Heightec Tree Hopper

[WorcsWuss]

Purely out of curiosity, does anyone else climb in one of these?

 

I bought one a while ago as it seemed 'cheap and cheerful' and quite compact [i'm not a big bloke at 5'10" & 'athletically built', although my wife keeps telling me I'm larger round the 'girth' than I would have myself believe these days - and I don't think she's massaging my ego either] and, as I don't live in it, I wouldn't even have considered a Treemotion or similar.

 

Can't say I'm disappointed, it's pretty comfy, although I do have to slacken off the leg straps to go to the pub..... otherwise it forces me to walk like I've done a 30 minute 1 to 1 study session with the chaplain at my old boarding school....

 

Seems nicely made although the fixed central attachment point would limit lifespan somewhat for a more intensive user than me....

 

I do find it a bit tiring when hanging from it though, it's nice to climb & branch walk in but after a few minutes of hanging the effort required to keep myself upright gets a bit trying... the compactness at the front has bitten it on the backside a bit there...

 

So I guess the point of this pointless rambling is that if you're buying, a Hopper is good harness if you're short and slim and spend most of your work time footed in the tree. If you do a lot of hanging around then your back's going to suffer.

 

Anyone else have opinions on this harness...? Based on fact obviously....

Peace out...

Simon

[TreeTomass]

I had one of these a while back. I liked the low tying in point, good for climbing and thrusting. But uncomfy if you're hanging in it for a length of time.

[WorcsWuss]

That's what I have found, feels like doing sit ups on your lower back....

It's very easy to get up the tree though... I'm not big on thrusting all the way up, I'm a bit out of shape, but on the odd occasion that I do [when I can't be arsed to stick the foot loop back on] it does allow nice free movement in that motion. The last tree I bodythrust all the way up [into!] was an old oak to take the lower limbs off, I'm pretty sure that for someone who doesn't sit at a desk all day long it would have been even easier...!

 

50th post....

[DrewB]

It was my first harness and thought it was the business. Tried it on the other day and damn it felt crap after years in my tree motion and before that the butterfly. But it's def a good starter harness

[WorcsWuss]

Have you suffered from a bit of mid-30's spread yet Drew? You were like a racing snake last time I saw you....

I think if I tried a different harness now I would very quickly see more of the Hopper's shortcomings... The back pad isn't very supportive and the low attachment point makes that a bigger deal than it could have been. And I find the buckles impossible to slacken off in gloves....

Simon

[DrewB]

still fighting it simon!! itll happen but nz is workin its magic.for now. mine was called the NARC treehopper when i got it, it had just been designed by Mick Cottam-one of my lecturers at myerscough at the time.

Im hopefully back in UK june next year for a month or 2-will be good to catchup and have a climb and and some beers

[WorcsWuss]

Definitely should, hit the bright lights of Tenbury... you can share some of your wisdom too, maybe I'll be able to get over my irrational / incompatible fear of heights!

I didn't realise you went to Myerscough.

 

I quite like the look of the Harkie harness. Big bucks though.... For now though I reckon the tree hopper will do me just fine.