Summit Treestands Summit User manual

Summit Harness
Instruction Booklet - 2008
WHEN TO REPLACE YOUR SAFETY STRAP / HARNESS:
AFTER 5 (FIVE) YEARS FROM MANUFACTURE DATE (LOCATED ON HARNESS WARNING LABEL).
THE SAFETY STRAP / HARNESS HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO SEVERE SHOCK LOADING.
THE SAFETY STRAP / HARNESS HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO THE KIND OF OVERLOAD FOR WHICH IT
WAS NOT DESIGNED, SUCH AS TOWING A VEHICLE.
THE SAFETY STRAP / HARNESS SHOWS SIGNS OF FRAYING FROM SUBSTANTIAL USE.
THE SAFETY STRAP / HARNESS WAS USED IN PREVENTING A FALL.
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Summit Harness [83054] - 2008 Instructions - PN 10894
Please read carefully BEFORE using your new Summit Safety Harness.
Congratulations! You have purchased the nest commercially available hunting harness on the market today. Summit Harnesses are designed and built to
provide years of trouble-free, successful hunting with a minimum of maintenance and care. They are certied to meet the requirements of the Treestand
Manufacturers Association (TMA) Standards. This booklet is provided to you to outline the recommended use, care and maintenance of your Summit Safety
Harness.
You MUST also view the enclosed DVD
BEFORE using your new treestand!!
WEIGHT LIMIT: 300 LBS.
GOLIATH / 180 MAX / TITAN
WEIGHT LIMIT: 350LBS.
DO NOT EXCEED THIS LIMIT!
BEFORE USING ANY TREESTAND, BE SURE YOU MAINTAIN FULL BODY SAFETY HARNESS ATTACHMENT TO THE TREE AT ALL TIMES
AFTER LEAVING THE GROUND!!!
READ AND UNDERSTAND THE MANUFACTURER’S WARNINGS, EXPIRATION DATE AND INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO USE AND HOW TO
PROPERLY ADJUST THE HARNESS.
PRACTICE THE USE OF A FULL BODY HARNESS AT GROUND LEVEL IN THE PRESENCE OF A RESPONSIBLE ADULT TO EXPERIENCE THE
FEELING OF HANGING SUSPENDED BEFORE USING IN A HUNTING ENVIRONMENT.
THE LENGTH OF THE HARNESS TETHER MUST BE MINIMIZED AT ALL TIMES. IT SHOULD BE ADJUSTED SO THAT IT IS ABOVE THE HEAD
WITH NO SLACK (SNUG) IN THE SITTING POSITION AND YOU SHOULD HAVE THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF SLACK POSSIBLE WHEN
CLIMBING.
A FALL CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME AFTER LEAVING THE GROUND! IF THE HUNTING LOCATION IS UNKNOWN BY ANYONE AND
COMMUNICATION EFFORTS ARE UNSUCCESSFUL, YOU MUST HAVE A PERSONAL PLAN FOR RECOVERY/ESCAPE BECAUSE PROLONGED
SUSPENSION IN A HARNESS CAN BE FATAL. IT IS IMPORTANT TO EXERCISE THE LEGS BY PUSHING AGAINST THE TREE OR DOING
OTHER FORMS OF CONTINUOUS LEG EXERCISES TO AVOID BLOOD POOLING WHILE BEING SUSPENDED. HUNTERS WITH VARYING
DEGREES OF PHYSICAL FITNESS MAY REQUIRE DIFFERENT PLANS TO RECOVER/ESCAPE THE EFFECTS OF PROLONGED SUSPENSION.
HAVE A PERSONAL PLAN AND PRACTICE IT IN THE PRESENCE OF A RESPONSIBLE ADULT BEFORE LEAVING THE GROUND. NO ONE
ESCAPE/RESCUE PLAN WILL WORK FOR EVERY HUNTER ON EVERY TREE IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE. ONLY YOU CAN DETERMINE THE BEST
RECOVERY/ESCAPE PLAN FOR YOUR HUNTING SITUATION AND YOU MUST HAVE A RECOVERY/ESCAPE PLAN FOR YOUR SITUATION
BEFORE LEAVING THE GROUND.
HUNT FROM THE GROUND WHEN SELF-RECOVERY/ESCAPE ABILITY IS ABSENT.
IN THE EVENT OF A FALL - DON’T PANIC!! - THERE IS TIME TO MAKE A CORRECT DECISION ON WHAT ACTION TO TAKE IF A FALL
OCCURS WHILE WEARING A FULL BODY HARNESS.
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IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS FALL ARREST SYSTEM OR ITS USE, CALL OR
E-MAIL US BEFORE USE!
[phone] -- WWW.SUMMITSTANDS.COM
WARNING
!
You must fully read, understand and follow these warnings,
expiration date and instructions! Failure to follow these
instructions may cause serious injury or death!!

Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 5
Figure 4
Figure 6 Figure 7
Harness Packaging:
The harness package contains one (1) harness, one (1) Treestand
Safety Strap, one (1) Attached pouch with Suspension Relief
Pouch and instructions.
Always check to make sure leg straps are secure
around legs and buckled before climbing the
tree!!!
Be sure the harness tether strap is attached to safety
strap!!
NEVER ALLOW THE TETHER STRAP TO GET
UNDER OR AROUND YOUR NECK as shown in
Figure 1.
If wearing harness under hunting clothes, make sure
your hunting clothes are not tight around your neck.
The harness will slip up if you fall as shown in Figure
2.
Always check harness webbing and hardware before
every use for any damaged or worn stitching, webbing
or hardware. If you nd a problem, DO NOT use
the harness until the problem has been resolved by
Summit Treestands, LLC.
If you fall, you must replace the harness by
contacting Summit Treestands, LLC.
This harness has been designed to be used only as a
safety device for hunting from elevated treestands and
ladder stands. Any other use is PROHIBITED!
Section 1 - Harness Instructions:
Part 1. Putting on the Harness:
Step 1. Buckle the main belt around your waist. Thread the
buckle as shown in Figure 3. Adjust belt strap by pulling
on tag end until comfortably snug as shown in Figure 4 and
Figure 5.
Step 2. Slip your arms through the shoulder straps as you
would a jacket. Be sure the shoulder straps do not cross each
other and are not twisted. Adjust the 3-bar slide on each
shoulder strap until the shoulder straps and waist belt are
comfortably snug as shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7.
Step 3. Bring leg strap BEHIND the leg then between the
legs to the front. Leg straps can cross over or under the leg
buckle strap as shown in Figure 8.
Step 4. Thread leg strap through leg buckle as shown in
Figure 9. Pull tag end of leg strap to adjust t. Leg strap
should be comfortably snug (see Figure 10 and Figure 11).
Pull the tag end of the leg strap back through the buckle as
shown in Figure 12 and in Figure 12A Shown Below.
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WARNING
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WARNING
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Figure 1
NEVER ALLOW THE TETHER STRAP TO
GET UNDER OR AROUND YOUR NECK!
WARNING
!
ATTACHED TO
HARNESS
LEG STRAP OR
WAIST STRAP
BUCKLE (GREY)
Figure 12A
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Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 10
Figure 12
Figure 11
Part 2. Attaching the Treestand Safety Strap to the Tree.
When attaching the treestand safety strap to the tree, be
sure the free end is fed completely through the tether loop on
the harness as shown in Figure 13. Do this BEFORE you
being to climb with a climbing treestand.
ALWAYS ADJUST THE SAFETY STRAP TO MINIMIZE
THE SLACK WHILE YOU ARE CLIMBING.
NEVER disconnect from your safety harness or your
safety line once you are off the ground!
Step 1. Hold the safety strap buckle in one hand and loop the
free end completely around the tree. See Figure 14.
Step 2. Thread the free end into the buckle as shown in
Figure 15. The free end should be brought into the buckle
from behind as shown in the Figure 14B to the Right.
Step 3. Loop the free end of the safety strap over the knurled
metal post on the buckle and route it out the backside as
shown in Figure 16 and in the Figure 14B to the Right.
ALWAYS conrm the safety strap buckle has been
threaded properly before use.
Step 4. Pull the free end snug but do not cinch down at this
point. See Figure 17.
Figure 13 Figure 14
TREE
5” Strap
Remaining
Minimum
Buckle Free End
5” of Strap
Remaining
MINIMUM!
BUCKLE
TREE
Harness Tether Loop
Free End
WARNING
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WARNING
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WARNING
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Figure 14B PAGE 3

Figure 17
Figure 18
Figure 19 Figure 20
Figure 21 Figure 22
ALWAYS conrm that the safety strap does not slip
when pulling on the harness tether! DO NOT USE if
the webbing slips through the buckle!
DO NOT USE unless the safety strap has at least 5”
of free end strap remaining after you have secured
the strap to the tree!
Part 3. Using the Harness and Safety Strap.
Step 1. Position the safety strap as high on the tree as
possible while still allowing yourself enough slack to sit on
the treestand climbing bar, seat or rest on the arm rests. The
safety strap should be loose enough to provide you with slack
but not so loose that it slides down the tree. See Figure 18.
Step 2. Following the specic treestand instructions included
with your stand, climb up the tree until you reach the location
of your safety strap.
Step 3. Once you have reached the strap, engage the platform
and top. Slide the safety rope up the tree as you climb. While
climbing, adjustments to the harness attachment to the tree
should be frequent and coordinated with treestand movement
to maintain the least amount of slack in the tether that will
allow for climbing. Repeat Steps 1-3 until you are at your
hunting height.
Step 4. When you achieve your hunting height, position the
safety strap as high as possible while still allowing you room
to sit comfortably in the treestand seat as shown in Figure
19. Cinch the strap tight to the tree making sure there are
no twists in the webbing. Pull down on the harness tether to
ensure the safety strap is tight. See Figure 20.
The length of the harness tether must be minimized at all
times. It should be adjusted so that it is above the head with
no slack (snug) in the sitting position and you should have the
minimum amount of slack possible when climbing.
NEVER disconnect from your safety line once you are in
the tree!!
Part 3. Using the Supplied Climbing belt:
If you purchased the Copperhead Compact, Deer Deck or Deer
Deck Like non-climbing treestand, you received a lineman’s
style climbing belt. Your harness has loops sewn on the sides
of the harness belt. These loops allow you to use the harness
as a lineman’s-style climbing belt. This will assist you while
ascending and descending, installing climbing sticks and
installing your hang-on treestand.
Step 1. Insert the sewn end of the strap through one of the
loops on the Summit Harness belt as shown in Figure 21.
Step 2. Bring the strap around your back and thread it through
the other loop on the Harness belt. See Figure 22.
Step 3. Run the belt around the tree and thread it through the
buckle as shown in Figure 23 and in the Buckle Threading
Diagram on Page 3.
Step 4. To adjust the climbing belt, pull on the loose free end
to tighten and lift up on the buckle to lengthen. See Figure
24 and Figure 25.
Figure 15 Figure 16
Harness Tether Loop
WARNING
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WARNING
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WARNING
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Step 5. As you ascend and descend the tree you will be able
to stay attached to your safety harness by using the extra
treestand safety strap as a lineman’s climbing strap. You will
alternate from climbing strap to safety strap as you encounter
branches or as you maneuver above your hang-on treestand.
Attach the safety strap as explained in Section 1.
Step 6. Once you are on your treestand platform, position
and attach your treestand safety strap to the tree as shown in
Section 1, Part 2. Once you are properly connected, THEN
AND ONLY THEN should you remove your lineman’s
hookup.
Step 7. Position the safety strap as high as possible while
still allowing you room to sit comfortably in the treestand
seat. The length of the harness tether must be minimized at
all times. It should be adjusted so that it is above the head
with no slack (snug) in the sitting position.
When using a xed position stand, we recommend using
the “Climbing System” or secondary safety rope to increase
your safety during the ascend and descent. You can see the
Summit Climbing System (Summit PN 83014) in our catalog
or on the web at www.summitstands.com.
Figure 23 Figure 24
Figure 25
Limited Warranty
(A) Warranty
Summit Treestands, LLC (Summit) warrants to the original retail purchaser that all products manufactured by it are free from defects in mate-
rial and manufacture at the time of shipment for sixty (60) months from the date of purchase. Summit will repair or replace any part found
defective if the unit claimed to be defective shall be returned to Summit, postage prepaid, within the warranty period.
This warranty shall not apply to any product which has been subjected to misuse; misapplication; neglect (including but not limited to im-
proper maintenance); accident; improper installation; modication (including but not limited to use of unauthorized parts or attachments);
adjustment or repair. THE FOREGOING IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED (INCLUD-
ING THOSE OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS OF ANY PRODUCT FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE), AND OF ANY OTHER
OBLIGATION OF LIABILITY ON THE PART OF THE COMPANY.
(B) Limitation of Liability
It is expressly understood that Summit’s liability for its products, whether due to breach of warranty, negligence, strict liability, or otherwise,
is limited to the repair of the product, as stated above, and Summit will not be liable for any other injury, loss, damage, or expense, whether
direct or consequential, including but not limited to loss of use, income, prot, or damage to material, arising in connection with the sale,
installation, use of, inability to use, or the repair or replacement of Summit’s products.
Summit reserves the right to make alterations or modications in its products at any time, which in its opinion, may improve the performance
and efciency of the product. It shall not be obligated to make such alterations or modications to products already in service.
Summit products are manufactured under one or more of the
following US Patents: 5,937,969; 5,971,104; 5,975,242; 5,979,603;
6,125,966; 6,182,792; 6,397,973; D,417,011; D,420,147
Summit Bucksteps and RapidClimb Stirrups are Patent Pending
Helpful Hints:
1. In the event of a fall, you must be prepared to recover.
Since you may not be able reach your stand, you should carry
a Tree Descender rope (available from Summit Treestands,
LLC) or some other device to allow for a controlled descent.
There may be products/equipment marketed for self rescue
from suspension in a harness and you are strongly urged to
seek them out
2. If you will be bow hunting, you need to make sure you
position the safety strap high enough above your head so the
tether strap will not be in the way when you draw your bow.
3. Always pick your harness up by the tether strap. This will
help keep your harness tangle-free.
© 2008 STLLC
PAGE 5

Figure 27
Section 2 - Harness Suspension / Use of Suspension
Relief Strap:
It is necessary and very important that someone knows
your hunting location and time of return. It is also very
important that you carry (on your person) emergency
communication devices such as a cell phone, two-way radio,
whistle, signal are or preferably a PLD (Personal Locator
Device - FCC approved July, ‘03). When triggered, a PLD
will transmit an emergency signal to local rescue teams
identifying your location via satellite GPS coordinates.
PLD’s may be purchased at Wilderness outtters or on the
internet.
Suspension trauma or blood pooling can occur when
suspended motionless in a harness for periods of time. This
can lead to unconsciousness and death.
If you have to hang in the tree before help arrives,
you need to exercise your legs by pushing off from
the tree or by using the attached suspension relief
strap.
Use of the Suspension Relief Strap:
Warning!
This Suspension Relief Strap MUST be on your person and
accessable while using your harness!!! The steps below
assume you are hanging by your tether line after a fall.
Step 1. Retrieve the Suspension Relief Strap (SRS) from
the storage pouch on the side of the harness. See Figure 26.
Step 2. Tie one end of the SRS to one of the Climbing Strap
loops sewn into each side of the harness belt. See Figure 27
position A.
Step 3. Tie the other end of the SRS to the opposite harness
belt loop as show in Figure 27 position B. Adjust the SRS
so the large loop it forms is just above the ankles - Figure
28.
Step 4. Put both feet in the loop and stand up to relieve
the pressure from the harness leg straps. See Figure 29
and Figure 30. NOTE: Readjust the length of the loop if
considerable pressure is still felt on the leg straps.
Self extraction may be necessary in the unfortunate situation
that A) No one knows your location, B) Your communication
efforts are exhausted, C) You are condent that you have
the strength, dexterity and ability to perform self-extraction
and D) You decide this is your “absolute last resort”. It is
necessary to carry a device to assist with this self-extraction.
Simple devices such as screw-in steps or a rope “Tree
Descender” (available from Summit) will allow you to
remove the weight from your harness. This may enable you
to return to the treestand/ladder/climbing steps or slowly
descend the tree.
Prolonged harness suspension may be fatal. If
rescue personnel cannot be notied, you must
have a plan to recover / escape before hunting.
Figure 30
Figure 28
Figure 29
Figure 26
A
B
WARNING
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WARNING
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PAGE 6