I remember back when a new climber had to footlock 30 or so feet. It sure did weed out the wannabes. But that was awhile ago and we said " what is a Prushik?" :biggrinbounce2:
Jeff
Jeff
footlocking
- Thread starter david miller
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dandandatreeman
ArboristSite Member
Just started this technique and I love it. Do it at home after work. I am getting good enough that I did it at work Monday. I work with some REALY OLD SCHOOL tree men. They could not believe how fast I got In the top and started working it. I will say that my arms were fried at 50 ft. But pain is weakness leaving the body. Love it!
treemandan
Tree Freak
Ouch! That was a knock-out.
Jeff
Not really. You have to be in real good shape for that. That means you have to work out, eat right, get good sleep and work hard. Who the #### in their right mind would want to do that?
I just think the acsenders are more versatile. You can go through and around things that would be an outright ##### if footlocking.
I had a footlocker working with me the other day, looked like punishment. I get that at home so I try to avoid it on the job.
dandandatreeman
ArboristSite Member
That was funny I don't care who you are.
The Lawn Shark
ArboristSite Operative
I can hit 60' in about 22 to 24 seconds footlocking.
Like I said, I can do it.. but would rather just go hand over hand these days, maybe stop for a smoke.
Thats no excuse, I smoked on and off for 15 year, I don't workout and eat crappy fried bar food more than I should. Don't get me wrong I foot lock 90% of the time on ascenders these days actually footlocking on ascenders is what trained me to get good at the technique. It really doesn't take that much energy. If you are doing it right then you are mostly using leg strength rather than arm strength.
treevet
Addicted to ArboristSite
My guess is a 100 feet would fall to more than the minute the machine takes. Pretty sure I said a long climb.
If the machine does 100' in a minute .....your math is a little off bud ("3 times faster"). Bit of an exaggeration on your part, no?
treevet
Addicted to ArboristSite
Ouch! That was a knock-out.
Jeff
How would you know jeffie......you're not a climber haha
outofmytree
Addicted to ArboristSite
Footlocking = pain
Ascenders = less pain
Wraptor = wallet pain
Hey it's just my opinion.
Ascenders = less pain
Wraptor = wallet pain
Hey it's just my opinion.
Not if you count setup time. {You guys really should quit sniping at each other.}
It would be hard to beat a highly skilled footlocking climber on a 50' (or less) climb, except perhaps with spurs. Starting from "rope in tree" and "belt is on", there is almost no time spent putting on hardware, attaching tools, un-rigging, lowering wraptors, etc. If the climber scampers up the rope, that is really hard to beat for efficiency.
What difference does it make? Nobody works all day at super-high speed. If they try it, they will end up posted in that other forum nobody wants to be found in.
I think I'll try some more footlocking practice, seeing you guys think it is so easy...
Just use what is safe, efficient, and works for you.
treevet
Addicted to ArboristSite
treevet
Addicted to ArboristSite
$2500? Can be made in a day and will make tons of $ with the machine.
Probably cheaper than a week vacation sliding around on a snowy hill?
tree md
Addicted to ArboristSite
Personally, I'd love to have a wraptor. Just not in my budget right now. The ascenders are working fine for me.
That is the thing about footlocking, hip thrusting, hand over hand, whatever you want to do, I've hired a lot of climbers that were great at that stuff but on long climbs they are out of gas by the time they get in the tree. Not to mention they are usually slower than someone who uses some kind of mechanical device.
Not trying to step on any toes, that has just been my experience with the climbers I have hired in the past.
That is the thing about footlocking, hip thrusting, hand over hand, whatever you want to do, I've hired a lot of climbers that were great at that stuff but on long climbs they are out of gas by the time they get in the tree. Not to mention they are usually slower than someone who uses some kind of mechanical device.
Not trying to step on any toes, that has just been my experience with the climbers I have hired in the past.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VVJPZvqLZE&feature=related
Embedding turned off for me.
Having to learn this technique with a thicker rope and no harness this month.
Won't be trying this barefoot again...at least not as shown in the video.
;-)
Embedding turned off for me.
Having to learn this technique with a thicker rope and no harness this month.
Won't be trying this barefoot again...at least not as shown in the video.
;-)
Last edited:
Climb020
ArboristSite Operative
Is one thing some of you may be forgetting. You aren't getting paid just to ascend the tree and come down. The 5min it takes to set-up and break down rope-walking/SRT sytem or a wraptor can easily be shaved off. All the extra energy you save you can spend actually doing the work that you are getting paid for. On big trees I much rather have whatever energy I can go towards actually getting around and pruning verse ascending it.
I actually would have gotten a wraptor but it was a toss up between that and a GRCS this spring. But I went with the GRCS being I would get more use out of it and is an extra selling point as a sub to many of companies that don't have one.
I actually would have gotten a wraptor but it was a toss up between that and a GRCS this spring. But I went with the GRCS being I would get more use out of it and is an extra selling point as a sub to many of companies that don't have one.
voxac30dude
ArboristSite Operative
I just got my Kong Tender Ascender in the mail today!! i cant wait to use it on my foot locking setup.
tree md
Addicted to ArboristSite
I've got a large Pin Oak to do tomorrow. One good size limb that is making contact with the shingles, a decent size hanger from storm damage and four or five smaller dead limbs near the top. I will likely footlock this one. I love my CMI foot ascender but I find that it can really mar up bark when I am working in the tree. Especially on smooth barked trees like a Pin Oak. This tree is prolly the oldest on the street. I want to make sure I don't scar it up and leave a good impression with the HO and folks in the neighborhood.
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