Imlay ScuttleButt
Imlay ScuttleButt
Canyons involve a lot of sliding, scraping and general thrashing. Which ends up with a lot of scraping and thrashing of the gear and clothing upon which that sliding is done. The harness, the shorts, the wetsuit - they all get destroyed on a regular basis.
The current version features Kodra top section around the waistbelt. A little lighter, a little more comfortable, allows a little more options in color, and helps with the price.
People doing flowing water canyons prefer the ScuttleButt… People doing non-flowing canyons will likely prefer the ShuffleButt.
A TALL version is available that adds 2” to the height. This will work better for people taller than about 6’2”; and for people with fashionably bountiful butt-cheeks.
The ScuttleButt is designed to be used with most leg-loops-and-waistbelt-style harnesses with adjustable leg loops. Sleeves allow the leg loops to be slid into place. A gap in the sewing allows the holdup strap to be pulled through and used like regular. In the new version, the whole waistbelt slides into a fabric sleeve, with a gap at center for the back hold up straps to be reattached, though they are not needed. For the ScuttleButt to work, the leg loops of your harness must open fully, so they can be threaded through the sleeves.
The ScuttleButt does NOT work with the Bod Harness and Alpine Bod Harness, nor with the latest version of the BD Momentum AL (that does not open fully). I now stock the Singing Rock VERSA Harness as a good-value climbing harness that fits a Scuttlebutt.
How Long will it Last? Hard to say. Depends. The seat is made of a medium-weight PVC boat fabric, and should be pretty good. I tried using a heavier fabric, but it was rather uncomfortable to walk around in. My experience is that it will last a while, and can be easily repaired or patched. I forsee a large amount of duct tape in the ScuttleButt's futures.
Colors: As shown
Weight: 5.4 ounces
You may also consider…
A Canyoneering-style Harness from Singing Rock
A pretty-good euro-style canyoneering harness, less over-built than the Petzl model. Pretty comfortable, reasonably durable. Barely-adequate gear loops. Good tie in point. The black PU seat lasts pretty well (better than a ScuttleButt!), and can be replaced with a ScuttleButt when trashed.
Good Harness at a Good Price
The Versa2 is a decent, adjustable leg loop harness designed for climbing, and is now my go-to harness for canyoneering with the addition of a ShuffleButt. Well proportioned, comfortable, "gear loops", reasonably light weight. The main webbing is small but stout and holds up well.
Canyons involve a lot of sliding, scraping and general thrashing. Which ends up with a lot of scraping and thrashing of the gear and clothing upon which that sliding is done. Harnesses, shorts, wetsuits - they all get destroyed on a regular basis.
The ShuffleButt2 offers the best protection (Vinyl Laminate) where it is needed the most (Leg Loops), while maintaining the more-comfortable 1000d Air-Textured Nylon coated fabric for the upper. Bonus for me is that it is a LOT easier to sew.
For the Shuffle or Scuttle to fit on your harness, the leg loops must open all the way, so the leg loop can be threaded through the leg loop sleeve. On some harnesses, you will have to monkey with the leg loop hold up straps to get the waistbelt through the waistbelt sleeve… or just cut them off… but it is best to maintain the leg loop hold up straps.
People doing flowing water canyons prefer the ScuttleButt… People doing non-flowing canyons will likely prefer the ShuffleButt.
A TALL version is available that adds 2” to the height. This will work better for people taller than about 6’2”; and for people with fashionably bountiful butt-cheeks. These are made with wider sleeves for the waist and leg loops to make it compatible with ‘super-comfy’ harnesses like the BD Long-Haul Harness.