Debate: Is the expensive safety harness worth it over the budget one?

I went cheap and bought a $150 harness off Amazon last spring for my tree work. Thing frayed after like 6 climbs, almost dumped me 30 feet up on a red oak job. Now I'm looking at a $500 Petzl harness but wondering if it's just hype or actually safer. Budget guys swear you can get by with basic gear if you inspect it. Anyone else get burned by saving a buck on safety gear? What's your take on price vs. protection?

2 comments

2 Comments

laura_knight5411d ago

Oh man, I got a story for you. A buddy of mine thought he was slick buying a cheap harness for his side gig trimming trees. Second time using it on a big white pine, the leg loop buckle just snapped clean off. He fell about 12 feet onto a lower branch, broke his ankle real bad. Hospital bills cost him way more than the $500 he would have spent on a proper Petzl. He's never cheaping out on safety gear again, I can tell you that. Sometimes you really do get what you pay for, especially when gravity is involved.

troy_gibson4311d ago

I read a study that said 90% of climbing gear failures are from cheap knockoffs.