Courant Koala V1.3 Climbing Harness

The Courant Koala is a tree climbing harness from French maker Courant, and the V1.3 is a later revision of the design. It is built for climbers who spend long hours suspended and want a supportive saddle with a bridge for free movement.

How the Koala climbs

European-style saddles like the Koala use a bridge as the main attachment, so your hitch or device can slide side to side as you work out a limb. That freedom of movement matters on big pruning jobs where you spend a lot of time at odd angles. The Koala's support is aimed at climbers who hang in the saddle for hours, not just a few quick climbs a week.

Fit is personal, and the best saddle is the one that suits your build and climbing style. Try one on if you can, and compare it against other European saddles.

Look at how the saddle carries a saw and handsaw, how the leg loops feel when you sit back for long periods, and how easily the bridge can be replaced. Those details matter more after a few hundred hours than the spec sheet does.

Fit, setup and inspection

Adjust the waist and leg loops so the saddle sits snugly and the bridge rides at a comfortable height. Set up gear loops so your saw and handsaw do not hang where they swing into your legs. Replace the bridge at the interval Courant recommends or sooner if it shows wear.

Inspect webbing, stitching, buckles and the bridge before every climb, and retire the saddle if any part is damaged. Life-support gear must meet the applicable standard, be used per ANSI Z133 and the manufacturer's instructions, and be inspected before every climb by a trained user.