Switched from rope to harness climber last month after 10 years of pruning with old methods

Used to just wrap my rope around the trunk and wing it, but after a close call where a branch slipped on a live oak in Austin, I bought a proper saddle harness. My lower back feels way better after 8-hour days now. Has anyone else made that swap and noticed a big difference?

2 comments

2 Comments

allen.ruby13d ago

That 'lower back feels way better' part really hits home. I switched to a harness about two years ago after a day of pruning where I could barely stand up straight the next morning. The saddle distributes the weight so much better, plus being able to unhook and move around without pulling the rope off the trunk is a game changer. Only thing I had to get used to is not having that constant tension on my waist, it almost feels wrong at first.

cora_perez13d ago

You ever try wearing it a little looser than you think you should? Took me a solid month to figure that out. I had mine cinched down tight at first because I was worried about shifting around, but loosening it a notch actually made the weight sit on my hips instead of my lower back. Now I barely feel it after a long day.