Soft alternative to a pass-thru buckle?

[Simon F]

Hi All,

I wear a simple harness and tether while sailing as I'm generally on my own, and since I wear the thing a lot, and I'm a bit prone to back pain, it seems worth the effort to optimise it for comfort. To this end I've removed the pass-thru buckles on the leg loops and sewn them to fit me, rather than being adjustable. I'm looking to eliminate the steel pass-thru buckle on the waist strap too, by sewing it such that it's a bit oversized, so I can step into it, and then tighten it to fit me by some means. I was thinking maybe a dyneema soft shackle? I bet there's something more fit for purpose though; has anyone got any suggestions?

Thanks,

Simon.

 

[greeny]

I understand you're looking to improve comfort but it still needs to be functional and effective. I would have thought that sewing the leg straps to your "size" would maybe make it difficult to put on? Sliding a very snug fit webbing loop up your trousered legs without rumpling them all up. Also the size needed changes depending on whether you're wearing shorts, trousers or waterproof leggings? Just my initial thoughts on the legs. If you sew the waist band oversize and then snug it up with a dyneema loop or shackle or similar then the waist band will become rumpled up and that will be uncomfortable and maybe chafe around the waist. Overall I would prefer to keep the adjustment range in place to aid with donning and good fit over all types of clothing.

 

[Daydream believer]

I have a spinlock LJ. i have dumped the leg straps & just use a sail tie looped at the back so it lays flat when sitting against the hard cockpit sides. This avoids the "knot" one gets in the small of the back. I then bring the tie between my legs & do a quick half hitch to the front of the harness to a tension to suit the clothes that I am wearing. It is long enough to do 2 half hitches if I wish. It is quick to set & comfortable. Probably stronger than the usual plastic couplers & certainly less faffing trying to find the ends & adjust the length every time one takes one's jacket off etc.

 

[Roberto]

When offshore I use a home made harness (no lifejacket), sometimes living with it for days (sleeping and all).
I made a couple to measure for the shoulders and back chest, the tether attachment point is above the sternum, I use a soft shackle with two positions to lock the harness: a tight one for use with light garments, t-shirts etc, a longer one for use with full foul weather gear. All in wide and thick webbing, no metal pieces, I can hardly feel I have an harness on.

 

[Simon F]

When offshore I use a home made harness (no lifejacket), sometimes living with it for days (sleeping and all).
I made a couple to measure for the shoulders and back chest, the tether attachment point is above the sternum, I use a soft shackle with two positions to lock the harness: a tight one for use with light garments, t-shirts etc, a longer one for use with full foul weather gear. All in wide and thick webbing, no metal pieces, I can hardly feel I have an harness on.

That's precisely the same requirements I have Roberto. Wear it like clothing so there's no temptation to take it off.

 

[thinwater]

Hi All,

I wear a simple harness and tether while sailing as I'm generally on my own, and since I wear the thing a lot, and I'm a bit prone to back pain, it seems worth the effort to optimise it for comfort. To this end I've removed the pass-thru buckles on the leg loops and sewn them to fit me, rather than being adjustable. I'm looking to eliminate the steel pass-thru buckle on the waist strap too, by sewing it such that it's a bit oversized, so I can step into it, and then tighten it to fit me by some means. I was thinking maybe a dyneema soft shackle? I bet there's something more fit for purpose though; has anyone got any suggestions?

Thanks,

Simon.

No. Modifying (what sounds like) a seat climbing harness for comfort, at the possible expense of not being able to get is VERY snug around the waist is dangerous and ill conceived. Tweist upside down and you can fall out. I saw it happen, the kid went 200 feet, and died 40 feet from where I was standing. Thud.

You didn't mentionh chest or shoulders, so I can only assume (perhaps incorrectly) this is a harness for climbing the mast. A seat haness is never used on deck as a sailing harness.

---

As for fixing leg loops, most climbers never change the size. This is normal. We have a second harness for winter ice climbing (slightly larger). But the waist loop buckle is holy. If that fails or is improperly adjusted, you die.

---

Guy, we are all assuming he is talking about a chest harness, but he only mentioned leg loops and the waist belt. Cest harnesses don't have a waist belt, or rather, it should be warn WELL above the wasist, at sternum level, unless you want to break ribs.