[TowerTalk] Climbing Belt with Leg straps??

[Robin Midgett]

All I've ever used for tower work is a repelling harness. I use a dual
system of caribeaners & lanyard so that I can stay attached to the tower &
position my lanyard (or vice-versa) as necessary. I have fallen while
climbing rock using the same harness; the fall arrest capabilities are there. 

Tower climbing belts are heavy, cumbersome, uncomfortable & expensive; not
to mention less safe than a harness because they only go around the waist.
If a climber incorporates the full body harness that goes with the
"climbing belt" to eliminate the possibility of falling out of the belt,
the climber has also added more weight to the system which adds to the
fatigue of being on a tower for several hours. Rapelling gear is made of
double stitched nylon similar to seat belt material which is much lighter &
stronger than its leather counterpart. This is why people who climb rocks
literally thousands of feet above the ground developed & entrust their
lives to these products. If a climber wants the added protection of a full
body harness (in addition to a repelling harness), the nylon climbers
harness is the way to go.

.

At 10:00 AM 12/17/97 EST, you wrote:
>In a message dated 97-12-16 15:08:37 EST, kc5qdz@iamerica.net writes:
>
>>  I am looking for a climbing belt with straps that go around
>>  your legs, similar to they way they do on a rapelling harness. The only
>>  kind I have found so far is the type that just have a second strap for
>>  you to sit on. I know the other kind is made I just do not know where to
>>  look. If you have any info I would appreciate it.
>
>     Mountain climbing harnesses have leg loops and are suitable for mountain
>climbing but not recommended for tower work (there's no place to clip in your
>positioning lanyard, not OSHA approved, etc.).
>
>     For tower work, you need either a waist safety belt or fall arrest
>harness. 
>
>    An extensive write-up on tower safety equipment is available for a buck
>from TOWER TECH. It's a 3-part reprint of my "Up The Tower" column in CQ
>Contest magazine. 
>
>     Mailing address is Box 572, Woodinville, WA, 98072.
>
>73,  Steve  K7LXC
>
>    TOWER TECH -- professional tower supplies and services for amateurs 
>
>--
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73 de Robin E. Midgett, KB4IDC 
EM66se
1/2 of the NT4L Contest Group Rover Team
http://www.telalink.net/~martinbw/vhf/vhf.html


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