climbing belt for a big guy?

[TimmyT]

I'm 6'1" and 275.  Top heavy and muscular, kind of a big guy to be climbing in trees.  I have a Weaver - Cougar belt and I fall over backwards excessively.  I've tried using a chest harness but it limits my mobility.  I've tried raising the belt higher off my hips, running the bridge under the belt (this help the tipping but limited breath quality).  It is as if my center of gravity is too high and too far back compared to the bridge due to my size and thickness.  Does anyone have a suggestion for a beter belt?   Thanks, TimmyT

[DonT]

How did you use a chest harness?

[TimmyT]

It went around my back and over my shoulders from On Rope 1.com.  It was connected to the up rope on a DRT system with a carribeaner.  It seemed to work ok, the large metal buckles were in my arm pits and I couldn't reach them to adjust the chest harness once I was off the ground.

[DonT]

Do you have any pictures? Might I suggest you read Jeff Jepsons  Tree climbing companion.

[TimmyT]

No, I don't have any pictures of me climbing but I could get some.  I take it you're looking for pictures of the On  Rope 1 harness and pictures of me w/ and w/o the harness.  I do have the Tree Climbing Companion. What section are you recommending?

[DonT]

With out actually seeing your set up I hesitate to offer an opinion on your harness.Considering your life will be suspended on rope,I would look for someone with experience and local to you, to help you figure this out.I will say I would not bring my bridge up through the waist belt,but would wear it as the instructions suggest.I climb ddrt and have never felt like I was falling over backwards.The weaver saddles had a bridge recall recently you might want to check yours,my old cougar has the liger bridge conversion.

[Kevin]

You may be looking at a longer bridge.
You can prove that by adding a longer temporary rope (bridge)and testing it.
Are the leg straps as short as you can get them?

[Jemclimber]

As Don has said, it is very difficult without seeing what is going on.  Your size description is rather bulky, not that I'm judging.  ;D  Have you tried a fixed bridge instead of a floating bridge? It may just be the saddle is not right for you and you need something different.  It's tough if you don't have any way of trying on different ones and sitting in them for a bit.

[wilson_tree]

I tend to be a little top heavy, too.  I like climbing in a floating bridge saddle and what works for me is a wide back belt.  I keep it hiked up as far as I can on my lower back.  My first floating bridge was a cheap Weaver, but it really worked well.  I just got a Singing Rock Timber Harness in XL.  The XL barely fits, but I like the harness.  It is light, secure, has a good wide back pad, and carries a chainsaw ok.