Advice on Hitchclimber

[oscar4883]

Been thinking of using some x-mas gift money on he Hitchclimber pulley. Seems to me that most are using the HC to tend a VT. My climbing lines are not eye spliced and I understand that this would probably cause interference issues. I climb on a distel and enjoy the short length of the hitch. My e2e is around 22in. so there is not much slop in the system, something that I enjoy. That being said, my question is whether or not this seems like a worthy purchase. How does the HC work with the distel considering the shortness of the hitch? Will I still be able to keep the hitch short? Or just wait til I get some spliced lines. Thanks in advance.

 

[Plasmech]

Been thinking of using some x-mas gift money on he Hitchclimber pulley. Seems to me that most are using the HC to tend a VT. My climbing lines are not eye spliced and I understand that this would probably cause interference issues. I climb on a distel and enjoy the short length of the hitch. My e2e is around 22in. so there is not much slop in the system, something that I enjoy. That being said, my question is whether or not this seems like a worthy purchase. How does the HC work with the distel considering the shortness of the hitch? Will I still be able to keep the hitch short? Or just wait til I get some spliced lines. Thanks in advance.

I recently got a hitch climber and love it. Did one real climb on it and several practice climbs. It's very well built and does a good job consolidating the tending pulley into the works. I used a French Prusik and a 'Swab on it, it does not have to be a VT. Be careful with that VT knot, it can be real finiky and you could go for a ride man...

 

[oscar4883]

Ya I will be sticking with the distel I think. Is your climb line eye spliced? if not how do the knots affect the hitch? What area of Pa are your from Plas?

 

[Blakesmaster]

I posted some pics a while back showing how a scaffold knot on the end of your line can interfere with your hitch setting properly. My best advice is to go with a spliced eye. With care, I'm sure your problems can be avoided or they may not even exist with your distel like they did with my VT just keep your eye on it. The hitch climber is a great pulley but, IMO, not that much of an improvement over a micro pulley w/out a spliced eye on your climb line. And really, it's only like 20 bucks extra to have your line spliced when they send it out, or just learn to splice your own.

 

[oscar4883]

Blakes, I did see your set-up before. I think I will just hold off til I get a new line or get my current ones spliced. Thanks for your help guys.

 

[oscar4883]

I may eventually try the VT. The Distel is very simple,compact, and tidy. I may give the VT some serious practice time over the holidays though.

 

[kennertree]

You left handed Dan? I've never tried my hitch on the left side. May try it tomorrow, I'm right handed so it might be easier to pull with my right hand and tend the slack with my left hand below the hitch.

 

[kennertree]

It might be awkward trying it on the left after all these years with my hitch on the right, still gonna try it though.

 

[kennertree]

Sorry to derail the thread but has anybody ever used one of those pulleys that looks like mickey mouse in place of the hitchclimber pulley? Seems like it would work and it's alot cheaper than the hitchclimber. The only thing is that it might change the loading of the pulley to something it wasnt designed for.

 

[RacerX]

Been climbing with a hitch climber for a while now. At first I didn't see any real advantage (used a micro pulley prior) but after a while the use of only one carabiner on the saddle and the compactness of setup won me over. IMO a spliced eye is the best termination since it would not interfere with the climbing hitch. You can tie a long figure 8 to get the knot up past the hitch. I've used both the VT and the Distel with the the hitch climber, I prefer the Distel.

 

[oscar4883]

Sorry to derail the thread but has anybody ever used one of those pulleys that looks like mickey mouse in place of the hitchclimber pulley? Seems like it would work and it's alot cheaper than the hitchclimber. The only thing is that it might change the loading of the pulley to something it wasnt designed for.

Been checking those out myself. The Hitchclimber, like the cheap REI micro I currently use to tend slack, seems to have an attachment hole that would allow for minimum slop. The holes on the CMI micros, if I am thinking of the correct pulley, are sloppy and loose on a biner.

 

[RacerX]

Been checking those out myself. The Hitchclimber, like the cheap REI micro I currently use to tend slack, seems to have an attachment hole that would allow for minimum slop. The holes on the CMI micros, if I am thinking of the correct pulley, are sloppy and loose on a biner.

Treemagineers recommend a piece of rubber tube on their Hitchclimber pulleys to keep the system in place. Not sure if that would work with a pulley that has a larger hole. Slop in the system can be a pain in the butt.

 

[Bermie]

I use a double fisherman's on the end of my line with a HC and a VT...as long as I clip the end of my line in the second hole it stays far enough from the Vt not to be a major problem.
I don't need a new rope yet, but the next one will be spliced..you can manage with a knot, and that is not a reason not to purchase a HC...but better to get a splice if the opportunity exists!
The advantage of an HC over just a micro pulley is that it is always loaded so it rides smoothly under the hitch all the time, doesn't flop up and down.
It's worth the money.

 

[lync]

toys

Close examination of the hitch climber you will see recesses in the cheek plates where the splice , or grizly splice lay in place. My buddy uses it and it works great. I just don't think its worth the price tag. The cost of a spliced prussic cord is not justified when you can knot and sew the ends of the prussic for $5. A micro pully costs $20 and will last forever as a slacktender.
TreeCo's system is simple and efficent and inexpensive. Its not about the toys even if its Christmas time. Want to be a better climber, get in the tree and work. Time in the saddle is where speed and efficency come from not from a catalog. Just my 2 cents.

Corey

 

[tree MDS]

Close examination of the hitch climber you will see recesses in the cheek plates where the splice , or grizly splice lay in place. My buddy uses it and it works great. I just don't think its worth the price tag. The cost of a spliced prussic cord is not justified when you can knot and sew the ends of the prussic for $5. A micro pully costs $20 and will last forever as a slacktender.
TreeCo's system is simple and efficent and inexpensive. Its not about the toys even if its Christmas time. Want to be a better climber, get in the tree and work. Time in the saddle is where speed and efficency come from not from a catalog. Just my 2 cents.

Corey

Yer pretty cheap assuming you work out of westchester county.

 

[lync]

Just trying to show the up and coming climbers that a 25$ set up is just as good as a 125$ Set up. I'll spend the money when its justified (Ms 200 over echo 3400). I don't see the 125$ set up making them better, safer, or faster in the tree.