Saddle support system

Rockin'Robin

I've heard a lot of pros and cons to the various types of saddles out there. Personally I have climbed on all three, but only occasionally on leg strap styles. I am looking to pick up a new saddle eventually to replace my Buckingham Traverse (bosun seat), and I am wondering what the community feels is the best choice, leg strap, butt strap or bosun seat.

I find the seat cramps my hips a lot, and on big stretches limb to limb it really hinders my lateral movement. What are your takes on saddle selection.

Cheers.

Joshua Rugg

leg straps bromigo. comfy leg straps like a cougar.

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Stihl
MS192T 14"
MS200T 16"
MS261 16"
MS440 25"

Husqvarna 359 20"
394XP 32"

Poulan P3314 14" ( new hire/groundy saw)

Knot Smart

From an amateur:
After trying both leg and butt straps in a climbing course I took at my community college, I decided it was leg straps all the way. Yup, comfy leg straps like a jaguar.

Apocalypsse

Harnesses with seats are more for removals when you can find yourself sitting around somewhat more or leaning back onto the harness. Leg straps are more for pruning/etc where you are moving around the tree more, the straps give you better freedom of movement.

TrevMcRev

Leg straps, specifically the ones attached to a treemotion

Apocalypsse

I sat in my Treemotion for a good 5-6 hours on Monday. My upper thighs hurt a LOT, hurt so much that yesterday when I was sitting down I was unable to close my legs. If only it came with a seat for those extended periods of sitting in the tree.

Branching Out TreeCare

I have been climbing professionally for over 20 years and have opted for Willans harnesses. They are really, really comfortable, have leg straps and a fixed D. I would thoroughly reccommend the Willans however they dont have a flat bosuns seat insert in the bum and as a result are fairly hard on the hips.
Because they dont have a fibre-glass insert seat feature ( bosuns ) the equations of vectors is such that , you are basically sitting inside a " tear drop " shape and the stress is not only up but also directly sideways( inwards) which causes your hips to be compressed together. The down side of any harness without a fibreglass seat is that your hips get compressed and grind harshly in their joints. Back when i was in my hey day a fibreglass insert inside harnesses was relatively uncommon . If you intend to be a proffessional climber doing alot of hours aloft I would strongly reccommend that you get a harness with the flat seat insert. I have been a contract climber both freelance and self employed for a long time and wished i had asked the questions you are asking now, back then. At 42 i'm up for two new hip joints and because life is too short to learn the hard way ...its best to learn from the veterans.
Also definately have leg straps because if you have an accident and 'lord forbid' invert upside down into the deadmans position you will not slip out of your harness and plummet to the ground.
Fixed front D or sliding D is your choice but i prefer fixed D.
i hope this helps a little. Take care out there.
Kind Regards Paul T Gosling - ambassador for Trees - NZ