Do I need to" break in"this new rope.

[Madman Mark]

I have a new climbing kit and Im useing the DRT with a split tail and a Blakes hitch. Ive climbed about 6 trees over the last few months and evry time I have a bit of trouble advancing the hitch and also descending with it. Im tying it right but really have to force it to advance it and sometimes need to use both hands to 'squeeze" it enough to descend. Is it because the rope is so new and needs to get worn in a bit maybe ? Or is it because I weigh 240 pounds ( Im 6'4" and in very good shape ) and its a bit of strain on the rope lol ? Any opinions ?

 

[TreEmergencyB]

are you sure your tying it right? Maybe another wrap one way or the other, Maybe ditch the blakes hitch and try a closed friction hitch with an eye to eye cord,

 

[pdqdl]

Is either your rope or split tail made with cheap, soft, or mushy rope?

Some ropes just do not slide too well, and they are usually the cheap ones.

 

[Madman Mark]

Is either your rope or split tail made with cheap, soft, or mushy rope?

Some ropes just do not slide too well, and they are usually the cheap ones.

Well, the rope and split tail all came with the kit which was the "least expensive" of the 3 kits so that tells me that its not the most expensive equipment ( which i new before I bought it ) but it all seems to be half decent stuff. Is it possible that maybe Im tying/coiling the Blakes hitch too tight ?

 

[pdqdl]

Call up your vendor and ask them what type of rope they sold you. You can always tell them that you really liked it, and you needed to be sure that you bought the same kind next time.

Blake's is pretty easy to tie, if you follow the steps. Pretty easy to do wrong, if you won't take the time to make sure you have it figured out.

Try this page for nearly any climbing knot you might need, including the Blake's: Climbing Knots | How to Tie Climbing Knots | Animated Climbing Knots

 

[freeweight]

i have always had a lil bad luck with the blakes ,have tied it on bluestreak,trueblue ...lets just say some good "name brand" rope ,when descending after letting go i always slide further than i would like ....like everybody says this hitch is EASY as hell to tie

so i DO try and make it tight as hell

rather use a closed system honestly

 

[Natewood]

I primarily climb on a taughtline just because the blakes doesnt give enough friction without locking up

 

[tree md]

I never did like the blakes or tautline hitches when I climbed on a closed system; They never ran well enough for me. I went to a plain jane prussic knot early on. It ran really smooth and would not lock up as easy as a tautline or blakes. Just add or subtract a coil to adjust for your weight factor.

 

[Madman Mark]

Is either your rope or split tail made with cheap, soft, or mushy rope?

Some ropes just do not slide too well, and they are usually the cheap ones.

Thats the answer right there. I did a bit more reading and found out that a 16 strand rope ( which is firmer ) works better then the 12 strand ( cheaper ) rope that Im using when friction hitches are involved. The 12 strand that Im using gets "squished" and the blakes hitch doesnt slide down it very well at all. I have to use both hands and pull down /squeeze the blakes hitch to descend, its quite a pain in the ass to do. Guess Ill have to save up for some good rope.

 

[goneloco]

Is either your rope or split tail made with cheap, soft, or mushy rope?

Some ropes just do not slide too well, and they are usually the cheap ones.

and some of them slip too well (hince arborplex) double check on the blakes you run the bar over correctly