Rope Runner

Steve Connally · May 23, 2014

I have been ready to pull the plug on the next version of the rope runner. There was a lot of chatter for a while and nothing since. Is everyone still loving it? I climb mostly DdRT and an occasional SRT. I currently climb on a Zig Zag and love it. I can live with it not being midline attachable and love the performance. I also like the fact its compact. Hearing about the new issues with the ZZ I can only assume its a matter of time until its recalled again. If so I'm done with it. It will be a sad day for me though. So I suppose the question is, knowing I'm a mechanical friction guy is it truly worth the cash or is it just a really cool toy? Where I am coming from is I'm a 44 year old 200lb guy who works around a bunch of youngsters. Whatever it takes to make my climb easier, I'm willing to spend the money, well except for the wraptor. I know this has kind of been played over in a few threads but again it's been quiet for a while.

Crazy_Jimmy · May 23, 2014

I haven't heard any buzz lately either , I would like to try one but not really want to buy anything else if I can help it.

joezilla11 · May 23, 2014

I didn't think it was for sale yet, just demos and pre-order?

Crazy_Jimmy · May 23, 2014

Theirs quite a few out already from the first batch

Steve Connally · May 24, 2014

They are taking orders again now.

Richard Mumford-yoyoman · May 24, 2014

Steve Connally said:
I have been ready to pull the plug on the next version of the rope runner. There was a lot of chatter for a while and nothing since. Is everyone still loving it? I climb mostly DdRT and an occasional SRT. I currently climb on a Zig Zag and love it. I can live with it not being midline attachable and love the performance. I also like the fact its compact. Hearing about the new issues with the ZZ I can only assume its a matter of time until its recalled again. If so I'm done with it. I
be a sad day for me though. So I suppose the question is, knowing I'm a mechanical friction guy is it truly worth the cash or is it just a really cool toy? Where I am coming from is I'm a 44 year old 200lb guy who works around a bunch of youngsters. Whatever it takes to make my climb easier, I'm willing to spend the money, well except for the wraptor. I know this has kind of been played over in a few threads but again it's been quiet for a while.

Enjoying the RR and ZZ together. I will see how the ZZ holds up, at first I thought the midline thing would be a show stopper for me but it has turned out to work well for me. I'm wondering if all the stress fractures are from side loads? I'm waiting to see what is causing them before I make a judgement.

Last leg of a three tree traverse in Richmond Park London UK.

First 2 legs of the 3 leg traverse

Two tree traverse using the Rope Runner and ZigZag

mainz germany tree cimbing in a park and cleaning the canopy of dead wood

southsoundtree · May 27, 2014

And why wouldn't your buy a Wraptor? Its going to last for a long, long time. At 44, preserving your body is a much bigger concern than for the young guys.

From my experience, I'd say learn to climb better (aka be proficient at SRT). When you can do both well, you can then experiment with what technique suits the goal. Until then, you're limited. Are you carrying extra weight? You're fighting that right along with friction the whole time. I noticed a Big difference between 180 and 200.

Steve Connally · May 27, 2014

I'm at 200. I've been that way for years and years. Its not likely that i'll slim down as my metabolism slows. I need to just bite down and take the time to mess with my Srt. I have everything I need except the time to tinker. Production, production, production. I cant affoard a wraptor.

CreTree · May 27, 2014

Yes you can. Now I want a RR.

southsoundtree · Jun 1, 2014

Do you work for yourself, Steve? A Wraptor is a money maker and career extender. At the least, do you have a ropewalker set-up?

What are you climbing on for DdRT?

What are your typical trees? How much time do you spend isolating your DdRT line and de-installing any friction saver? Convert that to non-isolated, shoot, install rope, climb without moving rope friction.

Steve Connally · Jun 1, 2014

I sort of work for myself. I am sort of a like a sub but exclusively for one company at the moment. For DdRT i'm on a zigzag. I also use half of the Anchor Bridge climbing system for ascent. It extends my zz so I can footlock or body thrust with complete capture and maximum advancement with each thrust. I have been using the ABR system for a long long time and body thrusting seems super natural for me and I have dialed in my system for the best results. I can haul up a tall tree really quickly and without much practice I can do it almost as fast as I can with ascenders on srt. Really that only shows im not proficient in SRT. The main drawback is that I have to be against the trunk for it to work. For SRT I have foot ascender, and a rope walker system I built myself. Same principals but I tied the bungee chord instead of the $$$$$$ splicer. Typical trees are 80 to 120'. Sweet gum, Loblolly Pine, Maples and Oaks. Typically smaller lots and narrower canopies. occasionally a big sprawling Oak in a big back yard but those are all pruning's. Mostly removals now as one of the other climbers got canned. Before that was all pruning with an occasional removal. Much more tree killing than tree care. Not my choice of work. Id rather prune 5 than take down 1. Takedowns are a pain. I've not seen the advantage of SRT for a removal. I can see ascending to set the block on srt and then change over to DdRT but theres usually a bunch of branches to assist in the ascent. I just have to get the delta link and give it a whirl. I feel like I am pretty proficient at isolating my tip. The canopy of these trees lends itself for easy isolation. Mainly for what I do I'd need a changeover system anyway so I'd either have to base tie or isolate the tip anyway. There was a period of time I was working where I kept getting these crown clean on these monster pines where the first limb was around 100' up. 6 or 7 of those a day really took a toll on me. Wasn't set up for SRT so I just humped up those. That's a situation where a SRT or a wraptor would have helped. Usually it's not that bad.

The other issue with SRT and removals is how can you work a foot ascender with spikes on? Doesn't seem like it would work so I just just get up there old school. Often i'll set a tip first and that helps me navigate the canopy quicker. No friction saver at first but when I get to the top I set one and a block and then drop back down and get to cutting. I can see the benefit for sure but there never seems to be the time to tinker and I don't know another person around me who climbs srt so I can't watch a pro do it. I guess it comes down to being comfortable with my current set up. The next thing with a small gasoline motor I but will be a Harley LOL

countryboypa31 · Jun 7, 2014

Heres a very quick review. Since getting the Rope Runner i haven't touch a hitch cord. I have no need to the performance is amazing once dialed in (might take some time, but mine was set right from the get go). All this and i was skeptical cause i'm not much for mechanical hitch stuff. I'd buy another in a heart beat.

macswan · Jun 7, 2014

That's it, I'm pulling the trigger

tomthetreeman · Jun 8, 2014

The RR is the future. Period.

Jeremy9 · Jun 8, 2014

I wasn't sold at first, but after using it for a while now, I see no reason to ever go back to a hitch.

monkeylove · Jun 9, 2014

I went to order one but was to late, I am really looking forward to the commercial version so I can finnaly try one. From what I read on hear it is super smooth. If it makes me as happy as my ZZ does on ddrt I will need a few for my srt fun.