Latitude OUTDOORS The Method 2 Saddles and Starter Kits Instruction Manual

!!! WARNING, YOU MUST READ BEFORE USE !!!
This document is intended to provide instruction and to indicate the risks and responsibilities the user must
accept when using any of the products sold by Latitude Outdoors LLC

-General Safety Instructions-

Always hunt safely and responsibly. You are responsible for your own decisions and actions. Never hunt or use any Latitude products without understanding all the risks and safety practices involved in hunting and using a hunting saddle system. Never use Latitude products without first understanding and adhering to all the safety warnings and instructions for proper use. Familiarize yourself with the product’s capabilities and limitations. Hunting from an elevated position, such as from a tree, is dangerous and can
result in serious injury and death. Persons under the age of 18 should always be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Always have a plan in case of an accident or an unexpected occurrence. Be prepared. Hunting with a friend or family member close by is always a good idea. You should also always notify a friend or family member that is not with you of the location you will be hunting and the time you should be returning. If you plan to be hunting for any extended period, such as a multi-day hunt, it is advisable to have a plan to check in with a hunting partner or someone who is not with you on an established frequency when
possible.
Always carry a cell phone or GPS locator device while saddle hunting so that you can signal your location to others in the case that you need help. It is always good practice to send the location of your tree or hunting spot to another person before hunting or climbing.
Never hunt or climb with a saddle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. For prescription drugs consult your physician. Never hunt or climb with a saddle if you are not well-rested, are feeling ill, or if you have any pre-existing health conditions that could limit your ability to use a hunting saddle system.
Never hunt or climb with a saddle in inclement weather such as high winds or lightning. If inclement weather occurs unexpectedly while hunting, stop hunting and seek shelter immediately. Do not panic. Do your best to stay calm and follow all the safety measures that are outlined in this document.

-Before and During Climbing-

Caution, the Method 2 saddle system has strong magnets integrated into the design and might be harmful to pacemakers and other sensitive equipment. Consult your physician before using this product if you have such a device.
Always inspect the ground below any tree before climbing. You should never climb a tree that has debris, rocks, boulders, logs, or any other object below it that could increase the chance of injury in the case of a fall. Never climb or hunt out of any tree that is dead, dying, or appears to have any sort of damage from natural causes such as weather,
insects, or other wildlife.
Never climb or hunt from a utility/telephone pole.
Never climb or hunt out of any tree that has any loose, damaged, or questionable limbs above where you plan to climb or suspend yourself.
Never use a tree branch as support or as a substitute for a climbing aid such as a climbing step or stick.
Always select a tree that is large enough to support your weight. If you can rock the tree with your own force you might not be safe.
10 inches should be the ideal minimum diameter of a tree for climbing or hunting. Be aware that trees generally get thinner the higher you climb, so a tree that appears large enough at ground level might not be at hunting height.
Always practice and familiarize yourself with a saddle hunting system at ground level in daylight and in the dark before attempting use in a hunting scenario.
Never swing or bounce while in a saddle. Doing so risks putting slack in the tether or lineman’s rope and increases the risk of a fall.
Always use a headlamp while climbing or descending a tree in the dark. Two free hands are essential for climbing. Safe climbing requires three points of contact, (two hands and one foot, or one hand and two feet), with the tree or climbing aids at all times. Always check that any carabiners in your climbing system are fully locked before climbing. Carabiners with a screw gate, such as those supplied by Latitude, must be screwed tight so the gate cannot be opened while in use. Failure to do this can result in a fall. An
unlocked carabiner will not retain its rated working load. A safe practice is to check a carabiner is locked by trying to manually push open the gate before climbing.
Always inspect your saddle, carabiners, lineman’s rope, tether, and all other climbing aids for wear and tear prior to climbing. You should never climb with any gear that shows signs of damage or age. Your saddle has the manufactured date recorded on the tag. Regardless of the level of use, your Latitude saddle should not be used for a period longer than (5) years. Retire any equipment that has reached the expiration date, (5 years after the manufactured date). Retire any equipment at any time immediately that appears
worn is damaged, or after the event of a fall arrest where severe loads were applied to the equipment.
Always make sure your belt strap or rope, and supplied leg straps, are secured before climbing or descending a tree. These devices are designed to keep the saddle oriented on your body properly in the case of a fall. Failure to properly secure these features on your saddle increases risk of injury if a fall were to occur.

Never climb a tree or hunt with your saddle without making sure you have a stopper knot tied on all the loose ends of your lineman’s rope, bridge rope, and tether. See (Figure E) for proper placement of all necessary stopper knots. Lacking any of these stopper knots can result in a fall. Never untie or modify any knots supplied with your Latitude saddle or equipment.
Always use a lineman’s rope while ascending or descending a tree.
Never climb higher than your lineman’s rope. Never keep any slack in your lineman’s rope. Your lineman’s rope should always be wrapped around the tree above waist level. See (Figures F & G).
Never grab hold of the friction hitch on your ropes unless you intend to loosen the hitch and lengthen your lineman’s rope or tether.
Latitude Outdoors supplies two types of friction hitches with each lineman’s rope or tether. A Prussic or Schwabisch Hitch is supplied with Latitude Outdoors’ rope kits. In order for either of these friction hitches to tighten and bite into the lineman’s rope or tether, the hitch must be properly dressed, and the user must let go of the hitch with their hands. Never grab hold of a friction hitch while climbing unless it is your intent to loosen the hitch. Grabbing the hitch unintentionally can cause the hitch to loosen and the user to slip or fall. If you do accidentally loosen your friction hitch, let go of the hitch immediately and allow it to tighten again.
Never disconnect yourself from a tree for any reason, including disconnecting the lineman’s rope to get around a tree limb while climbing or descending. If you must pass around a tree limb, secure yourself by your tether prior to disconnecting from the lineman’s rope. Once your lineman’s rope is securely reconnected with carabiners locked, remove your tether and continue climbing. See (Figure J). When using your tether to pass an obstacle while climbing or descending, always make sure you secure your
tether around the tree above the obstacle and above waist level. The tether should be supporting your full weight prior to disconnecting your lineman’s rope.
Always climb with a suspension relief device. Prolonged suspension from a saddle or safety harness after a fall can result in severe injuries or death caused by the saddle or harness cutting off circulation to the lower extremities. Your tether or lineman’s rope can serve as a suspension relief device if not in use. See (Figure K) for proper instruction.
Never climb while carrying a bow or firearm. Weapons should be hoisted up after being securely suspended in your hunting position and a bow or firearm hook/rest is attached to the tree. All arrows should be un-knocked, and in a quiver while hoisting. Firearms should be unloaded and suspended by the hoist line so that the muzzle hangs in a downward direction.
Never climb with a backpack. Additional weight can make climbing dangerous and objects in the backpack could cause injury in a fall.
Always use a hoist rope or cord to haul up weapons and gear after you are securely suspended from a tree in your hunting position.
Always hang climbing aids such as steps or sticks above the platform or ring of steps you plan on hunting from. This allows you to safely step down onto your platform or ring of steps while having secure handholds above them. “Hugging” a tree above your platform or ring of steps before securing your tether is dangerous and can result in a fall.
Never exceed the weight limit of your Latitude saddle. All Latitude saddles are rated for 300 lbs. This includes the user plus their clothing and gear.
Never suspend yourself from any other part of a Latitude saddle other than the bridge and lineman’s loops. See (Figures A, F & I). If you have purchased the Method saddle with the D-Ring COBRA buckle belt, (Pre-2021 Models Only), use the D-Ring only as a secondary tie-off point. The D-loop has a load rating of 5000 lbs and is incorporated into the Method system as an emergency redundant safety measure. The Original Method saddle is not designed around this D-Ring being used for rappelling or as a primary
suspension point.
Never suspend yourself from the molle webbing on your Latitude saddle. Molle loops are meant for attaching gear only.
Never use Latitude saddles with climbing equipment that has not been tested to either UIAA, CEN, or ASTM standards for use in alpine, arborist, or safety suspension applications.
Never use Latitude products for arborist work. Ropes and straps can be cut by tree-cutting equipment.

-Care and Maintenance-

Never store your saddle when wet. Always hand wash with a mild soap in warm water. Air-dry the saddle indoors before storage.
Keep your saddle away from direct sunlight while not in use and store in a dry place. Your saddle should not be exposed to temperatures over 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
Never expose your saddle to bleach or other corrosive liquids, detergents, or solvents.
Never leave your saddle or other climbing equipment outside or in a tree while not in use. This can result in damage from the elements and/or wildlife.
Never use a saddle or any other climbing gear that is used and has not been thoroughly tested and inspected prior to climbing.
Materials used in climbing equipment degrade over time from heavy use, moisture, mildew, exposure to weather, and sunlight. You should always have complete knowledge of the age and condition of the saddle hunting equipment you are using. This is not possible when borrowing or buying used equipment. Latitude Outdoors avoids all responsibility should the original purchaser of one of our products decide to lend or sell it to another person. The seller assumes all responsibility for the condition of the equipment and for supplying all warnings and instructions in such a transaction. Return policies and warranties apply only to the original owner.
Never modify your Latitude saddle. Doing so is dangerous and will void all return policies and warranties.
Never use a lighter or flame to melt or singe any frayed material or threading on your Latitude saddle. Doing so could damage the saddle and make it unsafe. If damage or fraying is observed on any load bearing features of the saddle, do not use the saddle. Contact customer support at https://latitudeoutdoors.com/ immediately for recommendation on whether to retire the saddle.

-When to Retire Your Saddle, Lineman’s Rope, or Tether-

-Retire any saddle if the load bearing webbing has any obvious wear, abrasions, rips, tears, holes, or is faded from prolonged exposure to sunlight.
-Retire any saddle if the buckle or rope belt is no longer functional. This could be due to rope or webbing that is frayed or worn, or a buckle that is rusted, cracked, does not lock, or is damaged in any way. Contact AustriApline at https://austrialpin.net/ regarding any questions or concerns regarding your COBRA buckle, (Pre-2021 Models Only). Contact Sterling Rope at https://sterlingrope.com/ with questions and concerns regarding the care or condition of 8mm Oplux rope if used in a Metal-Free Method or Classic saddle. Contact Latitude Outdoors at https://latitudeoutdoors.com/ for questions regarding Latitude branded ropes.
-Retire any saddle with stitching that is loose, has failed, or appears unsecure on any webbing throughout the saddle. Do not try to resew or repair a worn saddle.
-Retire any saddle, ropes, and other equipment after the event that they were used to arrest a fall where severe shock loads were placed on the saddle, ropes, and equipment. A fall, such as described, should never occur with proper use of a lineman’s rope and tether. Observable damage to ropes from shock loading can be bumps or lumps in the rope, a rope that appears or feels to have a flat spot, or a rope that feels stiffer than when new. These signs could all indicate damage to the rope.
-Retire any ropes that are frayed, have abrasions, or have an outer sheath that is damaged in any way. All ropes sold by Latitude Outdoors are supplied by either Latitude Outdoors, Sterling Rope, or Samson Rope. Reach out to Latitude at https://latitudeoutdoors.com/ for any questions or concerns regarding your Latitude branded ropes and supplied hitch cords. Reach out to Sterling Rope at https://sterlingrope.com/ for any questions and concerns regarding an 8mm Oplux lineman’s rope or tether,
or 6mm TRC rope used in the Schwabisch Hitches supplied by Latitude Outdoors. Reach out to Samson rope at https://www.samsonrope.com/ for any questions or concerns regarding any Amsteel products supplied by Latitude Outdoors such as bridge ropes and the continuous spliced loops used in the double prussic knots connecting your bridge. It is recommended to retire any ropes and hitch cords used for life safety after (2) years of normal usage. If ropes are used heavily, it is recommended to replace ropes, continuous loops, and hitch cords annually.
-Check all hitch cords and prussic style knots for internal wear annually. This includes prussic loops used in your saddle bridge configuration, lineman’s rope, and tether. Retire immediately if the sheath of these cords is frayed or damaged. Naturally, knots and friction hitches will be worn internally where the hitch cord bites against a mainline, bridge rope, tether, or lineman’s rope. This wear can be harder to see, and will be more significant than the visible exterior portion of the knots. Contact or visit https://latitudeoutdoors.com/ for replacement of any ropes or hitch cords.
-Retire any carabiners that are bent, cracked, or are corroded in any way. Latitude currently offers carabiners from both Black Diamond and Climbing Technology. Reach out to them at either https://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/ or https://www.climbingtechnology.com/ for any questions or concerns regarding the carabiner you purchased from Latitude Outdoors.

-Saddle Warranty-

Latitude Outdoors LLC. offers a (1) year warranty to the original purchaser of our saddles which ensures that the saddle is free from all defects in manufacturing and materials. This warranty does not cover against normal wear and tear, nor does it cover against any incidental or purposeful damages due to improper use, negligence, or accidents. If the original purchaser discovers a defect within this (1) year period, he or she should return the saddle to the address specified on our website https://www.latitudeoutdoors.com/
to receive a replacement free of charge. After the expiration of this (1) year warranty period all such liability to Latitude Outdoors LLC. shall be terminated.

-30 Day Return Policy-

Latitude Outdoors LLC. offers a 30-day return policy on all equipment sold through our website unless otherwise specified on thesite during special sales and promotions. This policy expires 30 days after the date your purchase is delivered. Please visit the
resources tab at https://latitudeoutdoors.com for more detail on this return policy.

-Instructional Diagrams-

Figure A: Anatomy of Latitude Outdoors’ Saddle Systems

Figure B: Securing your belt rope with the Metal Free Method and Classic Saddle.

-(To tighten, hold the hitch knot and pull the tag end marked with the red shrink tube. The knot can then be slid to where is most comfortable via the belt sleeve in your Latitude Method or Classic saddle. To loosen, firmly grab hold of the hitch knot on the opposite side of the tag end and pull the knot towards the tag end.)
Figure C: Using the Magnetic Quick Connection System on the Method 2 Saddle.

– (The Method 2 is equipped with Latitude Outdoors’ patent-pending magnetic QuickConnect System and requires no clips or straps to connect the upper and lower panels together while hiking or climbing. Simply connect the magnet locations together as shown to secure the panels when needed. Use the integrated thumb loops on the bottom panel to disengage the magnets and pull the panels apart when suspending yourself in the tree.)
Figure D: Securing your leg straps.

(Leg straps on all Latitude Outdoors saddles are removable for comfort while hiking. All saddles have a webbing loop tab in the rear and one on each hip to which the supplied G-hooks on the leg straps attach. On the leg straps you will notice that one of the G-hooks is sewn in with only one webbing slot. This G-hook attaches in the rear and has no adjustment. The other two ends have G-hooks with two webbing slots for adjusting the fit. Bring these two ends between the legs from the rear and attach each G-hook to the appropriate webbing loop tabs located near the left and right hip area of the saddle. Pull the tag ends to adjust the fit. Propper fit should be slightly loose.)

Figure E : Necessary stopper knots. (!!!Needed at all times while in use!!!)

Figure F : Connecting your lineman’s rope.

-(If right-handed, in the traveling or hiking position of your Method saddle connect the carabiner on the sewn loop end of the rope to your left side
lineman’s loop, wrap the opposite end around the tree and connect the second carabiner attached to your Schwabisch hitch or ascending device to your right- side lineman’s loop. Do the opposite if left-handed, or whatever is comfortable. Make sure your carabiner gates are screwed tight and locked. (If you own a Classic saddle you will not need to worry about your saddle is in the proper climbing orientation on your body while climbing.) Once your lineman’s rope is connected around the tree, pull the tag end of the rope to adjust the length. Familiarize yourself with the function of your Schwabisch hitch and supplied hitch tender, or another ascending device. Maintain approximately 14 inches between your waist and the tree when the rope is taut. Never climb to the point where your lineman’s rope is below waist level. While climbing up, climb up to the point where the rope is at waist level, make sure you have three points of contact with your climbing aids, and then use one hand to pull the rope further up the tree with a minimal amount of slack before reapplying your weight and climbing higher. When descending, never allow enough slack for your lineman’s rope to fall or drupe below waist level.) .
Figure G: The correct and incorrect position of a lineman’s rope while climbing.

Figure H: Connecting your tether rope.

– (Propper steps for connecting your tether to the tree are pictured on top from left to right. Once your tether is securely fastened to the tree at approximately chin height, (the exact position varies from person to person so adjust accordingly for comfort), secure the carabiner on your tether to

your bridge rope and apply tension. Adjust the bridge length using the prussic knot, and the length of your tether using your Schwabisch hitch or ascending device until you find your own person sweet spot for comfort. Usually, it is easiest to adjust your system in a leaning position first before experimenting with a sitting position where your knees will be bent and resting against the tree. Do not un-tie or modify any of your knots.)

Figure I: The correct and incorrect position of a tether while suspended/hunting.

Figure J: Passing tree limbs while climbing.

Step 1: When you reach the limb you must climb past, connect your tether above the limb and
transfer your weight to your tether.| Step 2: Loosen and detach your lineman’s rope
and pass it over the tree limb. If descending the
tree, you would pass the lineman’s rope under
the limb.

Step 3: Reattach your lineman’s rope to the lineman’s loop on your saddle, tighten the rope
so it is bearing all your weight.| Step 4: Remove your tether from the tree and
continue climbing or descending.

Figure K: If you fall and cannot recover, use your tether or lineman’s rope, whichever one is not in use, as a suspension relief device.

– The scenario pictured is utilizing a lineman’s rope as a suspension relief device. Your tether can function in the same way, you would just fasten the rope around the tree with the loop end of the rope instead of with the second carabiner as is shown. Once a loop is fashioned for a foothold, step up into the loop to relieve pressure on the body from the saddle.

References

• AustriAlpin – The world’s highest quality safety hardware for military, SAR, fall-stop, para-sport and mountaineering.
• Latitude Outdoors
• Latitude Outdoors
• The Best Rope and Life-Safety Products - SterlingRope.com
• Black Diamond® Equipment | Climbing, Skiing & Trail Running Gear Black Diamond Black Diamond Black Diamond Black Diamond Black Diamond Black Diamond Black Diamond arrow-right heart user facebook search secure trash empty star half star half full camera sup
• CLIMBING TECHNOLOGY: arrampicata e lavoro su fune
• Latitude Outdoors
• Samson Rope - Marine, Commercial, Utility Rope and More

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