Stretch Air Chainsaw Trousers

Tim Craig · 22nd February 2007, 09:10 AM

Just bought a pair of Pfanner's Arborist's Stretch Air chainsaw trousers for ?200.00 including VAT.

I had to pay a ?10.00 extra due to long leg length.

I've been using Stihl Hi Flex for the last 18 months.
They've been ok.....but they've needed to be sewn many times.

I will be reporting on Treeworld every few months on how good or bad the Stretch Airs are over the next year.

I am expecting them to be excellent considering the huge price tag.

Has anyone else had any experience of these chainsaw trousers?

Ekka · 22nd February 2007, 11:47 AM

Man alive, they must be good.

That's like $500 here.

I occasionally wear the Stihl pant style ones with the yellow azz ... I should get a few more.

Get some pics mate.

Tim Craig · 23rd February 2007, 10:39 AM

Ok, first day wearing the Stretch Airs, distmantled a couple of medium size trees - Sycamore and Elm.

They are very comfortable when climbing.
Ease of movement is not a problem.

On first impressions they seem to be very durable.

The only thing I did notice was that they get hot quickly, the temperature outside today was only about 12 Degrees Celcius/52 Degrees Farenheit.

But, even with the heat, they stayed comfortable.

Ekka · 23rd February 2007, 12:55 PM

Is this them?

Tim Craig · 27th February 2007, 01:24 PM

Yeah,

But mine are grey!

The red is too loud for me.

Ekka · 28th February 2007, 01:47 AM

The Stihl dacks are like $220 here, I don't know of anyone selling those here. I wore mine today ... you definately feel safer but sweat like pig!

Tim Craig · 28th February 2007, 11:38 AM

Rained all day today at work, Stretch Airs stayed dry on the inside, they do have some water resistance, but I reckon this will lose it effectiveness after a couple of months. After we had finished it stopped raining, they dryed up very quickly.

At the moment they are easily the best chainsaw trousers I have ever worn. Far better than the Black Stihl HiFlex.

It remains to be seen if they will stand the test of time. My last pair of Stihl HiFlex lasted 18 months.

Ekka · 6th March 2007, 04:13 AM

You work in the rain?

Tim Craig · 6th March 2007, 10:04 AM

Yeah, its great fun. Especially climbing Sycamore and Beech.

Brother Colin · 6th March 2007, 04:57 PM

In Glasgow, you would not work at all if you did not work in the rain.

Rains everyday, doesn't it.

Ekka · 6th March 2007, 10:04 PM

Crikey, rain, what about wind? And I'm not talking the baked beans type of wind either.

Next you'll say it snows too.

Sean Freeman · 6th March 2007, 10:06 PM

Not just glasgow, there wouldn't be a British Arborist working in the whole country if they stopped for rain!!!

When I started working for Steve, they used to stop when it rained, sometimes it better to keep your mouth shut!

SF

Tim Craig · 7th March 2007, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brother Colin

In Glasgow, you would not work at all if you did not work in the rain.

Rains everyday, doesn't it.

No, every third day. And during the night.

Tim Craig · 7th March 2007, 01:24 PM

[QUOTE
Next you'll say it snows too.[/quote]

Last year, I distmantled a large Beech tree during two days of heavy snow.

Rigged it down, ornamental 100 year old wall underneath, that's why it took two days. It wasn't snowing when we started the job. At one point on the second day I could not see the groundies for about half an hour. I just pulled my jacket over my face and weathered the storm wishing I'd worked harder in school. Then it got so bad for about 5 mins I couldn't see my hand in front of my face.

Anyway, the snow had cleared by the time we could fell it. Blue skies.

I was glad to see the back of that job.

Glorious sunshine today though, rigged down a pine growing over a pond. One of those days your glad you climb trees.

Mike Poor · 7th March 2007, 08:38 PM

Hey Tim Craig, Have you ever tried S.I.P. 5.1's or the old blue husky pants? If so I was wondering how the Stretch-airs or the Stihls compared? I think the 5.1's and the Huskys are almost as breathable as denim.

Tim Craig · 8th March 2007, 11:11 AM

Mike,

I've never tried the Sips. Huskys yes but mostly used Stihl or Svensk Tradvard(Swedish make). I've only had the Stretch Airs for a couple of weeks but they are the very comfortable, better tear resistance than any other chainsaw trousers I've had. They just feel like much better quality than the Stihl Hi-flex.
I'm not a fashion victim but there was no way I was gonna buy Bright red Chainsaw trousers for ?200.00!!!
Thats why before now, I went for the Black Stihl Hi-flex.

The Stihl Hi-flex have poor tear resistance, and if you clip the MS200T into your harness and the exhaust touchs the material for a fraction of a second, they melt!

I was forever sowing the Hi-flexs up, always repairing tears and stitching, they need to improve these trousers before I would consider buying them again.
Anway, Pfanner changed the colour of the Stretch Airs to grey.

I decided to try them.

The Stretch Airs are expensive, but so far after 2 weeks, they are by far the best chainsaw trouser I've ever worn.

But I can already tell they will be extremely hot in the summer, and it only ever gets to about 80 degrees farenheit here.

Ekka · 8th March 2007, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Craig

but so far after 2 weeks, they are by far the best chainsaw trouser I've ever worn.

Some day when your ready to wash them let us know how that goes.

22nd February 2007, 09:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
Tim Craig Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 94	Stretch Air Chainsaw Trousers Just bought a pair of Pfanner's Arborist's Stretch Air chainsaw trousers for ?200.00 including VAT. I had to pay a ?10.00 extra due to long leg length. I've been using Stihl Hi Flex for the last 18 months. They've been ok.....but they've needed to be sewn many times. I will be reporting on Treeworld every few months on how good or bad the Stretch Airs are over the next year. I am expecting them to be excellent considering the huge price tag. Has anyone else had any experience of these chainsaw trousers?

22nd February 2007, 11:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,868	Man alive, they must be good. That's like $500 here. I occasionally wear the Stihl pant style ones with the yellow azz ... I should get a few more. Get some pics mate. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

23rd February 2007, 12:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,868	Is this them? __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

28th February 2007, 01:47 AM	#6 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,868	The Stihl dacks are like $220 here, I don't know of anyone selling those here. I wore mine today ... you definately feel safer but sweat like pig! __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

6th March 2007, 04:13 AM	#8 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,868	You work in the rain? __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

23rd February 2007, 10:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tim Craig Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 94	Ok, first day wearing the Stretch Airs, distmantled a couple of medium size trees - Sycamore and Elm. They are very comfortable when climbing. Ease of movement is not a problem. On first impressions they seem to be very durable. The only thing I did notice was that they get hot quickly, the temperature outside today was only about 12 Degrees Celcius/52 Degrees Farenheit. But, even with the heat, they stayed comfortable.

27th February 2007, 01:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tim Craig Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 94	Yeah, But mine are grey! The red is too loud for me.

28th February 2007, 11:38 AM	#7 (permalink)
Tim Craig Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 94	Rained all day today at work, Stretch Airs stayed dry on the inside, they do have some water resistance, but I reckon this will lose it effectiveness after a couple of months. After we had finished it stopped raining, they dryed up very quickly. At the moment they are easily the best chainsaw trousers I have ever worn. Far better than the Black Stihl HiFlex. It remains to be seen if they will stand the test of time. My last pair of Stihl HiFlex lasted 18 months.

6th March 2007, 10:04 AM	#9 (permalink)
Tim Craig Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 94	Yeah, its great fun. Especially climbing Sycamore and Beech.

6th March 2007, 04:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
Brother Colin Sappling Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 48	In Glasgow, you would not work at all if you did not work in the rain. Rains everyday, doesn't it. __________________ A new site for digital madia storage goto : http://brothercolin.pictureyourbusiness.com/

6th March 2007, 10:04 PM	#11 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,868	Crikey, rain, what about wind? And I'm not talking the baked beans type of wind either. Next you'll say it snows too. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

6th March 2007, 10:06 PM	#12 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,645	Not just glasgow, there wouldn't be a British Arborist working in the whole country if they stopped for rain!!! When I started working for Steve, they used to stop when it rained, sometimes it better to keep your mouth shut! SF

7th March 2007, 01:24 PM	#14 (permalink)
Tim Craig Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 94	[QUOTE Next you'll say it snows too.[/quote] Last year, I distmantled a large Beech tree during two days of heavy snow. Rigged it down, ornamental 100 year old wall underneath, that's why it took two days. It wasn't snowing when we started the job. At one point on the second day I could not see the groundies for about half an hour. I just pulled my jacket over my face and weathered the storm wishing I'd worked harder in school. Then it got so bad for about 5 mins I couldn't see my hand in front of my face. Anyway, the snow had cleared by the time we could fell it. Blue skies. I was glad to see the back of that job. Glorious sunshine today though, rigged down a pine growing over a pond. One of those days your glad you climb trees.

7th March 2007, 08:38 PM	#15 (permalink)
Mike Poor Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Urbana, IL,usa Posts: 76	Hey Tim Craig, Have you ever tried S.I.P. 5.1's or the old blue husky pants? If so I was wondering how the Stretch-airs or the Stihls compared? I think the 5.1's and the Huskys are almost as breathable as denim.

8th March 2007, 11:11 AM	#16 (permalink)
Tim Craig Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 94	Mike, I've never tried the Sips. Huskys yes but mostly used Stihl or Svensk Tradvard(Swedish make). I've only had the Stretch Airs for a couple of weeks but they are the very comfortable, better tear resistance than any other chainsaw trousers I've had. They just feel like much better quality than the Stihl Hi-flex. I'm not a fashion victim but there was no way I was gonna buy Bright red Chainsaw trousers for ?200.00!!! Thats why before now, I went for the Black Stihl Hi-flex. The Stihl Hi-flex have poor tear resistance, and if you clip the MS200T into your harness and the exhaust touchs the material for a fraction of a second, they melt! I was forever sowing the Hi-flexs up, always repairing tears and stitching, they need to improve these trousers before I would consider buying them again. Anway, Pfanner changed the colour of the Stretch Airs to grey. I decided to try them. The Stretch Airs are expensive, but so far after 2 weeks, they are by far the best chainsaw trouser I've ever worn. But I can already tell they will be extremely hot in the summer, and it only ever gets to about 80 degrees farenheit here.