old school or hitchclimber?

[Widow Shooter]

Okay, I haven't been climbing all that long, started with a split tail and a 4 dee harness.
Worked out okay, HATED the flopping of the 1 biner when slacked...

Did a lot of research and have been climbing on a hitchclimber set-up for about a month of so and I love it!

Using 8mm beeline, or ultra-tech, or tech cord eye and eyes, either 30 or 32", depending on the know used ( VT or distel).

A hitchclimber pulley ( and yes, you have to try it to believe how much better it is than the mickey... ) and 2 ultra "O" oval biners from DMM, with the bottom one held captive with a bandit rubber band.

I thought the split tail was adequate until I climbed this, and don't get me wrong, I still use the split tail where situations warrant, like teaching a new climber rec-climbing... and it is still a cracking set-up.
I just think the whole HC set-up is super efficient and I like the single attachment point , less to keep an eye on .

So? on this rainy and windy day up here, I pose this question to all of you

What is it? old school? or in-line connections?

 

[simplypete]

I'm pretty new to climbing as well. I use a hitchclimber with the pulley on my bridge. Double or single using a gri gri and rads. I like it. Haven't climbed much with hitches, although I have messed with them enough to now how just in case.

 

[Burnham]

The hitchclimber really is the bee's knees...I'm still trying to figure out why it functions so much more smoothly than a standard style micopulley slack tender. I'm liking it, but for one quibble. I would prefer a bit more seperation between the legs of my lifeline at the saddle.

 

[High Scale]

I have been using the Hitch Climber for about two years, love it!

 

[Bounce]

I only climb in the split tail method these days. As I see it, there are 3 advantages of the split tail method over the old school fixed tail method:
1. You don't have to cut off the end of your rope periodically to get rid of the piece damaged by the knot.
2. Your climbing line can work as if it were a flipline when you need it to, so you don't have to carry 2 fliplines.
3. It is WAY easier to advance your tie-in in the tree because you don't have to untie and re-tie your knot.

 

[stig]

I use the setup that you mention, with one exception: I use a steel carabiner on my climb line, it makes it so much easier to throw the line over a high branch.

 

[Fiddler]

Split tail w/ snaps on rope & tail.
I am going to be experimenting a bit with micro-pulley & hitchclimber set-ups, as well as a few different friction hitches, over the next few weeks during down time.

 

[Widow Shooter]

you won't regret it fiddler it has made my climbing so much more efficient.

 

[Fiddler]

Walked down to Vermeer & picked up a 10mm eye & eye bee line. Have True Blue & PI climb lines & will try some different hitches on each. Won't be able to get Hitchclimber 'till later this week.

 

[Widow Shooter]

personally, I like the 8mm beeline best, but I'm sure you will love the set-up.
What hitches are you gonna try?

 

[SkwerI]

Dave, my first 'advanced' hitch was the Distel. When looking at the picture, I could see the similarities with the tautline hitch I had been using previously and it gave me confidence in the hitch. After about 3 weeks I went to the VT and have used that ever since.

It all boils down to friction and release. No need to get super fancy with it, just a few wraps for friction and a couple braids to maintain shape. Dial it in to fit your needs from there.

 

[Fiddler]

Was planning on trying both Distel & VT as well as Shwabish (spllng?) & icicle. Figure thats plenty to keep me having fun for a bit.

 

[Widow Shooter]

Tried 'em all like the Distel and VT best, sometimes the Schwab bites too hard I find.

 

[jefflovstrom@sb]

I can only wonder what it will be like in about 5-10 years from know! I would kinda like old school to be taught, if not used, at least talked about. Some of the old old school sure helped me out a time or two. Great thread.
Jeff

 

[Widow Shooter]

I agree

And, the old closed system with a taut line or Blakes still has it merits..

Kinda like learning a Munter; just in case

I always carry a William Ball on my belay loop, just for the time i may need it.

 

[Bermy]

The hitchclimber really is the bee's knees...I'm still trying to figure out why it functions so much more smoothly than a standard style micopulley slack tender. I'm liking it, but for one quibble. I would prefer a bit more seperation between the legs of my lifeline at the saddle.

I think one reason it is so much more smooth is that the hitchclimber always has 'upward' pressure on it due to both hitch and climb line tail biners being attached to it. The HC never goes slack, stays up next to the hitch all the time.
With a single micropulley, unless its attached to the terminal leg of the climb line with a micro prussic, when attached to a dog snap or even the biner, it flops down when the pull comes off it, then has to go up again when the pull comes on...

Another reason maybe the VT/HC combo, I find the VT releases more completely than any other hitch and so slides much more easily, with any kind of distel or blakes and a single pulley, I was always struggling against the firmness of the hitch, really had to pull hard for the pulley to put enough pressure on it to release. Even the distel on the HC doesn't work as well as the VT I have found.

One last reason (I started typing with one then the thoughts came...!) is the type of cord you find works best for you...a VT tied with beeline does not work as well for me as icetail, but then my main line is XTC, maybe that has something to do with it...?:what: Have I posed more questions than the one I attempted to answer...

 

[pantheraba]

?:what: Have I posed more questions than the one I attempted to answer...

Hahaha....WOMEN!!!

Yeah...but good questions. Good suppositions.

 

[Bermy]

Hahaha....WOMEN!!!

Yeah...but good questions. Good suppositions.

Got to keep you guys on the hop!!!

That means keep you moving BTW, not on the beer!!
(cross ocean phraseology sometimes doesn't translate well :-)

 

[Widow Shooter]

that would be "hops" Fiona....

 

[canadiantreeman]

I can only wonder what it will be like in about 5-10 years from know! I would kinda like old school to be taught, if not used, at least talked about. Some of the old old school sure helped me out a time or two. Great thread.
Jeff

Amen, I've showed up to a job or two where the old school spur and flipline fellas (they don't top-rope) needed a hand and have had to tie off with an old school closed system to help em finish it (also had to throw on the old weaver d-ring saddle ...lol no offense Butch.) I suppose it was my arse for not bringing my gear, but its nice to be able to tie that old system in a pinch.

Speaking of HC setups, my coworker had a go on mine the other day...(I use a sling with a biner and pully for a false crotch) and was amazed by the smoothness. I, for one, will never go back.

 

[treesmith]

Dave, my first 'advanced' hitch was the Distel. When looking at the picture, I could see the similarities with the tautline hitch I had been using previously and it gave me confidence in the hitch. After about 3 weeks I went to the VT and have used that ever since.

It all boils down to friction and release. No need to get super fancy with it, just a few wraps for friction and a couple braids to maintain shape. Dial it in to fit your needs from there.

Brian, how long is your hitch cord, both before tying and after the knots? I made up an eye-to-eye with Icetail and tried it with a micro-pulley and VT, but it seems too long. I think I used five wraps, three braids. Great for ascending, rather speedy for descents.

 

[Bermy]

Speaking of HC setups, my coworker had a go on mine the other day...(I use a sling with a biner and pully for a false crotch) and was amazed by the smoothness. I, for one, will never go back.

Ditto! I use the sling, biner and pulley more often than not these days, with the HC, its like Otis Elevator.

 

[lumberjack]

Brian, how long is your hitch cord, both before tying and after the knots? I made up an eye-to-eye with Icetail and tried it with a micro-pulley and VT, but it seems too long. I think I used five wraps, three braids. Great for ascending, rather speedy for descents.

Nothing wrong with speed! Next time we're together we can play with different setups if you like. FWIW, a scaffold/fishermans/double overhand knot takes about 10" of cordage in the 8mm variety.

 

[brendonv]

48" untied hitch cord for me, 3 wraps, three braids, double fishermans with a small tail.

smooth

 

[canadiantreeman]

Just got me some spliced hitch cord the other day...looking forward to wearing my current one out so I can use it up! 8mm HRC (I think )