Brandon Eldridge was the first Girard arborist to try out the saddle, and he had tons of positive comments about the saddle’s back pad. His first impression was that it was substantial but not bulky, and seemed to provide a good balance between breathability and support.

Another major highlight for Eldridge was the apparent ability to change out or replace components, particularly the leg straps. He said this feature of the Kinisi is a big advantage over other saddles, where wear on just one nonreplaceable part might mean throwing out an otherwise perfectly good – and often costly – saddle.

Eldridge said he also appreciated the high degree of customization allowed by plentiful gear loops and rigging points. You could carry any and all of the tools you’d need with this adjustable setup, he said.

The arborists of Girard Tree Service in Gilmanton, New Hampshire, agreed to test drive and review the DMM Kinisi Max climbing saddle. TCIA staff photos.

He initially found the buckles “a little tough to really tighten,” but once they were securely set, the buckles seemed to hold very firmly. This is great for security, Eldridge commented, though maybe not so great when you need to shed a sweatshirt while working in the canopy.

Cody LeBlanc was the second Girard climber to test out the Kinisi. He echoed Eldridge’s viewpoint on the plug-and-play modularity of the saddle. “It seems like you could change out pretty much everything on this,” he noted, continuing that that adds longevity and value to the investment.

“The double-adjustable bridge is really nice,” LeBlanc said. “For spar work, you can cinch it up to keep your friction knot or device close to you, which balances out the lanyard support.”

He also appreciated how light the saddle is. “There’s nothing to it, really. It’s really light.” (Available in three sizes, medium comes in at 2800 grams, or about 6.2 pounds.)

Company owner Chris Girard took a more philosophical turn with the Kinisi. When asked who would benefit most from the Kinisi, he advocated for a specific training approach for new climbers. He proposed that beginners should start with “old-school” gear first. He said he believes that learning basic techniques on simpler gear helps climbers really appreciate the efficiency and benefits of advanced saddles such as the DMM, when they move up to them.

Girard had some trouble at first getting the back riser of the Kinisi adjusted correctly for his comfort level. This required a bit of a “break-in period” to dial in the fit, contrasting with some other saddles he felt were comfortable immediately. But once he got it all dialed in, he went from skeptical to sold. He pointed out the usefulness of the lower clips for maintaining leg-pad orientation, which will limit distractions that come with gear that doesn’t fit.

Brandon Eldridge said he appreciated the high degree of customization allowed by plentiful gear loops and rigging points. You could carry any and all of the tools you’d need with this adjustable setup, he said.

The double-bridge system and the ease of its adjustability provides next-level versatility, Girard said, and he described how one side could be used with a chest ascender for efficient SRT (single-rope technique, now more commonly referred to as SRS. He still calls it SRT – change his mind!). He uses an SRT/SRS system on the double bridge to smoothly transition to work positioning using a multi-sender on the other side of the double bridge. Check out the aforementioned video to see what he is talking about.

Girard’s final perspective on the Kinisi was highly favorable, describing the saddle as “very comfortable,” he said. “Easy on your back, on your legs” and “pretty good all around.”

Tchukki Andersen, BCMA, CTSP, is staff arborist for the Tree Care Industry Association.

This review reflects the thoughts and opinions of the reviewers as users and does not constitute or imply an endorsement of the product referenced, nor is it an endorsement of any specific company, product or service. Every entity or individual should review and test all products for applicability, safety and efficacy in their particular operation.

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