beth_hunt•1mo agoProlific Poster

Talking with my dad about the old climbing gear made me realize how much we take for granted now

I was cleaning out my dad's garage in Boise and found his old climbing saddle from the 80s. It was basically just a wide leather belt with leg loops, no padding at all. He said, 'We'd be up in a 90-foot pine all day with that thing, and you just got used to the burn.' I mean, I've been climbing for 8 years with my modern saddle that has padding and tool loops built in, and I still complain after a long removal. Hearing him talk about just dealing with the discomfort because that's all there was really hit different. It wasn't a complaint, just a fact of the job back then. Makes you appreciate the gear evolution, but also the toughness of the guys who came up with way less. Anyone else have an old piece of gear that makes you think like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

brian_murray1mo ago

Just a wide leather belt with leg loops? No padding at all? That's wild. I can't imagine being up a 90-foot tree all day with a piece of gear that basically gives you a permanent wedgie. My back hurts just thinking about it. Those guys must have been made of tougher stuff.

anthony9891mo ago

Found my grandpa's old hand saw with teeth you had to set yourself. Makes you realize how much time we save with modern tools, but also how skilled they had to be. That old leather gear was no joke either.