the best line

[stihlman95]

hello gentlemen, what is the best line for single line climbing. is snakebite the best or do they just say that. i noticed alot of people say they have their own type of line. is there any really good line out there?

 

[Fireaxman]

I have Arborplex, Arbormaster Blue Streak, Yale Spearment, some New England Kernmantle, Poison Ivy, Blaze, and Snakebite. For SRT exclusively the Snakebite is undoubtedly the best of what I have, but it does not do well as a multi-purpose rope (SRT and DdRT). Too stiff, does not handle friction hitches well. Ivy is my favorite multi-purpose rope.

I had settled on the Ivy as my favorite because it is such a good DdRT rope and it is reasonably good for SRT, but a freind showed up with the Snakebite and ruined the simplicity of my system. Climbing on the two ropes side by side the Snakebite is so significantly better for SRT that I just bought 200 feet so I wont be borrowing his. Man, that stuff is like climbing on cable. No stretch, no wasted energy. Good stuff. But I'll be watching your post to see if anybody likes something else better. Hope not. Already laid my money down.

 

[stihlman95]

so the snakebite is the best for single line use. also, i have the $36 bee line prusick which is 10 mm. i used it just on a cheap rope to hold me approximately 5' in the air. everytime i tried to decend i would let off to stop then tried again but it was so tight it would not release me. is it just the cheap rope catching me from dropping me?

 

[oscar4883]

That prussik is going to get tight if you are using it on a single line. If I am understanding you correctly.

 

[stihlman95]

thats correct. is it suppose to get so tight that it cant be released by hand, you have to lift yourself up to loosen it and maybe it might let you descend.

 

[Fireaxman]

Friction Hitches Do Not Work Well for SRT

No, it is not just the cheap rope. You need Mechanical Ascenders and Descenders for SRT climbing. Friction hitches (Prussic knots, for instance) are designed for DdRT (Dynamic) systems. They will jam up on you if you try to use them on static climbing systems, particularly in descent mode.

 

[stihlman95]

all i use is spikes,i just use to rope to swing branch to branch and only to descend. i dont use it to climb. i just swing and come out of a tree with it. thats why i use the single line technique with the prusick cord. i really just need it to descend on. my way is ok, right.

 

[oscar4883]

Do a search for doubled rope technique. I take it you only do removals, hence the spikes? Do you use two lanyards to get around obstacles? A regular DRT climbing system is what you need to learn IMO. Its been mentioned several times in this thread that friction hitches are not great at all on a single line. Pick up the Tree Climbers Companion from a site sponsor or hook up with another climber you can trust.

 

[beastmaster]

In the last two months I've been trying to perfect the perfect SRT system for my self using the min. amount of equipment. It didn't take long to rule out prussics.(only) Especially 10mm bee line. I got stuck hanging from a branch when it got so tight using a blakes hitch I couldn't loosen it. Luckily it was in my back yard and only 6 ft up.
Several hundred dollars later I now own some cool pieces of equipment I'll hardly ever use, but found the system that suit me best(for now)
As far as descending a single line an 8 plate works pretty well if your not planing on working on the way down and the price isn't to bad.
With all that being said I think Blaze is a good dual use line. beastmaster

 

[Fireaxman]

all i use is spikes,i just use to rope to swing branch to branch and only to descend. i dont use it to climb. i just swing and come out of a tree with it. thats why i use the single line technique with the prusick cord. i really just need it to descend on. my way is ok, right.

No. Not right. No way. Negative. NOT OK to use a prussic (or any friction hitch) to descend SRT.

 

[Fireaxman]

...... As far as descending a single line an 8 plate works pretty well if your not planing on working on the way down and the price isn't to bad.
With all that being said I think Blaze is a good dual use line. beastmaster

I fully agree with beastmaster on the Blaze. Understanding better how you want to use the rope, I think Blaze is the better for your application. Harder cover than PI resists picking a little better, and it is lighter (6#/100feet vs 6.5). More supple than Snakebite, takes knots better, and can be used very comfortably for DdRT or SRT. In fact I use my Blaze almost exclusively for descending a spar (SRT, with Petzle I'd descender ) after taking off tops and for a safety while topping before a take down.

However, I do not like working from a Figure 8 descender. They are cheap, and they are great fun to burn out of the tree with on a fast recreational descent, but for actual WORK it is too easy to get distracted and turn loose of the tail without tying off the 8. Too tempting to just pause for a second on the way down to knock out that hanger without tying off, forgetting I am NOT on the STOP, GrisGris, or I'd. Ooops! Somebody call 911.

 

[CNBTreeTrimming]

Velocity rope, blue streak split tail blakes hitch, and piranha descender.

 

[beastmaster]

I totally agree with Fireaxman the 8 plate is useless and probably even dangerous to work off of. But boy is it fun after limbing a 100 ft pine to rappel down the tipping line in a semi free fall.
I've been using the gri gri a lot for long descends. It like taking the elevator. Really smooth. beastmaster

 

[stihlman95]

i just use 1 lanyard to move around trees. i use no rope at all at this time. i climp up,do my work and then climb down when im done.

 

[freeweight]

jesus ,just get somthing cheap but reliable right now if u want to research a rope

saftey blue is really nice ,really strong ,and it has a bright blue core that shows when its worn or hit with the saw

 

[beastmaster]

Yeah, you can't go wrong with safety blue. Everyone I know started with it. It's the work horse of the climbing lines. Reasonably priced too.

 

[Fireaxman]

i just use 1 lanyard to move around trees. i use no rope at all at this time. i climp up,do my work and then climb down when im done.

I would definetly encourage you to continue your research on an SRT "Escape" line. Spiking your way down off a spar is OK if everything went well on the job, but being chased down by a nest of wasps or (worse) trying to manage that lanyard with a badly cut arm, leg, or face from a chain saw accident will definetly make you wish for a faster, smoother exit.

Besides, and on a more pleasant note, its great fun.

 

[Tminus]

I agree with the safety blue. I know I learned on it, and almost everyone I climb with learned on it too. Beastmaster said it best, a real workhorse.

 

[Fireaxman]

I am sure Safety Blue is good rope, but I think it is 13mm isn't it? If you wanted to use it for an SRT bail-out line you would have to be careful which descender you use. Grigri, STOP, and standard size I'd for instance are only recomended up to 11mm. Large I'd works on 13 mm, but it costs $225.

Also, the Sherrill rope chart shows stretch on Safety Blue a whopping 4.5%. Stretch might not be a bad thing if you are just using it for a bailout line, but it will work you much harder than Snakebite (stretch 0.63%) or Blaze (2.2%) if you try to ascend on it.

 

[stihlman95]

well guys, i just got my figure 8 in today. i got it from wesspur for 30 bucks. i got the aluminum rescue 8. you can use any size rope on these figure 8's can't you. i was going to get the safety blue for it. which is 13 mm :rockn: