Tether Recommendations for Rock Climbing Harness

[Reshi]

I am making the switch from a full body harness to an XOP Holiday harness. I am new to this and have no clue what I am doing. For those of you who use rock climbing harnesses, what are you using to tether yourself to the tree? I see XOP makes a Vector tether that looks like it would work, but they are out of stock. Can I just use a Hunter Safety System Rope/Strap, and clip a carabiner from the prusik knot to my climbing harness?

I have also some permanent tree stands with already established life/safe lines that go from above my tree stand and extend down to the ground. Normally with my full body harness, I just clip in to the prusik knot and I'm good to ascend. What can I use to attach to my already established lifeline when ascending my tree? A climbing daisy chain or climbing lanyard with a carabiner on each end, or should I get rid of my lifeline with the prusik knot and switch to something else altogether?

 

[Macintosh]

I am making the switch from a full body harness to an XOP Holiday harness. I am new to this and have no clue what I am doing. For those of you who use rock climbing harnesses, what are you using to tether yourself to the tree? I see XOP makes a Vector tether that looks like it would work, but they are out of stock. Can I just use a Hunter Safety System Rope/Strap, and clip a carabiner from the prusik knot to my climbing harness?

Yes, with a locking biner. The two tethers you mentioned are +\- the same thing and will work for hang and hunt style hunts—they simply girth hitch around the tree leaving a short tail that you attach to via the prussik. Good practice is to also clip the end of the tail to the load-point on the harness as a backup so you are attached to a hard point in addition to the prussik.

Caveat is that clipping to your harness directly leaves very little “leash” to slide the prussic up or down as you climb, so its less practical for a longer fixed line that you use to protect from a fall while climbing and descending. I use a “cows tail” attached to the harness and clip that to the prussik, which allows you to slide it above you as you climb.

I have also some permanent tree stands with already established life/safe lines that go from above my tree stand and extend down to the ground. Normally with my full body harness, I just clip in to the prusik knot and I'm good to ascend. What can I use to attach to my already established lifeline when ascending my tree? A climbing daisy chain or climbing lanyard with a carabiner on each end, or should I get rid of my lifeline with the prusik knot and switch to something else altogether?

See above. A daisy chain is the wrong thing to use because the pockets are generally not full strength, so if you clip multiple pockets its possible to pop a bartack and have your biner come entirely off. A “personal anchor system” or similar is a much better choice that accomplishes the same thing.

 

[Reshi]

Yes, with a locking biner. The two tethers you mentioned are +\- the same thing and will work for hang and hunt style hunts—they simply girth hitch around the tree leaving a short tail that you attach to via the prussik. Good practice is to also clip the end of the tail to the load-point on the harness as a backup so you are attached to a hard point in addition to the prussik.

Caveat is that clipping to your harness directly leaves very little “leash” to slide the prussic up or down as you climb, so its less practical for a longer fixed line that you use to protect from a fall while climbing and descending. I use a “cows tail” attached to the harness and clip that to the prussik, which allows you to slide it above you as you climb.

See above. A daisy chain is the wrong thing to use because the pockets are generally not full strength, so if you clip multiple pockets its possible to pop a bartack and have your biner come entirely off. A “personal anchor system” or similar is a much better choice that accomplishes the same thing.

Thank you so much for your help! I will go ahead and get the HSS rope for my tether. In order to follow the good practice of clipping the tail end, should I use two carabiners? (One for the prusik to the harness and one from the tail to the harness)

I did a search for a personal anchor system and I found this which I am hoping is long enough at 38". - Is that kind of what you had in mind? (with a locking carabiner on each end). If not please send me in the right direction.

Sorry for what feels like stupid questions. I just really want my arms free from the annoying full body harness, but I'd also like to make it back home safe to my family as well.

 

[Reshi]

Thank you so much for your help! I will go ahead and get the HSS rope for my tether. In order to follow the good practice of clipping the tail end, should I use two carabiners? (One for the prusik to the harness and one from the tail to the harness)

I did a search for a personal anchor system and I found this which I am hoping is long enough at 38". - Is that kind of what you had in mind? (with a locking carabiner on each end). If not please send me in the right direction.

Sorry for what feels like stupid questions. I just really want my arms free from the annoying full body harness, but I'd also like to make it back home safe to my family as well.

I did more research and realized that the tail end should be made into a figure 8 knot - so 1 carabiner is needed.

 

[Macintosh]

Watch a few videos, many go over this stuff. Manufacturers should also provide basic instructions--read them. Many have instructions posted ont he website. I'm not sure I understand your question or which item you are referring to, so maybe watch, then ask specifically if you still have questions.