Lifeline VS Linemans Belt For Tree Stand Hunting

Lifeline VS lineman's belt for tree stand hunting. What is best for your style? Lets dive deep into the differences between a lifeline and a lineman's belt. They are totally separate tools with completely different purposes. In my opinion you need both but for different reasons. Lets explore:
Here is a link to the lifelines shown in the video.
amzn.to/2YpffFy
Here is a link to a great commercial made lineman belt:
amzn.to/2IQ3OBG
Here is the video on how I make my custom lineman's belt:
• Build Your Custom Line...
Ropeman 1 ascender amzn.to/3Mf6AyR
locking carabiner with round shank: amzn.to/3HykIQg
Another option for twist lock carabiner: amzn.to/35FuUcG
you can use any 10mm to 13mm quality climbing rope you want
Good 11mm static climbing rope: amzn.to/349Wiz6
I am an affiliate for Amazon and do receive earnings from purchases thru these links.
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[@Z33Garage]

As someone getting into hang on stands, this explanation is fantastic! thank you!

[@tradbowpodcast]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@user-uh7qi2wv1e]

Great video. Thanks for the clarification. I am new to a tree stand and want to be as safe ass possible. This video was the best for helping me do that.

[@tradbowpodcast]

Love hearing that and glad you are taking your safety seriously.

[@bedwards733]

Jason, I have learned a lot from your video’s. Thank you and I will continue to look for your work. Have a safe and enjoyable season🙂👍🇺🇸

[@tradbowpodcast]

Thank you! Its comments like this that make it all worth doing!

[@natepeck5260]

Thanks for explaining the difference great video on the difference . Never hung stands before and trying to learn for next season and was a little nervous but this made me feel a lot better so Thank you!

[@tradbowpodcast]

Glad you enjoyed it and are taking your safety seriously

[@OklahomaLoneWolf]

I know this isn’t how you set your stuff up anymore but you should probably emphasize or pin a note to this video about keeping as much slack OUT of your life line as possible. The impact force from falling just a few feet and making a sudden stop is significant, especially if your safety line is made of a static rope. It’s safe to assume the force on your body when you suddenly stop is 2-3 times the amount of your own body weight and that’s at just a few feet of fall distance. This amount of force can be hazardous especially if using a static rope. A dynamic rope is best to be used. The equation to calculate this is simple to find if you’re curious about your own impact force.

[@tradbowpodcast]

Great point. That is the main reason most harness companies put breaks or suspension into their tether lines. This way that impact force is greatly reduced.

[@1HYB]

Thanks for this video. This cleared a lot up for me.

[@tradbowpodcast]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@dionysis84]

Great informational video. Ive hunted for 15 years now and this still helped me

[@tradbowpodcast]

Glad I could help!

[@jacobknippel8296]

What safety harness do I use if I use a climber stand I noticed you use a stand that stays in a tree

[@jacobknippel8296]

What safety strap do I use for a climber stand I noticed you use stands that stay in a tree ​@@tradbowpodcast

[@tradbowpodcast]

@@jacobknippel8296 for a climber stand I'd use a life line and slide the girth hitch up and down the tree as i climb up and down. Thos way if you loose the stand or fall you still have a way down the rope.

[@jacobknippel8296]

@@tradbowpodcast so you saying i don’t have to use the lineman’s belt if I’m using a climber stand?

[@jimmyperez5881]

Thank you for sharing I have one and never use it it's still in the package will put it on tomorrow for sure putting a set tomorrow thanks again sir.

[@tradbowpodcast]

If you are leaving a stand up a life line is a great addition to it

[@smau990]

Good thing you specified the tether is dynamic. None of the readily made commercial tethers are and lot of people are not using shock absorbers even though it's cheap and fairly small thing to have in the system.

[@tradbowpodcast]

Yep I like the dynamic stretch

[@aaron1939]

Great video. However you can hang a lock on and use a life line. You just work the lifeline up the tree around the ladder as m you are tightening up your straps. I like to use both lifeline and lineman’s belt hanging lock on sets.

[@tradbowpodcast]

Nothing wrong with that! And glad you are finding ways to make sure you are as safe as possible!

[@ExplorersWorkbench]

Great explanation!

[@tradbowpodcast]

Glad ypu enjoyed it

[@treering]

Thanks for stressing how important this stuff is!

[@tradbowpodcast]

Welcome. Thanks for commenting.

[@jameshershman2112]

You can always use a throw line or use lifeline to get it in tree first. Simply thow it over limb first n use it while using linemans belt also while using lifeline.

[@tradbowpodcast]

That throw line failed for me everytime I tired experimenting with srt climbing. Might work better for others but not for me. And many trees don't have branches to throw over. It's a great idea for certain situations though.

[@jameshershman2112]

@@tradbowpodcast takes some practice throwing line. But I even use 1/2inch climbing rope to hang all stands, ladder hang ons. I used to do tree removal n tree , and a rope rescue technician. Never use to use a lifeline, but fell 3 times while climbing into stands 12ft 15ft n 20ft. Very lucky not to have been hurt. That's why I always use a life line now. Slow learner.

[@tradbowpodcast]

@jameshershman2112 glad you didn't get hurt. Uep it's important to always be tied in and safe. I now use a running bowline on my tether and slide it up and down with meas I climb in conjunction with my lineman belt

[@seanboucher7969]

The billy mayes of bow hunting. Good luck this year

[@tradbowpodcast]

Lol! If only I had his following! Good luck to you as well.

[@bobbyjones9719]

Thanks for another informative video. While I’m waiting for my Lone Wolf Assault hang-on to arrive, I’ve been researching harnesses. Years ago I used a Hunter Safety System harness for the short time I used a Summit climber. I’m sold on adding a lineman’s belt to my gear. Is there a particular quality harness you recommend to compliment the lineman’s belt? I keep seeing photos of the top 5-7 harnesses but can’t tell if they’re suitable for a lineman’s belt. Thanks.

[@tradbowpodcast]

Great question as most are lineman belt ready now, but there i still some that are not. If its linesman belt ready it will have the loops on each hip to connect the belt to. I like minimalist harnesses with less bulk and crap on them personally. Gorilla gtac air, muddy, and tree spider. Are all great options.

[@nota_verygood_huntingchannel]

Hi there, you can infact use a lifeline the very same way as you do a linemans belt for hanging a stand. You simply add a carabiner to the looped end, attach that to your harness at the waist, then attach the prusik knot carabiner to the other side of your harness with the lifeline rope around the tree. You just have more tag line hanging down. Then when you have the stand hung, you can set up the lifeline as per usual in the tree above your head to use your back strap of the harness to clip to the prusik of the lifeline. 👍

[@tradbowpodcast]

You are 100% correct and I never thought of that. Only concern that you would have to find a way to address is how to get around branches. A lineman belt works going up and down but when you hit a branch it's good to lock your tether to the tree before disconnecting the lineman belt. But you are 100% correct a lifeline can be used as a lineman belt. Good call and than you for pointing it out.

[@tradbowpodcast]

You are 100% correct and I never thought of that. Only concern that you would have to find a way to address is how to get around branches. A lineman belt works going up and down but when you hit a branch it's good to lock your tether to the tree before disconnecting the lineman belt. But you are 100% correct a lifeline can be used as a lineman belt. Good call and than you for pointing it out.

[@nota_verygood_huntingchannel]

@@tradbowpodcast good point, for that add a 2nd prusik knot to the tag end that you can throw the tag line over the branch and connect the 2nd prusik to your harness, and unhook the loop end and continue and keep alternating your harness attachments but always ensure at least 2 are attached at all times. Easier to be seen in use than typing! Lol👍

[@tradbowpodcast]

@@nota_verygood_huntingchannel perfect

[@ryanmurphy8327]

Thank for all the great information I use both climbers and stationary . What knots are you using on the end of your life line??

[@tradbowpodcast]

I have a prussik on the carabiner so I can adjust the loop around the tree. Then end has an over hand knot in it.

[@christopherdawson3708]

You can use it to for a climber that u don't leave it on the tree also u just have to move it up as you climb

[@christopherdawson3708]

So ur kinda wrong on that one u can use it just like a lineman's belt just set it up above your climber climb a little bit then once ur stand is sturdy move it higher up and then repeat process till you go up to your height u want

[@jakegilly6438]

Nice video man, I thought I was subscribed but I wasn’t Just subscribed!

[@mitchparker4628]

Thanks for the video. New to treestands (been out west), and am going to use a climber for public land. What is the best method for getting up and then staying there safely? Lineman? Lifelife? Q-safe (blindedhunting)?

[@tradbowpodcast]

I dont hunt out of climbers much. But the safest way thats still fast and easy would be to use a lifeline or tether line and slide the loop up the tree as you go. This way if you loose or break part of the climber and need to get down you can decend the life line. They are light weight when you change the carabiner from the standard steel one to an aluminum climbing rated carabiner. And its fast and easy to use with a climber.

[@tylerm4709]

You can use a lifeline as your climbing the tree with a climbing tree stand or with sticks, it’s really personal preference

[@tradbowpodcast]

Yep you can. Its more of a pain in the but trying to hang sticks with a lifeline hanging in front of you. But can be done for sure.

[@kerryman7150]

Just made my linesman belt the way you showed in your other video with the ascender. I also have the same lifeline you showed. I'm planning on mobile hunting from a treestand next season, and was wondering what your thoughts are on attaching the lifeline up top, even though I'll be breaking the stand down at the end of the day? My thoughts are that if I decide to get down from the stand just to take a break, retrieve something (hopefully a deer) etc. it might be quicker just to attach to the lifeline to get down with the intention of going back up rather than put the linesman belt back into play. I also thought about making some Prussiks up and attaching them along the lifeline in case I should fall off the stand while tethered up top, that way I could grab one of the Prussiks and adjust it to get my foot into it to take relief off my harness. I also have a relief loop built into the back of my harness that I could step into. Not sure if I'm adding an unnecessary step that's only going to add to my breakdown time.

[@tradbowpodcast]

There is nothing wrong with any of those ideas. here is a slight twist that might be easier for you as well. use your lineman belt as normal. For your tether make it 20 feet long with a prussik knot on the main line. use a heavy rated carbiner on the top loop so you can disconnect it around branches etc as you climb up an down. slide the tether loop up and down the tree with you as you go up and down. its like an extra safety but the lineman belt will still work better when you are hands free hanging sticks and the stand. but if you were to fall at any point you could simply rapel down the line with the prussik. NEVER ANYTHING WRONG WITH BEING TOO SAFE!

[@kerryman7150]

@@tradbowpodcast Thanks for the suggestion, that sounds like a good idea. I'm definitely using a linesman belt for setup/breakdown, just trying to think of what might be quickest for the occasional trip down the tree. Thanks again.

[@tradbowpodcast]

@@kerryman7150 yep the long tether would work perfect for trips up and down mid hunt. Plus the security of a safe way down if the stand broke etc.

[@ThePatriotParadox]

Great info man..... I hunt out of blinds and now have a good harness with a lineman's belt... Plus extra rope and was.wondering how I can use the extra belt to make a tether or a secondary belt so I can undo one if needed to adjust stuff or go around limb.... So that would probably be the beat way to go..??!!??

[@tradbowpodcast]

Some people run 2 lineman belts so they can get around branches. I use my tether line when need to go around branches. So before I disconnect my lineman belt at a branch I will connect the twther line that is coming from behind my shoulders (now from the front of my rock harness) above the branch. Thwn disconnect the lineman belt and reconnect it above the branch and then disconnect the tether line.

[@ThePatriotParadox]

So do you have a video showing how....of.. Making a tether out of my extra rope and carabinier? I would just need to Tue a pusik knot on it and make loop on one end and knot on the other? I would like to make a tether other than an extra lineman's belt for my new harness.

[@tradbowpodcast]

@@ThePatriotParadox here you go. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKGvgJeFeNpqrLs

[@ThePatriotParadox]

@@tradbowpodcast thanks

[@keiththompson3208]

Haven't watched the entire video yet but when you said that if you fall with the lifeline, you can grab the prussic and walk down the rope. But the issue I always see with these safety harnesses is that the tether that attaches to you caribener is so long that there is no way you could ever reach the prussic to descend. I know this because I've "practiced fallen," and there was no way I could reach the prussic when using a lifeline or my linemans belt. And looking at the length of your tether, I don't believe you could reach it either. I've even thought about knotting it or modifying it shorter so that I could reach my prussic, but haven't done it yet. If you have sticks attached to the tree, this isn't an issue. In a climbing stand, you could easily fall far enough below the stand that you cannot get back into it. And to be clear, I've watched them all and I would rate your videos the best of the best regarding tree stand safety.

[@tradbowpodcast]

Great point about reaching the prussik. It's very important that your set up allow you to do this. I personally do not use lifelines or prussik knot on any part of my system. But if I were running a climber i would have a lifeline and slide it up the tree and back down as I go. This is a great point seldom talked about for clambering stands. In the loc on world the fact that there are steps or sticks to allow you to climb up and reach the prussik is assumed. With a climber that may not be an option.

[@samp3087]

I have a lifeline on my very high rifle treestand. I have left it up a couple years, any guesses on how long they are good for? left out all year.

[@tradbowpodcast]

I believe 3 seasons is max they recommend bit check with the manufacturer as they all use different rope types

[@jayh5513]

New to hang ons and harnesses. So linemans for hanging stand/sticks. Then lifeline for a seasonal stand which is my set up. And that connects to your harness while in stand?

[@tradbowpodcast]

Correct except with the lifeline you will leave it attached at the top of the tree all season and when you get to the tree connect your harness to the carabiner on the life line and slide it up and down as you climb up and down. Leaving it connected the whole time you are in stand

[@brianh1161]

I was curious about the lineman’s rope and whether it truly kept you from falling down the tree. Thanks for explaining things in more depth. For a tether hunter would you recommend a rope tether to a strap tether? Seems easier to put up compared to the belts Hunter Safety Systems come with for example.

[@tradbowpodcast]

I much prefer a rope to a strap. The strap has a hard edge that snags going up and down.

[@brianh1161]

@@tradbowpodcast Thanks. Any recommendations on a brand or are they all the same?

[@tradbowpodcast]

@brianh1161 the commercial made ones are all basically the same. If making your own I prefer dynamic climbing rope as it has a little stretch to it.

[@marcuslacy7087]

What size are those carabiner and where can I purchase. Also to make a diy tether what line and size diameter do you recommend? Thx in advance!

[@marcuslacy7087]

Disregard i went back and watched your video on all hardware needed! Awesome video

[@phillk8185]

Do you have a video on how to make a tether line like the purple/pink one in this video?

[@tradbowpodcast]

Yes i do. I called it how to make my custom safety line. Made it about 2 years ago.

[@tradbowpodcast]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKGvgJeFeNpqrLs

[@richardhynes5663]

Once you get your saddle and sticks set up (using a lineman's belt), any reason not to just use a lifeline if you aren't planning to use the same spot?

[@tradbowpodcast]

A life line is ment to be left in the tree for next time you hunt there. And they work perfect. If you are not going back to that spot it's not gonna really help much as you could just use your tether as a lifeline like hitch and slide it up and down as you climb in conjunction with your lineman belt to keep you double safe

[@spooky_suzz9078]

Which rope would I need for a summit climber stand?

[@tradbowpodcast]

For a climber I would use a life line and walk it up the tree as I climb.

[@bull5919]

Is there anyway to make a lifeline/tether out of a ropeman1

[@tradbowpodcast]

Yes. Can use the ropeman at the harness for adjusting twthwr length or at the loop around the tree.

[@SpartanBernaz]

Awesome but what do yo do with a ladder stand when intalling it, you can't possibly use a lifemans belt while climbing the ladder for the first time, can't we?!

[@tradbowpodcast]

I have a video I made a couple years ago called how to hang ladder stands safely. Shows you some cool tricks to make hanging them safe

[@danielfleming3433]

Is the purple rope on your harness just another linemans belt? So just use 2 linemans belts?

[@tradbowpodcast]

The purple one is my tether line I connect to the tree with when I'm set up

[@stewartbiggin5429]

Lifeline setup should work better for a climber though, correct? Thanks.

[@tradbowpodcast]

Yes. A life line wrapped around the tree and slide up with you as you climb is the best way. If the stand fails not only will the lifeline catch you but it will also let you rapel down the rope.

[@stewartbiggin5429]

@@tradbowpodcast thank you!

[@christianpaul3303]

ANother solid video. Question - has you ever used a Ropeman ascender instead of a prusik on your lifeline?

[@tradbowpodcast]

I have not and would not. I dont trust a mechanical ascender on a lifeline that could he shock loaded by a few feet fall with zero give. With a lineman the thw drop is short and your body absorbs a lot of the impact into the tree so almost zero shock load on the acsender. But stating on a stand with 2 feet of slack and the stand breaks dropping you I don't trust anything mechanical for something like that. Not saying it would ever fail or would not work great for that application. But im not gonna use it that way personally.

[@christianpaul3303]

@@tradbowpodcast Thanks for the reply. When you're building your own lifeline what size rope do you usually use? Looks like 11mm or so? Maybe smaller.

[@tradbowpodcast]

@@christianpaul3303 I use 8mm rope and no prussik or anything. I tie a bowline knot around the tree. I show this in a few videos. The latest vid that shows it is called my harness with factory lineman belt loops. For lifelines when I made them I used 11mm with an 8mm prussik.

[@christianpaul3303]

@@tradbowpodcast Thanks for the reply and info - stay safe!

[@christianpaul3303]

@@tradbowpodcast Thanks for the reply - I've definitely seen the video - I'm just wondering about using dynamic rope for a lineman belt. I would assume I'd want static rope, but guessing you probably never load a lineman belt enough to feel any stretch?

[@tigertoravajchannel4228]

How can I order what you have? I want every thing you got there.

[@tradbowpodcast]

Links are down below the video for you.

[@jojocastro584]

Where can I buy the one you attached on your harness???

[@tradbowpodcast]

Search "custom lineman belt" on my channel and it will show you how to make it and links to the few items you need.

[@jimb8199]

No reason you can't use the safety line for both. Add a second carabiner in the loop at the end of the safety line and let the excess hang down the tree. When you get to your stand reconnect the safety line to the tree and use as normal. Do it all the time.

[@tradbowpodcast]

Only if you can figure out a way to always be connected. You mentioned "reconnect". Find a way to never have to be disconnected including going around branches and you are all good to go!

[@jerrylittle8922]

How did you injure your knee??

[@tradbowpodcast]

I twisted wrong scouting in a swamp and fell ripping the meniscus layer

[@jerrylittle8922]

Traditional Bowhunting And Wilderness Podcast I twisted my knee this morning. im going to see a Dr tomorrow. Same symptoms. Hope your well before your Hunt. 👍

[@tradbowpodcast]

@@jerrylittle8922 sorry that happened. Hopefully yours heals faster than mine did. It happen to me in april and I'm about 70% back to normal right now. You are smart to get to the doc fast.

[@Kabs9780]

I disagree...I climb for a living and I would choose the one that squeezes the tree and climb with it. The lineman belt is not the safest method. Look up buck squeeze. Not saying to use one while hunting but the idea is to squeeze the tree when you fall bc that rope will not 100% grab the tree. You can climb with the lifeline and move it up and down while climbing. 100% the safest way. Climb and keep your lifeline above your head! Not at the top of the tree. Their instructions probably say the same. Use both and when you have to go over stand use your lifeline to move over stand. That's the way they train professionals.

[@tradbowpodcast]

Too hard to move a lifeline around all the branches and a carabiner can not be side loaded around a tree. No real good or functional way to go up a tree with a girth hitched loop around the tree

[@450ktm520]

Whats weird about this harness and the industry... They are selling a system thats derived from the construction industry. Rock climbers harness, linesman belt, and arborist harness system... I have all three (not for hunting but for work, hobby climbing)and we tie off in the front. This is because you are working the gear... When you tie off to the back its impossible to self rescue. You are reliant with the buddy system, such is the case in construction. Selling a fall system that was not intended for self rescue is a lazy and insulting to the hunting community. I remember when they sold the harness that didn't have a saddle. Some people died from OI orthostatic intolerance when they fell. Look at all the gear that tie off in the front... Search and rescue helo, electrical linesman, rock climbing... They don't have a rear attachment point.

[@tradbowpodcast]

Uep 100% correct. That's why I had tactisaddle.com mad a safety harness to my design and specs very similar to a rock harness but for tree stand hunting that does connect in the front. It's called the tbws tree stand harness.

[@Jay-ce4lo]

I guarantee you when you actually do fall you'll change something with your set up

[@tradbowpodcast]

I guarantee I have fallen 3 times and am changing nothing. You can't hang 100 stands a year for 25 years and not fall. The numbers just won't work. It will happen. And it has and those are the reasons I use my set up.

[@bloodstriper3649]

The idea that the lifeline won't work to protect you as you're climbing the tree is ludicrous. The same principle of its safety feature applies at five feet, each time you secure and adjust the loop as you climb, as it would at 30 feet.

[@tradbowpodcast]

You have to find a way to get the loop around branches (carabiners should not be side loaded) and you will also have to deal with the line in your way as you hang the sticks and stands and when you go hands free to hang the sticks and stands you will swing side to side unstable do to the single attachment point. Nobody ever said it doesn't work. It just doesn't work good.

[@YouTubeApe]

You literally said multiple times in the video that the lifeline would not work on your way up the tree. This is going to confuse beginners.

[@Jay-ce4lo]

Yeah unless you bust your head on one of your steps or your stand not safe Fallen too far

[@tradbowpodcast]

Use what works for you. I will do thw same. Every aspect of my system is like it is for a reason.

[@appalachianarcher7071]

Position lanyard not a lineman’s belt.