Mechanical or au natural

[Pancake]

I started out with a split tail system, then skipped a step to the sport jack system. After some time I have decieded that the sport jack better suits a more agressive climbing style than mine. I have recently within the past month began experimenting with various hitch and cord combos and also re read several articles on hitches and their beginnings. My question is- What rope/cord/hitch combos do you like and why?

 

[BostonBull]

I climb with a Mitchoacan, micro pulley, and Velocity.

I like the Mitchoacan becasue it is tied almost identical to a Blakes except with an eye-eye prussic cord. The micro pulley is just there to 'help'. This hitch is pretty much self tending. The velocity is nice, once your hands get used to it, plenty of slicknes over limbs yet sticky enough to footlock or pull yourself up with and LIGHT!

 

[Adkpk]

I use a split tail and a blakes on arborplex. Works for me. Keeping it simple.

 

[beowulf343]

Similar to what the Bull uses. In fact, he was the one who turned me onto the Mitchoacan(Martin.) Thanks man.

1/2" xtc, 10 mm beeline, and a micro. The hardest part for me was finally getting a split tail spliced to exactly the right length. (The length is not essential but i like my hitch close to the pulley/biner) Now that i have several the length i like, i've been using this setup primarily for the last 3 or 4 months.

 

[Magnum783]

I agree with the martin with and Ice tail line. All based on a arbormaster climbing line. Either that or a blakes with a spliced eye split tail.

Jared

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

VT, I like it because it is very sensative/responsive. This also means that it needs watching.

How I tie it depends on what I'm tieing with. Currently Velocity with 3/8 Stable Braid on the becket of a Fixie. 3 turns and 3 braids, same direction.

On 1/2 inch line I need to reverse the direction of the braids from the turns. (or is that bends and braids, since it is rope on rope?)

 

[Pancake]

Would that be 3 turns and 3 tresses? Has anyone tried the Knut on velocity?

 

[Pancake]

What about cordage? 8mm ultratech or 8mm beeline (or 10mm). Also going to try the ice tail. Looking for a speedy, smooth decent

 

[treeseer]

. Looking for a speedy, smooth decent

I use tautline hitch on blaze most of the time, but today I used it on a new arborplex becasue I used my helper's tip to finish a tree. I've tried vt and others but like jps says they all have thier issues. tlh ain't broke so I ain't fixin it, unless I get sold on the benefits of more complicated rigs vs. the cost.

Hey, it's worked for 42 years...:rockn: :yoyo:

 

[rahtreelimbs]

I use 5/16" Sta-Set with a Knut hitch on either Safety Blue or Blaze!!!


Micro pulley is the Hitchclimber!!!


I am planning on re-trying the VT!!!

 

[newguy18]

When I do climb I use the tautline hitch.I like it and it has always worked for me and i could never get the blakes hitch tied right.

 

[rbtree]

Vt all the way....works perfectly for me, on any rope, and with whatever hitch cordage I use.....why go to anything else? Same goes for everyone I've trained/showed it to.

 

[clearance]

I use tautline hitch on blaze most of the time, but today I used it on a new arborplex becasue I used my helper's tip to finish a tree. I've tried vt and others but like jps says they all have thier issues. tlh ain't broke so I ain't fixin it, unless I get sold on the benefits of more complicated rigs vs. the cost.

Hey, it's worked for 42 years...:rockn: :yoyo:

The man is right, if it ain't broke don't fix it. Me too, works good.

 

[treeseer]

Thanks to Dan and Roger; I should give the vt another chance.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

I have a hard time keeping a straight face when someone tells me they climb on the tautline hitch.
It's not that they are not good climbers.......it's just that they are working too hard.

I've never seen a tauntline set up for self tending.

If you are not using a self tending hitch advancement system you are working harder than you have to. Being able to remove slack with one hand is a major climbing advantage.

This stuff isn't rocket science.

Hard to believe that guys won't spring for a $5 dog leash snap or $20 for a proper micropulley to make their climbing easier!!!

 

[RedlineIt]

Another VT user here.

I've got some spliced end ones with a heat resistant wrap sheath, but their legal department made them apply 2 1/2" inches of stiff and clumsy rating warnings on one leg, keeps your hitch too far away, don't waste your money.

I find 8mm Sherrill Utility cord ideal, tie nice tight DFL's on the ends. I've got one dialed in for 3 wraps / 3 braids, one for 4 wraps / 3 braids. I'm pretty light, but I'm still finding the four wrapper better over-all. Experimented with over/ under/ over and over/ over/ over on the braids: found no difference.

But the best thing I ever did for my VT system is to switch from the CMI micro pulley to the Petzl fixe. The sides of the Petzl are smooth, the CMI has chunky bolt end projections. I find it runs smoother, never hangs up. Verrah, verrah smooooth.

Can't imagine a long limb-walk on on the old Blakes or tautline. Wait a minute, yes I can! Been there, done that, not goin' back!


RedlineIt

 

[joesawer]

I have a hard time keeping a straight face when someone tells me they climb on the tautline hitch.
It's not that they are not good climbers.......it's just that they are working too hard.

I've never seen a tauntline set up for self tending.

If you are not using a self tending hitch advancement system you are working harder than you have to. Being able to remove slack with one hand is a major climbing advantage.

This stuff isn't rocket science.

You have never seen a taughtline hitch with a micro pully?

 

[Pancake]

I had a really good training day today with some friends. My choice today was the 10mm Bee line with a Vt- 3 wraps and 3 tresses. I spliced it up an inch shorter than the pre spliced ultratech cord from Sherrill. I am trying the Ice tail next week Vt and Distel.

 

[letigre]

whats a vt?

i climb on a 'self tending' distel hitch with 10mm technora prussik cord. occasionally i climb on the icicle hitch but it has little advantage over the distel and takes a lot longer to tie.

many climbers around here only use mechanical lockjacks, sportjacks for crane work because they release under severe pressure. personally i like seeing the wear and tear on a prussik cord and why make it more complicated that it needs to be?

oh and whats a vt? a valterian cross? french prussik?
someone explain please and a diagram would be great!

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

You have never seen a taughtline hitch with a micro pully?

Take a smaller diameter rope drop the raps of a prussic/taughtline (3/1 vs 2/2), tie off the tail end and you have a schwabish/distal. Knots that tail and tend out a lot better then the ones they are based on.

Taughtline is sloppy, binds up and creeps. It may have it's place somewhere, but it's by far not the best hitch for working a tree. Heck, the Blake's is an order of magnitude above.

Not to bust on anyone in particular, but to me climbing on a taughtline is like climbing on Arborplex, it just makes the work harder.