emr wrote:
I got my Glide about 2 years ago and I thought it was the best saddle I ever used. It was comfy and super smooth to climb in. Now the comfy part is almost gone but it is still nice and smooth with the rope bridge.

Two years seems like a short time for padding to break down. You must do a lot of climbing. Or, it is planned obsolescence on Buckingham's part. That's probably an undeserved thought. I'm sure they wouldn't want you to buy a new saddle every two years. It does make me wonder how often people replace their saddles.

cambium

I have no experience with the New Tribe line of harnesses. Is that kind of mobility typical for all their products?

I'm actually not the best one to answer that question, as this is the first NT saddle I have owned. I CAN tell you that compared to other types of fixed ring harnesses I own, the Tengu has the most mobility of them all.

This review from the NT website might shed some light on the subject:
http://www.newtribe.com/catalog/product_reviews_info.php?products_id=180&reviews_id=11

Cambium are you into Rec Climbing or use it for daily work?
For work saddles there are a bunch to select from and depending on the amount of use and the care you take of the saddle (Storage, working conditions, etc) they will last a bit longer than two years I imagine. ( Tom D. knows better from his experience.)

For Rec Climbing; I am sure that the New Tribe saddles are great in most respects because that is what they were designed for Rec Climbing/Hanging around and Chilling out. I have purchased 3 saddles from them and all of them are still in use. The last One a Tengu saddle is in almost New Condition but it is the least used one because I got it for my guests and student climbers kind of thing. My regular sadlle is a little over 2 years old and it looks like new still. I do not climb as much as say Moss who climbs almost daily but the New Tribe saddle will last a long time with good care.

oldtimer wrote:... do not climb as much as say Moss who climbs almost daily but the New Tribe saddle will last a long time with good care.

I wish I climbed daily, more like 2-3 times a week. I have a day job (to support my tree habit).

NT saddles are durable. I'm rough on mine, all that squeezing through nasty tight spaces in conifers etc. They hold up.

Pro arbs can wear gear out pretty fast so I'm not surprised at EMR's saddle padding dying at 2 years. Old-school leather harnesses last much longer but they weigh more and are even more uncomfortable if you're not standing on the tree.

Floating D's are going to allow you to hold horizontal and partially inverted positions more easily than an NT harness but as Baker and others have said you can get into those positions with an NT. The NT will tend to bring you back towards a sitting position. I regard that as a safety feature for less experienced climbers. You can get off vertical very quickly on a sliding D, a virtue for a seasoned work climber.

I've stopped climbing on my BII because the leg straps are too painful for me for extended hours in a tree. It has a good home.
-moss

oldtimer wrote:
Cambium are you into Rec Climbing or use it for daily work?

Hey Oldtimer, to answer your question about whether I'm into rec climbing or climbing for work, I'm primarily a rec climber who also has frequent occasions to apply the work of an arborist to the trees on this bit of acreage I have. While the saddle will certainly see blocks of time with daily use, it will most often be used for recreational climbing. In that respect, I'm a hands on climber who may hang around suspended for short periods, but I'm more often in contact with the tree and supporting some of my weight with arms and/or legs.

The NT saddles sound well made. Thanks for the input.

cambium

moss wrote:

I wish I climbed daily, more like 2-3 times a week. I have a day job (to support my tree habit).

You're not alone, Moss. I'm sure most wish they could climb daily. Supporting a habit is a great incentive to keep the day job.

Thanks for the info concerning the Butterfly II. Just looking at the way the NT saddles cradle the back of the leg does suggest they would be far more comfortable on that part of the body. I wonder if they (NT) have considered making a rope bridge saddle. Over the course of the day, I found out that Weaver's 'Cougar' isn't in production yet and may not be available until summer. You have to give their marketing department credit for getting a jump on the task of promoting their new offering. I wonder if Weaver will keep the price so reasonable once they have a product to sell.

cambium