Summit Harness User manual

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Summit Harness
Instruction Booklet
MAKE SURE YOUR PRUSSIC HITCH LOOKS LIKE THIS PICTURE BEFORE USING!
DO NOT USE unless your prussic hitch has 6 (six) loops!
DO NOT USE unless your prussic hitch has a 2 1/2” long tail (minimum) beyond the knot end!
Pull on the knot end of the prussic hitch and make sure it locks to the safety rope. DO NOT USE
your harness unless your prussic hitch looks like the one pictured here. In addition, MAKE SURE the
hitch locks to the safety rope when you pull on the knot end.
The Summit Treestand, LLC safety line has the ability to adjust tether length while attached
to the tree. NEVER exceed 24 inches of total tether length (Safety rope and tether strap
combined). Minimize tether length 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. The prussic hitch slides along the safety rope until loaded, at
which point it locks securely into place.
WHEN TO REPLACE YOUR SAFETY ROPE:
The safety rope has been subjected to severe shock loading.
The safety rope has been subjected to the kind of overload for which it was not designed,
such as towing a vehicle.
The Safety rope shows signs of fraying from substantial use.
The Safety rope was used in preventing a fall.
Summit Harness [83032] - 2007 Instructions - PN 11808
2 1/2” Tail Minimum

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
READ ME FIRST!!!
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 pro-
vide years of trouble-free, successful hunting with a minimum of maintenance and care. They are certied to meet the requirements of the Treestand Manufac-
turers Association (TMA) Standards. This booklet is provided to you to outline the recommended use, care and maintenance of your Summit Safety Harness.
YOU MUST FULLY READ, UNDERSTAND AND FOLLOW THESE WARNINGS, INSTRUCTIONS, AND EXPIRATION DATE! FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE
INSTRUCTIONS MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH!!
WEIGHT LIMIT: 300 LBS. IF YOU PURCHASED A GOLIATH TREESTAND, THE WEIGHT LIMIT IS 350 LBS.
BEFORE USING ANY TREESTAND, BE SURE YOU MAINTAIN FULL BODY SAFETY HARNESS ATTACHMENT TO THE TREE AT ALL TIMES AFTER LEAVING
THE GROUND!!! A FALL CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME AFTER LEAVING THE GROUND! 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.
DO NOT USE THIS OR ANY OTHER TREESTAND IF YOU HAVE BEEN USING DRUGS OR ALCOHOL OR ARE PHYSICALLY IMPAIRED IN ANY WAY!
NEVER ALLOW THE SAFETY HARNESS TETHER TO GET UNDER OR AROUND YOUR NECK!
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 FLARE 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. WILDERNESS OUTFITTERS AND
THE INTERNET ARE SOURCES FOR THESE PLD’S.
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 BY 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.
PRACTICE THE USE OF THIS 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!
BE WELL RESTED AND NEVER GET IN A HURRY. HURRYING CAUSES ACCIDENTS!!
IF YOU LOAN OR SELL THIS TREESTAND, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FURNISH THE BUYER A COPY OF THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND THE VIDEO
THAT CAME WITH THE TREESTAND. MAKE SURE THEY WATCH THE VIDEO AND READ / UNDERSTAND THE INSTRUCTIONS!
FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH!!
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Warning!
1. Always check to make sure leg straps are secure around legs and
buckled before climbing the tree!!!
2. Be sure tether strap is attached to safety rope!!
3. Never allow the tether strap to get under or around your neck as shown
in Figure 1.
4. If wearing harness under hunting clothes, make sure your hunting
clothes are not tight around your neck. The harness will ship up if you fall
as shown in Figure 2.
5. 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.
WARNING: If you fall, you must replace the harness by contacting
Summit Treestands, LLC.
WARNING: This harness has been designed to be used only as a safety
device for hunting from elevated tree stands and ladders. Any other use
is PROHIBITED!
Harness Packaging:
The harness contains one (1) harness, one (1) Safety Rope with Prussic
hitch attached, one (1) locking clip and instructions.
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

Figure 5
Figure 4
Figure 6 Figure 7
Figure 8 Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 12
Figure 11
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 shoul-
der 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 on the Buckle
Threading Diagram.
Part 2. Attaching the Safety Rope to the Tree.
WARNING!
When attaching the safety rope to the tree, be sure the adjustable
prussic hitch has been completely fed through the loop at the end of
the safety rope as shown in Figure 13. Do this BEFORE you being
to climb with a climbing treestand. Always check safety rope to be
sure all knots are secure and tight. The prussic hitch should have six
loops around the 7/16” camo rope. The end of the prussic hitch has
an overhand knot, be sure it is tight and it has at least a 2 1/2” tail
beyond the knot.
Always adjust the safety rope to minimize the slack. WARNING:
NEVER allow more than 24 inches total combined slack in the rope
and tether strap. The more slack you have in the safety rope, the
father you will fall. This may result in injury or prevent you from
returning to the treestand after falling.
The adjustable prussic hitch should be snug to the safety rope. It
should be tight when sliding it on the safety rope. If necessary, gently
pull on the prussic loop to increase the tension of the prussic on the
safety rope.
Step 1. Put the loop end of the safety rope around the tree.
Step 2. Thread the knot end and the adjustable prussic hitch all the
way through the loop end of the safety rope (See Figure 12 again).
Step 3. Open the prussic hitch loop and insert the harness tether
safety clip through this loop as shown in Figure 14. Screw the
locking collar COMPLETELY closed to secure the safety clip.
Step 4. Slide the adjustable prussic hitch up the safety rope to a
comfortable hunting position and pull on the end of the prussic hitch
to secure it to the safety rope. See Figure 15.

Figure 13 Figure 14
Figure 15 Figure 16
Figure 17
Figure 18
Figure 19
Figure 20 Figure 22
Figure 21
Step 5. Tie and overhand knot in the safety rope approximately one
foot under the prussic hitch as shown in Figure 16. This will help
maintain your position on the safety rope in the event of a fall.
Step 6. Slide the prussic hitch up the safety rope to a comfortable
hunting position as shown in Figure 17. NOTE: This is an
adjustable safety rope. Always adjust the safety rope to minimize
the slack needed for hunting. WARNING: NEVER allow more
than 24 inches total combined slack in the rope and tether strap (See
Figure 17 again).
Part 3. Using the Supplied Climbing belt:
If you purchased the Copperhead Compact, Basic/Trophy/Comfort
System, 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 18.
Step 2. Bring the strap around your back and thread it through the
other loop on the Harness belt. See Figure 19.
Step 3. Run the belt around the tree and thread it through the buckle
as shown in Figure 20.
Step 4. To adjust the climbing belt, pull on the loose tag end to
tighten and lift up on the buckle to lengthen. See Figure 21 and
Figure 22.
Step 5. As you ascend and descend the tree you will be able to stay
attached to your safety harness by using the extra climbing strap as a
lineman’s climbing strap. You will alternate from climbing strap to
safety rope as you encounter branches or as you maneuver above your
hang-on treestand. Attach the safety rope as explained in Section 1,
Part 1: “Attaching the Safety Rope to the Tree.” Once on the
platform of your treestand, move your safety rope above your head
and secure the safety rope by pulling on the prussic hitch.
WARNING: When using a climbing treestand, DO NOT remove
your safety rope or harness from the tree until you have reached
ground level. NEVER disconnect your safety rope or climbing belt
from the tree while you are off of the ground.
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 25
Figure 24
Figure 26
AB
Figure 23
Part 4. Using the Harness with a Climbing Treestand:
Step 1. Attach the safety rope to the tree, follow “Attaching Safety
Rope to Tree” in Section 1, Part 2 of these instructions.
Step 2. Slide the safety rope up the tree as you climb. While climb-
ing, adjustments to the harness attachment to the tree (tether/tree
belt) should be frequent and coordinated with treestand movement
to maintain the least amount of slack in the tether that will allow for
climbing.
Step 3. When you are at your hunting height, position safety rope
above your head (See Figure 17).
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.
Wilderness outtters and the internet are sources for these PLD’s.
Suspension trauma or blood pooling can occur when suspended
motionless in a harness for periods of time. This can lead to
unconsciousness. WARNING: 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 ENCLOSED SUSPENSION
RELIEF STRAP.
Use of the Suspension Relief Strap:
Warning!
This Suspension Relief Strap MUST be on your person 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 your
storage place.
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 23 position A.
Step 3. Tie the other end of the SRS to the opposite harness belt
loop as show in Figure 23 position B. Adjust the SRS so the large
loop it forms is just above the ankles - Figure 24.
Step 4. Put both feet in the loop and stand up to relieve the pressure
from the harness leg straps. See Figure 25 and Figure 26. 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, and C) You’re 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.
WARNING: Prolonged harness suspension may be fatal. If
rescue personnel cannot be notied, you must have the ability to
recover/escape.

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 material 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 sub-
jected to misuse; misapplication; neglect (including but not limited
to improper 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 (INCLUDING 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 lim-
ited 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.
Section 3 - Helpful Hints:
1. In the event of a fall, you must be prepared to recover. If you cannot
reach your stand, you may want to carry a Suspension Relief Strap
or a Tree Descender rope (both available from Summit Treestands,
LLC) or some other device to allow for a controlled descent.
2. If you will be bow hunting, you need to make sure you position
the safety rope 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.
Seat-O-The-Pants Harnesses and Accessories
Available from www.summitstands.com
SOP Climbing System - PN 83014
The perfect accessory for Hang-On stands and Ladder stands. The
climbing System consists of a 30 foot long safety rope with prussic knot.
Use it like a standard safety rope the rst time you climb and then leave
it attached once you are up. Simply slide the prussic up or down the next
time you climb out of or into the stand. Also sold as a combo pack of 3
ropes - PN 83024.
SOP Tree Descender - PN 83018
BE PREPARED! Carry a Tree Descender on your person to assist you
in the case of a fall.
SOP Harnesses - Regular, FastBack, Supreme
Upgrade to one of our SOP harnesses. All three models use the same
easy to use safety line. Features include two piece quick silent locking
buckles, storage pouch to store harness straps for tangle free use (Regu-
lar SOP), sewn in tangle resistant mesh back (FastBack) and our easy to
put on, totally tangle free Supreme model.
Harness Replacement Parts
We also carry a complete line of replacement parts for safety harness-
es including Locking Carabiners, Extra Safety Ropes, Camo Storage
Pouches, and Lineman’s Belt Equipment.
Visit us as WWW.SUMMITSTANDS.COM for more information.
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