What friction hitch do you use and why/when?

[BRCCArborist]

I've been experimenting with different hitches lately. I'm usually a distel guy, but given my lighter weight(about 165lbs) and choice of rope(Velocity), I find it can have it's limitations. I want a hitch that can hold up a lighter weight guy without too much binding, and be easily adjustable for things like limbwalking. So, I messed around with the VT, and my co-workers own version of the VT. Both seem to hold me without so many wraps that it binds too much. Still, I feel I'll always be wanting the "perfect" hitch. What's everyones go to hitch and how does it fit your style of climbing?

 

[NCTREE]

This what I use, it's a variation of the french prussik. I tried the VT and didn't like it, it seemed to bind up on me and was harder to tend my slack. Their might be some controversy as to wether this is a good hitch for climbing. I weigh a 150lbs. I've been using this hitch for 5 years and haven't found anything that even compares. It is six wraps with none of the wraps peeled down. It takes some time for your prussik cord to break in and adapt to the hitch so when you first start climbing on it make sure you check that your hitch is grabbing when tending your slack.

 

[BRCCArborist]

NCTree, are you using that with a hitch climber type pulley?

 

[NCTREE]

A little something to add; i find that it works better on larger diameter ropes, the velocity it seems to bind slightly when decending. Works great on arbormaster ropes. If you have any beeline you could try that on the velocity. I used that before when rec climbing, still with that you must check that it's grabbing until the cord get broken in.

 

[BRCCArborist]

I use HRC, but I would like to give Beeline a shot as well.

 

[NCTREE]

NCTree, are you using that with a hitch climber type pulley?

Yes I use the hitch climber pulley when i'm climbing on my glide saddle. I usually climb on a versatile saddle where i can separate my anchor end from my hitch side, sort like a swing. In that case I use just a regular micro pulley. That is my favorite system to climb on.

 

[NCTREE]

I use HRC, but I would like to give Beeline a shot as well.

i've used HRC too, that might work a little better than tenex

 

[BRCCArborist]

It works relatively well on Velocity. Works really great on ropes like the Fly and on Tachyon. I found it performs pretty miserably on Poison Ivy, at least with my setup anyway.

 

[canopyboy]

I use a 4/2 XT (reversed VT) with Beeline on most of my 7/16 lines. But the velocity is special. I'm a bit heavier (185), but still have binding problems on velocity. So far I've found that the 3/8 diameter Ultratech in a Distel on velocity works very well with no binding. Beeline, HRC, and Tenex all bind up on velocity something fierce if you load 'em hard. 5/16 ultratech in a XT works too, but not as well as the 3/8 Distel.

 

[BRCCArborist]

I'll have to add ultratech to my try it list as well. Shame I'm on a budget these days

 

[NCTREE]

it seems the more i climb on velocity the less i like it. It's good for ascending into the tree but I had more success with poison ivy and arbormaster ropes for running around the tree.

 

[BRCCArborist]

Velocity is a great footlocking rope, but yeah, I do kind of like the beefier lines for general tree work. We have Snake Bite, and I might start getting into more Static, SRT type lines for ascending. Can't beat the velocity's light weight though.

 

[Bermie]

I've been experimenting with different hitches lately. I'm usually a distel guy, but given my lighter weight(about 165lbs) and choice of rope(Velocity), I find it can have it's limitations. I want a hitch that can hold up a lighter weight guy without too much binding, and be easily adjustable for things like limbwalking. So, I messed around with the VT, and my co-workers own version of the VT. Both seem to hold me without so many wraps that it binds too much. Still, I feel I'll always be wanting the "perfect" hitch. What's everyones go to hitch and how does it fit your style of climbing?

I use a 3/2 VT tied with ice tail on XTC Plus...and it works just fine for my 117 lbs...I switched to VT and HC from a blakes, never look back

 

[NCTREE]

I use a 3/2 VT tied with ice tail on XTC Plus...and it works just fine for my 117 lbs...I switched to VT and HC from a blakes, never look back

so you can experiment with the number of wraps + wraps peeled down to get the friction rate right for your weight? I always thought their had to be a standard for the VT.

 

[tree MDS]

I've been using the HC with the 4 wrap 2 braid VT, this is with safety blue (with spliced eye) and 8mm HRC tied with scaffold knots. I find this setup to be superior to the old taughtline for ascending, but it sucks for coming down (I hate that tiny little knot). Also you do want to make sure its got a bite before you lean back on it, especially after a long ascent (unless I dont have it dialed in just right yet - very possible). I've got it pretty short, and still the sitback factor annoys me a little. Pros and cons to both new and old styles I guess... Just my two cents.

 

[TreEmergencyB]

4 wrap 2 turn xt

love it for my climbing style advances like a dream stays together way better than a VT and runs so smooth real nice for limb walking (as long as its not to long) never bound up one me yet im 150lb

tie it with 3/8 tenex on XTC fire used beeline also but like the way the tenex performs and cost..

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I think the VT is the perfect hitch because one can "tune" it for the different rope variations much better then any other hitch.

If I go to a new rope i may add another wrap, after a pine removal gums up the rope I may drop a wrap. Some lines I will reverse the cords before I braid under the wraps....

 

[JeffL]

Micochoan or whatever you call it. Works great on new cord, but I've got a few pieces of ice tail that it gets to be a nightmare on after some loading. Still alot easier than a closed system with a tautline though!

Been thinking of trying out the distel or vt, want to find something that keeps that "just tied" feeling, where the rope runs so smooth its like theres no hitch at all when pulling slack through the pulley, yet binds right down when you sit back in it.

 

[tree MDS]

With 4 wraps and 2 braids if it's not catching well when you sit back you've got to shorten it a bit more until it catches every time.

Thanks, I appreciate the tip, I'll have to try that out.

 

[BRCCArborist]

Been thinking of trying out the distel or vt, want to find something that keeps that "just tied" feeling, where the rope runs so smooth its like theres no hitch at all when pulling slack through the pulley, yet binds right down when you sit back in it.

Like I said above, I have problems with the Distel keeping a just tied feeling. The VT might be the way to go. I'll keep experimenting.