As I sit at my desk writing this, my middle back is aching, badly. Almost 20 years ago, I fell nearly 25 feet out of a treestand. Those were the days where there were some early fall restraint devices, but they weren’t very good. Most of them were belts or harnesses that were very complicated to use, and most hunters didn’t even think about them.
I actually fell as I was trying to connect my restraint device to the tree. I was moving around trying to get the inconvenient system hooked up, and I jostled the climber enough that the bottom dropped out from under me. I hit the ground hard on my feet, and it crunched a few vertebrae on impact. I have lived with middle back pain for years, and am truly lucky I wasn’t killed.
Fall restraints have some a long way in the last decade, and for the past 3 years, I have been wearing Gorilla safety harnesses. I just got the new 2012 G20 and G30 models, and I am pretty excited about them both.
When the guys at Gorilla decided to build a harness, they realized everything on the market was about the same. They mostly had break-away stitching on the tether, and the tethers were quite short and really restricted mobility for hunters, especially bowhunters.
They also realized that the folks into climbing and mountaineering had some great technology that no one had tapped into. Climbers consider not falling pretty important, yet they must be completely mobile. They had light vests or just strap systems, but they were far superior to those being used by hunters. They were not hot to wear, had great technology like new locking carabineers, were absolutely nonrestrictive, but they were all made to hold you face first.
So Gorilla decided to take this technology, turn it around to a hunters back, and make the best safety harness on the market. They did this, and have improved their harnesses every year since.
The G20 and G30 Harnesses are very light at 3 pounds and 3.6 pounds respectively. Most harnesses have an 18” tether that is quite restrictive in a treestand, but Gorilla harnesses have a 30” tether. They also do not use break-away stitching, but rather a double layered energy absorbing tether that takes out 40% of the fall force. This is a very big deal if you ever fall.
The tether is made of an inner core that is loose braided and stretchable. Upon a fall, it stretches to absorb the shock of the fall in a smooth gradual manner. The outside sheath is there for protection of the core, but it also is a backup system that is also strong enough to hold you upon a fall. So you literally have a second line of defense against a fall.
The end of the tether has a carabineer locked on, so you cannot lose it or need to replace it with another carabineer that look similar and doesn’t have the proper weigh rating. This carabineer is self-locking and spring activated, so it is easy to use and fool proof.
It is the little things like this that make the Gorilla harnesses stand out as superior. Some other things that I think are big positives are that they removed an uncomfortable waist belt that was not needed and all the harnesses are completely adjustable. You can adjust for a custom fit, and readjust for a custom fot with heavy hunting clothes in later season. Removing the belt helped the adjustability of the harnesses as well as made them less restrictive.
There is lumbar padding for added comfort. The G20 has a mesh pouch for the lineman’s rope so you always have it and it is always handy. The lineman strap is also the longest in the industry. The tree strap has a D-ring instead of a standard fabric loop. The disconnects are quick and easy, and there is a deployment replacement guarantee on all Gorilla harnesses. What this means is that if you fall and the harness deploys, you send it back, and Gorilla will send you a new one free of charge. All of these details are what makes the Gorilla harnesses top shelf.
Hunters may not even realize all the features that these harnesses have (please see attached table). Gorilla developed these harnesses with safety as the first priority, but after they had that covered, they went above and beyond to make sure that comfort and hunter functionality were also completely covered.
I think if you will compare the Gorilla harnesses head to head with any other fall restraint device on the market today, you will see that none other are as well thought out and functional as the G20 and G-30 harnesses.
This is the most functional and comfortable harness I have ever seen. You owe it to yourself to go check out one of the Gorilla harnesses first hand, and I feel sure you will agree with my assessment. They are available at many quality outdoor retailers, at very competitive prices. Whatever you choose, make sure you always wear a TMA approved restraint device whenever you get in a treestand.
**Notable Features of Gorilla Harnesses:
- G-20
- Streamline safety harness for all-season comfort. Ultra lightweight, breathable form-fitting design that goes on in seconds
- 30” tether provides 360-degree range of movement
- Energy absorbing tether system reduces felt fall force by nearly 40%
- 3.05 lbs
- Fully adjustable, light-weight rapid fit buckles for quick
- Convenient accessory clips
- Breathable arched back harness
- Quick attach tree step and harness locking carabineer
- Two accessory clips for gear
- Near universal fit, for waist sizes ranging from 28” to 51”
- Mossy Oak Break Up Infinity camouflage
- Rating – 300 lbs
- G-30
- 30” tether provides 360-degree range of movement
- Energy absorbing tether reduces felt fall force 40%
- 3.6 lbs
- Fully adjustable, light-weight rapid fit buckles
- breathable arched padded lower lumbar support and shoulder pads
- Lightweight, mesh design for both warm and cold climates
- Quick attach tree step and harness locking c
- Full adjustable binocular straps
- Two accessory pockets
- Near universal fit, for waist sizes ranging from 28” to 51”
- Mossy Oak Break Up Infinity camouflage
- Rating – 300
