Spiderjack harness

[Garden Of Eden]

Help, seriously considering getting one, need to change rope anyway. However, my harness now, attaches at about my belly button, maybe slightly lower. I read the spiderjack works best with a low attachment point. Any advice concerning? Thanks

Jeff

 

[Grace Tree]

The saddle attachment point shouldn't make any difference as the Spiderjack is basically the same as a friction hitch. Since you can pull slack from under the SJ you should come up with a leg between the saddle and the SJ that puts the SJ just within reach with your arms extended for climbing. You can clip is closer to the saddle when you're working.
Phil

 

[Garden Of Eden]

That's what I was thinking. I think I read it on their website, but I'm not sure. Thanks. What rope do you use with it, and do you like it?

 

[Grace Tree]

I went on the Spiderjack description after I posted and I saw that too. Not sure why. Maybe you'll get some other answers although there aren't a lot of guys using them. I use Tachyon and I'm happy with it. I use a Lockjack and have done so for at least 5 years for this reason. I climb by myself 90% of the time and I want a system that will go from ascend to work to descend with little or no changes. Way back when I went up 75' to pull a hanger. I was using Mar-Bars which were a pretty efficient way to climb. When I went to switch over to come down the rope slipped through my hands and I just barely caught it with my feet. That scared me and made me change my methods. I doubt that the Lockjack or Spiderjack are very efficient considering the bulk and compared to some of the new stuff that available but it works for me so I have no plans to change. I tried the Unicender and don't care much for it. And I already know it's not safe to climb alone.
Phil

 

[imagineero]

Poison Ivy (or the hi viz verion poison Hi vee) or the same rope in a different colour called blue moon are popular choices with the spiderjack. I know 2 climbers climbing on the SJ and they both use poison Hivee.

If you do go with the SJ, stick it out for at least a month, every day. Don't be tempted to go back to what you know. Every climber I know who has tried the SJ didn't initially like it (myself included). It's a very different feeling from being on a friction hitch and takes some time to get used to. If you can't commit the time then save your money and stick with hitches. Do try one out before buying if you can, but that may not tell you a lot. It takes a month or so to get confidence in it before you can use it to the same level you'd use a hitch.

Shaun

 

[Garden Of Eden]

Thanks imagineero. I'll grab some hivee. I got no problem sticking it out, Rome wasn't built in a day. I tried one out about a month ago, and loved it. It's finicky, and moody, but I think I'm really going to like it...wondering now about used ones if people are buying them and not using it.

 

[imagineero]

I've wondered about that too.... I've offered to buy a couple off people who I know bought them and went back to hitches, but they seem to hang on to them.

There are some good youtube vids by a climber in australia showing how to workaround the little querks of the device. One of the big ones is that it self tends when you dont really want it to, and that you need to manually set it sometimes. It certainly has a broader range of friction than what is capable even with VT style hitches, especially at the 'low friction' end of the scale.... but I feel it's more suitable to sport style climbers - skinnier guys who are into leaps and rapid descents. For big fat bastards like myself that simply need to get the job done it probably doesn't offer a lot of advantages. The small percentage gained by such an efficient device is overshadowed by the size of my ass.

Shaun

 

[arborjockey]

HATS OFF TO THE HUSKY CLIMBERS. YOU GOTTA WANT IT A LITTLE MORE TO BE A BIG BOY CLIMBER. YEAH BIG SUAN EVERYTHING IN SHERRILL HAS DOPPED IN PRICE FOR THE RECESSION. SOME STUFF IN HALF. SJ AND A COUPLE OTHERS HAVE HELD THEIR PRICES. TO MUCH $ FOR ME BOYZ.

DOES THE SJ WORK WELL IN MESSY CONDITIONS? BIG REMOVALS WITH LOTS OF CHIPS AND DIRT AL OVER . NOTHING GETS IN IT?

MUST BE NICE TO BE AROUND OTHER CLIMBERS WHO OWN THEY'RE OWN STUFF. MY ISLANDS FULL OF IDIOTS WHO CLIMB WITH CHAINS FOR LANYARDS AND OLD ROTTEN ROPE FOR LIFE SUPPORT. AND THATS COMPANY ISSUED.

SOME REASON THE ISA DON'T REACH DEEP INTO THESE PARTS SON. ACTUALLY LAST YEAR A COMPANY FLEW 5 GUYS TO TAKE THE TEST ONLY 1 PASSED. GOOD JOB CARL THE " CERTIFIED TREE WORKER" :msp_confused:

 

[Nailsbeats]

I have a Spiderjack that I don't use at the moment. I like it just fine but went on to try different hitches and now fly on a VT. Hitch cord is cheaper, lays better without bulk and is easy to inspect.

Maybe I'll put it back into service and play with it a bit.

 

[arborjockey]

VT OR BUST. NOW THAT YOU CAN GET 8mm CORD IN BULK WHAT COULB BE BETTER?
IFFING AND I WAS YOU NAILSBEAT I WOULD GET RID OF THAT SJ YOUR NOT USING. YEAH YEAH THATS WHAT I WOULD DO. YOU KNOW WHAT I CAN EVEN GIVE YOU AN ADDRESS TO SEND IT TO.

 

[Garden Of Eden]

Ya, I'm like 185, so I'm not too big, and I'm a fan of high speed stuff. I dunno, it just looks like its designed for what I want. I'm not sure if I'll like it or hate it, kinda why I don't wanna sink hundreds into it, ya know?

 

[arborjockey]

When your over it send it to me I'll run it for awhile. Even pay for the shipping:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[MattB]

I spend too much energy managing the tail of my rope. Using a prusick cord and getting pitch on my rope just wears me out.
How do the spiderjack work if you get your rope sticky?

 

[treemandan]

I spend too much energy managing the tail of my rope. Using a prusick cord and getting pitch on my rope just wears me out.
How do the spiderjack work if you get your rope sticky?

It don't.

 

[PassionForTrees]

guys, ive been on spiderjack and lockjack sport now for few months and man Ill never go back to hitch cord if I dont have too. as for the harness low attachment point being this thread was about that at first. I am going to buy a new saddle at the TCIA show in Hartford, maybe get a feel for a few and purchase w possible discount. but the function of pulling rope above your spider is a new thing for me and I like it, picture pulling above your hitch cord and not having to manually tend the slack, a lower attachment point with the spider allows you to pull more and direct the rope more in line with spider to self tend the slack. I am also using it up high at it's highest point on some climbs so I can just pull and pull as it will self advance, this makes it nice but you have to figure out what YOUR length is so you can reach it to come down still. So versatile to have different options of use. The lockjack sport is my secondary tie in option for double crotching as it is mid line attachable, even though it acts like ON / OFF switch I still prefer it over the hitch cord. everyday getting more used to some of the advancements! never thought I would consider a rope bridge but now seeing the benefits of use with a spider to keep the devise closer to you , you can incorporate a swivel and little more freedom left and right and adjust ability to fit your style. Thought I would share to you all! Climb Safe fella's!