be adjusted with the buckle opened, if you need to adjust it while you're up in a tree yer a bit out of luck.
-AJ
-AJ
moss
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Carlisle, Massachusetts, U.S.
Don't want to derail... PM me for details, in short, to mod my Sequoia leg pads, I used a seam ripper to separate the pads from the leg straps and then sewed in the New Tribe pads (I used NT Yellowjacket leg pads). Very comfortable, climbed on it for years. It's my backup harness now that I'm doing the TM full time.
-AJ
moss
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Carlisle, Massachusetts, U.S.
Agree the stock TM bridge length is excessive, I shortened mine a fair amount and added a second bridge the same length, ring on one, swivel on the other, all good.
-AJ
Kris Anderson
Participating member
- Location
- Kelowna,BC
What rope did you use for the second bridge? Did you double fisherman's to the lower d's? Thinking about 2 bridges today on my TM
moss
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Carlisle, Massachusetts, U.S.
I used the stock TM bridge, yes double fisherman's to the lower D's
- Location
- Redwood Coast
I have climbed in dozens of saddle over the last 35+ years and I have to say that the TM light has been the most comfortable saddle (including regular Treemotion) for skinny/slim climbers like myself. The thinner padding and saddle material make the saddle really conform to your body. Most of my work are removals with larger saws up to a 395XP, and with suspenders I am shocked how comfy this thing is. I have always felt that big, beefy saddles with lots of padding were needed for a good removal saddle, but the TM LIGHT has been a bit of a revelation for me. I have owned a Matt Cornell, New Tribe Onyx, and the regular TM, but the TM light bested them all for this skinny old climber!
Last edited:
Kris Anderson
Participating member
- Location
- Kelowna,BC
The only thing I wish the TM light had was leg buckles. Then it would be perfect.
When your lowers wear out, replace them with full versions.
Kris Anderson
Participating member
- Location
- Kelowna,BC
I've seen the replacements, it's a big chunk out of my akimbo fund though...When your lowers wear out, replace them with full versions.
True that. Nor cheap, but far less than en entire new saddle. @SoftBankHawks and I were talking about wear on expensive things. He made the excellent point that servicing parts is nicer than complete replacement.
While it's a bit of a derail, he also pointed out the same concept for the new DMM swivel. My older ones got binned completely when the eyes showed too much wear. Now I can replace the eye alone. Pretty cool!
It's like the story of my grandfather's axe...he wore out the handle, so my dad replaced it and kept using it until the head wore out. I replaced the head and still use my grandfather's axe to this day.
SoftBankHawks
Branched out member
- Location
- Japan
An old friend in the UK who used to use all manner of obscure and down right dangerous chainsaw handling under guesstimated the force and speed of a hand held piece, that and his first use of the ass crack exposing TM ran the saw into his forearm. My first TM was nearly new and covered in blood.
For what it's worth I love the super light, I find the thinner material molds much better. I changed the legs to standard, not that I want releasable buckles, just that they hold the webbing firmer, close to zero slippage. I find that different days give me slightly different posture, different clothes, different types of tree and job and I appreiciate being able to very easily let out or suck in the hip webbing, for me this is very easy to use. I use the thicker padding on the back too.
moss
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Carlisle, Massachusetts, U.S.
Yep, waist belt adjustability in the tree, huge. I'm trying to figure out how to reverse engineer my regular TM to a better waist adjuster.
-AJ
SomethingWitty
Arkansawyer
- Location
- LR
Do you sew much webbing, or just rope?
moss
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Carlisle, Massachusetts, U.S.
Yeah I sew webbing, that's where I'm headed next. Although I will probably have to deal with heavy criticism if I mod the TM belt ;-)
-AJ
SomethingWitty
Arkansawyer
- Location
- LR
Almost definitely. I've been considering changing the waist buckle on the light since I got it, so I'm not in that camp...
- Location
- Redwood Coast
Just a quick update. Bought a Treemotion light for one of the crew because he knew how much I was enjoying mine. He did not like it, and much preferred his Matt Cornell saddle. Just goes to show that saddles are such a personal choice and reviews only help so much. Best to fly before you buy
TimBr
Official Well Known Greeter
- Location
- Northern Virginia
Hey, @Crytough! Sorry I missed this post going by two months ago. Welcome to the TreeBuzz forum! Really great first post, also!
Every bit of information that gets added to the pool about the TreeMotion harnesses is really helpful, in my opinion, as people's experiences vary so much. Thanks for your post, and please stick around and make yourself at home here.
Tim
Thanks Tim! I def enjoy the industry threads. Its good to see other perspectives than what i get through only my own work experience and the guys i folks i come into contact with.
Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
