Topic: Best Tree Stand Harnesses of 2023 (Read 36 times)
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This vest, like others of its type, has a harness tether attached to the middle of the back at the collar area. The tether with sewn-in shock absorption stays out of your way while hunting but can result in suspension facing away from the tree after an arrested fall. This orientation plus the length of the harness tether, especially if the shock absorbing stitching deploys, plus the major upward shift of everything in suspension, means you’ll be hanging far below your anchor point on the tree.
The lineman’s climbing belt seems very secure and is the only one I have seen that encircles the hunter’s entire body. However, the instructions for the lineman’s belt took me a while to interpret. But you’ll want to attach the tree tether whenever using the lineman’s belt to be doubly connected. This double-connection to the tree is vital for all harnesses if climbing past a limb or tree stand.
Hanging in this harness was unco*fortable, chiefly around the legs and crotch. And you’ll definitely want to wear this harness to the stand, as it doesn’t co*e with a carry pouch, and it would be a bit bulky to stuff in a pack. The long harness tether is a snag hazard and should be tucked inside the vest during travel—especially on an atv. But for tree stand hunters that want a full body harness with a snug fit and plenty of storage for your gear, the Hunter’s Safety System Pro Series is a great option.
The Pro Summit Safety Harness is co*fortable enough to wear on your hike to the stand, and the tied loop on the safety/lineman’s rope is large enough to pass the carabiner and prussic through without detaching it. This extremely adjustable harness includes a stretchy chest strap that reduces the chances of strangulation if you sink too low in the harness while suspended. Because it’s so adjustable, this harness is plenty co*fortable to wear on your trek to the stand and for those all-day sits. There are no pouches included, so the tree tether/lineman’s climbing strap must be carried separately.
The tree tether has an energy-absorbing section as well as sewn-in tear-outs. But the design of the harness made it hard for me to reach the vest tree tether without removing the shoulder straps. It does include a suspension-relief strap in a handy storage pouch that’s connected to the harness, which is fastened at one end and then deployed and attached to the lineman’s belt loop.
When you tie-off the strap, try a slip knot, as I needed two tries to get the loop length correct. It took some wiggling to stand up in the suspension-relief strap, so practice several times near the ground before hunting with it. Still, the Summit Pro is one of the more co*fortable harnesses from my test, and is a great option if you’ve got a long walk and an all day sit planned for your next hunt.
The Hawk Elevate Pro Harness has so many thoughtful features that make it extremely co*fortable and convenient to use when you’re in the stand. This “one-size-fits-most” harness was a little too big on me at 5-foot 8-inches and 140 pounds. So a smaller size would benefit smaller stature hunters. While it doesn’t seem like a big deal, the size issue beco*es more important during an arrested fall. The leg strap pads were a bit too far back, though still somewhat effective. Likewise the size of the harness resulted in some of my weight being suspended at my armpits rather than evenly distributed. You can mitigate the size problem with more clothes, but there are plenty of single layer hunting days during the early season and deep South.
The tree tether has a shock-absorbing section as well as tear-out pleats. I was able to reach the tether while wearing the vest, and the harness co*es with both a tree belt and a climbing rope with a prusik knot. The looped end of the climbing rope was big enough to slide the prusik and carabiner through. In general this harness was impressive in the consideration of practical aspects of use. For example the tree belt has a sewn-in attachment loop for connecting the carabiner. Like the Summit, the suspension-relief strap is included and can be conveniently placed back in its storage pouch.
When you tie it off, use a slip knot to aid in getting the loop length correct. The shorter climbing rope means it is easier to handle with less excess flopping around. However, it would not be long enough for large-diameter trees. The harness adjustment belts have clips built in for housing the tag ends so that they don’t flop about. Even the loops for attaching the climbing belt have elastic holders to keep the loops out of the way when not in use. And the suspension strap has two velcro tabs for refolding when you store it. There are so many subtle but thoughtful details in the Hawk Elevate Pro that make it one of the best tree stand harnesses not just to wear, but to make your time in the stand that much more efficient.
The Hawk Helium Hammock Saddle co*bines your stand and tree stand harness in one convenient, lightweight package. If you’re a minimalist hunter, and you haven’t already bought into the tree saddle hype yet, the Hawk Helium Hammock Saddle should catch your eye. This safety tree harness/stand co*bines the best of both worlds in a lightweight, packable option. Like the Black Diamond, this isn’t a traditional tree stand harness, though it certainly functions as one. Whether you wear it to your stand or pack it in, this saddle eliminates a lot of unwanted weight, especially if you have a long hike to the stand.
co*pared to vest-type hunting harnesses and rock climbing harnesses, the Hawk Helium Saddle does have more dangling parts. I would definitely advise plenty of trial runs with it at ground level to familiarize yourself with specific adjustments and how to put it on. As a harness, this is one of the heavier ones I tested at 4.3 pounds. As a stand, though, it’s much lighter than most portables out there and will cut down on your overall weight.
The tree tether spliced loop is a bit small for the prusik knot or for the mechanical ascender. This means the prusik or the ascender must be removed to attach the tree tether to the tree. If you drop one, you better have a spare in your pouch.
There were no instructions for attaching the carrying pouch to the saddle, which is vital to carry the ascender and the prusik. Fitting the Saddle into the carrying pouch takes some effort and practice. But once you get the hang of it, the Hawk Helium Hammock can make your tree stand hunts much more efficient.
As a retired professor of exercise physiology, I’ve spent years researching and studying tree stand accidents and safety. This is one reason I wear a harness every hunt, from the ground up to hunting height and back to the ground again. And I strongly reco*mend you do the same. I am a small guy who, probably like you, hauls my bow or rifle, my range finder, binoculars for hunting, extra gear and clothing, on my back considerable distances to and from my stand. And while a tree stand harness might seem like an afterthought co*pared to your other gear, it shouldn’t. Whether you’re hauling a ton of gear into a deep piece of public or doing a quick hunt behind the house after work, you should treat your tree stand harness just as vital as the weapon you’re hunting with.
There are three basic types of safety harnesses. The most popular harnesses currently are full-body harnesses and vests made specifically for tree stand hunting. This contractor style full-body harness is the only type currently approved by the Tree stand Manufacturer’s Association. The second type of harness, which has beco*e increasingly popular in the last few years is the tree saddle.
Essentially, these are fabric seats with leg straps and a bridge which can be attached to a tree tether and allow you to hang in a tree and rest with your feet to an attached footrest or stand. These allow you to move around the tree to shoot in any direction. The final type of harness I tested—which isn’t your typical tree stand harness—is a rock climbing harness. These harnesses are built for rock climber’s safety to prevent them from falling as they scale cliffs and other rock faces. Because they work brilliantly for ascending/descending, they also make great options for tree stand harnesses when worn properly.
You’ll want a harness that you feel co*fortable using every time you head to the stand. Different hunters will have different ideas of which features are most important. Try out as many harnesses as you can and see which ones fit or acco*modate your size and needs best. If you can, borrow one from your hunting buddy to see how it fits. If you have the opportunity to test the harness at ground level, do so.
Hang a tree stand near ground level for your self-rescue test and see if you can climb back to safety. What if your tree stand falls? Can you get to the ground? Does the harness feel restrictive in any way or cause disco*fort? These are factors that you should consider when purchasing a tree stand harness. Stay close enough to the ground to put your feet down for a simulated self-rescue. Be sure to make sure the suspension-relief strap works, and do this with a strong adult present.
I have worn a lot of different types of hunting safety harnesses. All of them can help protect against tree stand falls, which is their key function, but some are a lot more practical than others. Here are three main factors you should consider when looking to purchase one.
The most important feature of a harness, in my opinion, is ease-of-use. I say this because mine and my colleague’s scientific survey research shows that many hunters, even hunter safety instructors, fail to wear a harness simply because they are difficult to use. The harder it is to use, the less likely hunters are to wear it. While this isn’t a good reason not to wear a harness, unfortunately, it’s a reality for a lot of hunters. Ease of use includes overall weight, how easy it is to put on/take off, how it wears to/from the stand, and general convenience.
The second most important feature is how easy the recovery process is if a fall occurs. If a fall happens to occur and the harness does its job of keeping you from hitting the ground, it must either allow you to regain the stand or safely descend. Hanging in most harnesses quickly beco*es painful, and in some cases can cause you to lose consciousness. In extreme cases it has resulted in death (due to suspension trauma), so an effective harness escape plan is vital. And, this is not always easy.
co*fort is another key quality of tree stand harnesses. Like harnesses that are difficult to put on, an unco*fortable harness will either get left in the truck or detract from your hunt. As the air temperature of the hunt changes, a harness that allows you to put on or take off extra layers can make your hunt way more enjoyable and efficient.
Absolutely. If you hunt from any elevated stand that isn’t fully enclosed, then you shouldn’t leave the ground without a tree stand harness anchored securely.
The best harness is the one you will use every time you leave the ground. For different hunters, that will vary. I love simplicity and a harness that I can don at the truck and wear to the stand. Personally, I prefer a harness that allows me to be rest in a sitting position if I fall into it—for co*fort and safety from suspension trauma. But you might have different criteria, so list your needs and find a harness that you’ll like and use.
The heaviest harness and the lightest harness I have weighed only differed by about 3.5 pounds. For most of us that is a negligible difference. If you are packing in a lot of gear a long distance, a rock climbing harness will likely be the lightest option. However, once you consider the weight of a portable stand plus your harness, a tree saddle will cut down on your total weight overall and likely be the lightest option.
You should wear a harness and be connected to a safety line from the moment you leave the ground to the moment you return.
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The best tree stand harnesses could well save your life or prevent a hunting-ending injury. The key issue is to find a harness design that you will use properly every hunt. Wear it from the ground up and down again and always have it firmly anchored. Inspect your harness before each use and do not exceed the expiration date or weight limit for it. Follow manufacturers’ warnings, and don’t expose harnesses to the weather when not in use. Make sure you can self-rescue from suspension. And above all, be safe.
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