QUESTIONS ABOUT CLIMBING

[Old Monkey]

It's a solid climb line.

 

[rumination]

Safety Blue was my first rope if I recall correctly. It's still a great line even when compared to all the new ones out there.

I climb on skinny Velocity these days. For a while it was because it was the right diameter to use with my Trango Cinch. Now it's mostly because it's the lightest line available and that helps a lot when trying to get all my gear under the weight limits for airline check in. And I like the way it feels too.

 

[stehansen]

I've liked every one except Arborplex.

 

[Burnham]

I loved Arborplex, compared to the three strand Goldline I first learned climbing on, let me tell you!

Other lines are better today, some are much better...but dollar for dollar, and pound for pound, it's not a bad rope.

Blue Streak is hard to beat.

 

[sawinredneck]

Arbor plex is a decent line to get started with, but I recomend a split tail for the friction hitch, I tried using the tail for the hitch and it was just too slick on itself for my taste.
The cheap Buckingham with the floating dee is a good saddle for part timers like us, just make sure you try it on first, that was the big thing for me! I'm a rather large fellow and I wanted on that fit so I bought local becasue I wanted to be sure!
Get a couple of good 'biners, they are handy in a lot more ways than you have though of yet!
I also cannot stres enough about the mechanical adjuster on the steel core flip line, I am using a friction hitch that just pisses me off every time I need to adjust it, I've got to get one!!! But the steel core is the ticket with spikes, no doubt about it!
These guys will get you going straight away!

 

[gf beranek]

Arborplex is a springy rope and you really got to set your knots tight with it, or they will spring loose. Took a couple of short falls in the tree when my taught line hitch sprung loose. Yeah it was rigged old school.

Like all things in this work you just got to keep you eye on it.

 

[Bounce]

That is a darn good point about Arbor Plex. It is real springy. So much so that some big tree service companies have told their employees they can't use it for fear their bowlines will come undone. I noticed this started happening right after your first working climber series came out Gerry. The part in your video where you show it coming undone may have had something to do with this.

 

[gf beranek]

Sean, the springy characteristic of arborplex is common with many 12 strand solid, square braids. When you take the individual strands and un weave them, in the middle you will find a set of stiff larger, and clear, strands. Which are the primary strands of the rope that make it stiff and springy.

I used arborplex for years before realizing this. Just an old school boy out of the woods, you know. But it is a characteristic of the rope that should be better understood by the consumer.

Arborplex is a good economical and long wearing rope that is well suited for our work. You just got to understand it.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I hate overly dynamic ropes, 'lest I expect falling on it. Then, I can dig it.

 

[thattreeguy]

i liked arbor plex for palms, and i was using a suicide knot
2 down 1 up
now id us it for tying down my trailer
and no mor sui knot

 

[RANCHER]

Hey Rancher.

Where in Sonoma Are you?

Petaluma has an "arborist" store called Lars Engines on N. Mcdowell.

You can choose from several different climb lines including a normal one like safety blue.

Sorry for the late reply, I haven't been to Lars Engines yet. I've been to all the others Sonoma County, and Buck's in Novato, which is probably my favorite saw shop. I've talked to them on the phone, though. I think they're more a Husky dealer than Stihl (at least that was the impression that I got when talking with them).

Buck's carries Buckingham spikes and a lot of other climbing gear also. I got a new catalog from Bishop and I've been talking to WesSpur, so I think I'm set.

 

[RANCHER]

Arbor plex is a decent line to get started with, but I recomend a split tail for the friction hitch, I tried using the tail for the hitch and it was just too slick on itself for my taste.
The cheap Buckingham with the floating dee is a good saddle for part timers like us, just make sure you try it on first, that was the big thing for me! I'm a rather large fellow and I wanted on that fit so I bought local becasue I wanted to be sure!
Get a couple of good 'biners, they are handy in a lot more ways than you have though of yet!
I also cannot stres enough about the mechanical adjuster on the steel core flip line, I am using a friction hitch that just pisses me off every time I need to adjust it, I've got to get one!!! But the steel core is the ticket with spikes, no doubt about it!
These guys will get you going straight away!

Thanks for the advise. I always like to try on shoes and boots, for the same reason; mail-order just doesn't work well for me, especially with boots. So, that's probably sound advice to try on a harness. I'm studying some DVD's and books right now. You climbers are a pretty clever lot...