That's what I did, Sean. Here it is...
The protective covers do not inspire. The large nerf football-like one certainly would protect any struck item, but using it will render any advantages the RK offers moot. The smaller vinyl cover offers less protection, but still hurts the intended performance significantly, imo. If I felt the need for either in a specific situation, I’d prefer to use a throw bag instead.
Foam Protector Sleeve offers the greatest protection in the industry of any throw weight. I have used it over a greenhouse. Your moot point does not make sense since the foam sleeve will slide off during tip isolation or RopeKnight retrieval. RopeKnight with foam sleeve is approx 2.5” by 7”. This nominal size makes it comparable to standard throw bag size considering throw bags expand and malleable form consistently gets stuck. RopeKnight with foam is more aerodynamic and softer than any weight on the market and is an improvement in targeting and tip isolation..
I have provided the optimum tool for performance and two options for protection of targets, each with only minor sacrifice in performance. The vinyl sleeve is the perfect compromise. Soft smooth vinyl with high impact dampening rubber.
This is our Youtube promo video https://www.youtube.com/user/Ropearmour
Hand throwing is fine if you use one hand…if you prefer the cradle throw, you’ll have to figure out how to attach a ring to the tail end of the RK. See Thomas’ website for help there. You’ll end up with a snag point, I think.
The RopeKnight with the addition of the split/key ring will improve accuracy, we provide an easy to use ring that does exactly as a traditional throw bag ring and is virtually snag free. The split ring is wire in essence and will pull apart and free up the RopeKnight and throw line for retrieval or tip isolation. The snag point referred to is common with throw bags at the ring or the bag itself. Options or alternate solutions and freedom for personal creativity is what sets RopeArmour apart from classic throw weights. When used optimally the only snag point with the RopeKnight is where the throwline enters the RopeKnight point and that is approximately 3/32”. Traditional throw bag snag point is 1’ to 1 ½”.
This is the key difference between bags and RopeKnight. Throw line and RopeKnight are one smooth and continuous device.
If you are a Bigshot user, as I am, I have to say the only way I was comfortable with my personal safety and risk to the rubbers of the sling was with a trigger release. I had bad luck hand releasing, due to the RK not fitting the BS pouch well. A tiny bump against the pole would dislodge the RK from the barely balanced location across the pouch. If you want to launch the RK, I really advise use of a trigger.
I am a BigShoter as well and yes this does happen on the rare occasion. I do not blame the BigShot, honestly it is simply a matter of technique. Also I DO NOT believe in bad luck! The BS can be adapted with a bit of rubber stitched into the pouch or application of rubber cement or other pliable adhesive like silicon or caulking compound to avoid it slipping. The RopeKnight slips and slides thru the tree crown and it will be sure to slip the grip of the pouch if care is not taken. Slip and sliding thru the crown is far more important than the occasional flub imho.
The RopeKnight most certainly does ricochet, unless you can do as Thomas instructs and ALWAYS throw accurately and carefully
. I fear I cannot measure up to this bar. It’s worse on BS shots, due to the higher launch speeds no doubt. The problem is especially obvious in the Dougs, where I aim to pass over a branch right next to the trunk. A few inches off, hit the bole, and it flies away crazy.
But here’s the thing…the RopeKnight actually works better than I expected it to, once you get it in the canopy. It does pull free from one or two wraps around a branch better than a bag. Really. The tubular shape and tapered ends drop past a branch without sitting on top of it like a bag sometimes frustratingly will. You can pull it gently up and rock it over a limb without the overshoot that a bag frequently will do. In general, I’d say it is quite superior at manipulations to isolate a tie in point. I don’t buy Thomas’ hype that the “rocket ship” shape flies any truer than a bag, but it truly does work well at isolation tricks.
True, the ricochet I will not try to argue. I will add that the high speed of the RopeKnight coupled with the BS can be toned down. You do not need to crank that sucka so hard. Take it easy, RopeKnight requires less effort. It’s a double ended bullet for Pete’s sake. On the other hand if crown piercing accuracy is a priority than the RopeKnight excels at this ever more important task, up into the crown thru the target thru tree obstacles to the ground thru to tip isolation and then all over again as the RopeShield smoothing over the throw line to access rope transition. Which is what many agree is a great and valuable time saver money making device.
I will suggest the inconvenience of a ricochet is minor in comparison to the RopeKnights added benefits. Rocketships fly better than bags...
For my use, it is a bit light…it doesn’t have enough weight to consistently pull 100+ feet of throw line over a branch and to the ground. The instructions say I can add a piece of steel rod into the cavity of the smaller cone…I didn’t try that, but if one were to pursue it, I see potential conflicts with attachment of the throw line.
The initial kit lost in transport also included the 9/16” brass weight at 2 ounces. The insertion of the brass weight easily allowed for the insertion of the throwline as well as capturing the brass wt with the securing bolt.
I used this added weight for about 6 months and found it superfluous. What I did find is higher, faster and more accurate shoots because of improved focus with less pull effort. The added weight was not needed 1. Because it flies fast and maintains it speed for longer and its bullet shape skates and slips and slides past tree branches with great effectiveness. How much more effective? Well how much faster can you ski down a hill on your ass compared to steel edged skis? Much, much, faster. Right! Either way the option is there for you to easily add weight to the interior with maintenance of the RopeKnight's optimal geometrics.
And those instructions
…2 pages of closely spaced warnings, tips, and directions for use. I doubt most climbers I know would wade through it all. There are good tidbits there, no doubt. I spent the better part of 30 minutes on them, and did learn some stuff.
Sorry about the instructions. I think I deserve a gold medal for that alone. I did the best I could without having a team of Lawyers and engineers etc looking it over. It is a difficult thing to instruct with words. Many times I wish I had just stuck to tree work. Sucker for punishment I guess. 30 minutes to read and weeks to write. I feel your pain sir.
One use I was anticipating being very good, didn’t turn out to be so for me…the RopeShield. The smaller cone is sized to fit 13mm and smaller lines, and since I use a spliced eye climbing rope, it doesn’t fit. You could use the bigger cone, but it’s too big, the fit is sloppy and the tapered end is much bigger than the small cone…not nearly so slippery for pulling through a branch union or a friction saver.
I have to disagree regarding the RopeShield.
This video sums it up rather well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6U_Vk_KGIg
Many arbos have commented that it is the RopeShield that is there ace in the hole for positioning ropes.
The larger opening end of the smaller cone will smooth over ≤ 5/8” rope or the eye of a ½” rope. I have the pics to prove it. The bigger cone can be used in tandem to create a larger area to slip past an obstacle and is useful for positioning ropes less than an equal to 7/8”
http://www.ropearmour.com/how-it-works.shtml
In the end, this review does not constitute a ringing endorsement, I know. On the other hand, as I said it does work much better than I expected. I rather doubt I’d spend my money on one, but I can see where some might, and I’d not think them silly to do so.
I thank you for the endorsement none the less. Ringing well into the future and thankful for your efforts and taking part in this excercise.
Let me also give props to Thomas himself…he went out on a limb with me, knowing I was far from positive regarding his product. That was pretty brave.
The RopeKnight is art, science and technology. Art will always be argued and so will science and technology. The truth is that the science worksat a point in time and that is what gives me and others the confidence to use this to get us home to loved ones on time with a lil more cash in the wallet and to make rope positioning a whole lot easier.
You can do your own math. For me and the trees I work in the tool pays for itself the 1st time it gets your lines and ropes into a difficult tree. Its about making money and keeping money in your pocket...
BTW, I have some decent pictures of the RK and can post some if anyone wants to see the device close up.
