knee ascender OR1 Stiff left step w/ adujustable riser opinions

[jami5490]

I've been looking into knee ascenders for quite some time. I can't justify paying the price of the products sold for this its limited arboricultural application. because of this, I have looked at other options.

I recently found the OR1 stiff left step w/ adjustable riser, and if purchased would build it in combination with a CT basic ascender, bungee cord and possibly a tether.

My question is, has anyone tried the OR1 left step? and how was it in respect to tree work?

 

[Boomslang]

Link? You can also build your own knee ascender fairly cheap if you're somewhat handy.

 

[jami5490]

http://onrope1.com/store/index.php?p=product&id=83&parent=18

building it shouldn't be too difficult, building a cheap, effective and reliable one can be hahah

 

[I'llbearealclimberoneday]

I made mine with a scrap piece of 3/8" tenex and a frayed saw lanyard someone gave me. I don't mind paying for gear, but have a hard time dropping 100 + $ on something so limited in uses.

A rated Madrock carabiner
Dog snap from a cut saw lanyard
About 2' bulk buggy cord
A few feet of 3/8" tenex and
A scrap of tube webbing for the foot loop



Hand ascended goes on the rope first, then the strap clips in to the hand ascended through the top hole, bungee gets attached to the bridge ring, them it gets used for the initial ascent, unclipped and tossed.

 

[jami5490]

thats a nice little setup!

yeah for me 100+ USD for a strap/footloop and a bungie, all of which isn't life support is a bit overwhelming. i'm just looking to speed up my ascent while on my access line. i'm using a poorly rated purcell prussik for a footloop and tether to a croll and a tether to a hydra pulley on the bridge

ascents higher than 55 - 60 feet, I currently climb with an ISC hand ascender sometimes with backup prussik or locked in with a biner, my 'knee ascender', CT foot ascender and a hitch hiker. plus a ddrt self rescue that I clip onto my hand ascender (provided a prussik and possibly a cam lock biner) if need be ( read it in a petzl hand ascender guide and from my understanding the ISC ascender is rated for 2 men)

I find that the purcell prussik I use as a foot loop always gets tangled, caught or cinched onto my boot! haha

 

[Boomslang]

Old backpack strap for the footloop, piece of Pex pipe for the "tether", Ropeman 1 for the ascender attached with a DMM XSRE biner, and some bulk 1/4" bungee cord with a boat snap.



Takes a little longer to clip in and clip out of than the name brand stuff and may not be quite as efficient, but it gets the job done. And for ~$50 worth of material it's a real wallet saver. Sure the Pex pipe may break, or the strap will wear out, but they are dollar store fixes. The expensive components (Ropeman and DMM biner) will last forever and it's so easy to swap everything out. Paying $150 for something that will be used less than a minute per tree just seemed like a waste to me.

 

[jami5490]

Old backpack strap for the footloop, piece of Pex pipe for the "tether", Ropeman 1 for the ascender attached with a DMM XSRE biner, and some bulk 1/4" bungee cord with a boat snap.

View attachment 35794

Takes a little longer to clip in and clip out of than the name brand stuff and may not be quite as efficient, but it gets the job done. And for ~$50 worth of material it's a real wallet saver. Sure the Pex pipe may break, or the strap will wear out, but they are dollar store fixes. The expensive components (Ropeman and DMM biner) will last forever and it's so easy to swap everything out. Paying $150 for something that will be used less than a minute per tree just seemed like a waste to me.

the Pex is an ingenious idea. is the bolt there to secure both the foot loop and bungie cord?

 

[Boomslang]

the Pex is an ingenious idea. is the bolt there to secure both the foot loop and bungie cord?

The bolt secures the footloop. The bungee is just girthed to the bottom of the biner, but if I did it again I would put it on the bolt too just to get a little more sproing out of it.

 

[Boomslang]

I've got fairly quick at taking it off and hornets aren't much of an issue around here. Can't be scurred of a few bugs.

 

[Boomslang]

I'm guessing you've never encountered a bald faced hornet nest.

Can't say that I have although I'm usually pretty lucky when it comes to stingy insects. Couple of occasions I've sawn right through nests and keep going without getting stung, despite them getting all pissy. Maybe they sense I give zero fux about them.

Not saying your point isn't valid, but it's not something that I'll dwell on. We have small trees so ascents are usually short and any major nests would be spotted during the pre-climb.

 

[treebing]

It will pay for itself, its expensive but worth it

 

[Worthaug]

It will pay for itself, its expensive but worth it

You really can't go wrong with a Haas or a Saka. All the guess work has been sorted out...

Gear being expensive must mean your not making money from climbing...

Reed Wortley
CTSP #01739
ISA CA #SO-6953A

 

[southsoundtree]

I cut the handle off of my handled Petzl ascender, adding an attachment hole.

 

[jami5490]

You really can't go wrong with a Haas or a Saka. All the guess work has been sorted out...

Gear being expensive must mean your not making money from climbing...

Reed Wortley
CTSP #01739
ISA CA #SO-6953A

i see the importance of the item but 50USD for the ascender and then another 100 USD for a footloop/tether and bungie (not life support) is outrageous. thats approximately 200 of our CND funny money. for that amount I could get a custom made tether with a built in mp3 and speaker that sings 'eye of the tiger' during ascents.

 

[Boomslang]

Gear being expensive must mean your not making money from climbing...

Or we prefer spending money on things other than gear.

 

[Worthaug]

Or we prefer spending money on things other than gear.

Right, like beer and fuel. But, really?! ;-)

Reed Wortley
CTSP #01739
ISA CA #SO-6953A

 

[Boomslang]

Right, like beer

$200 is like 5 or 6 two-fours. That's a month's supply right there! You want me to stop drinking for a month just so I can get up a tree a few seconds faster. That's kooky talk.

 

[RajElectric]

Dmm ascender with extra holes, can use it for a 3:1 in the canopy. Simple webbing foot loop and advance by hand loop.

 

[RopeShield]

Hi Jamie good to see you buzzin and In the trees
This works well.
Imo Knee ascenders don't progress aswell as hand ascender to foot loop for my technique.
I prefer sternal croll, hand ascender and foot ascender for long ascents.
Take care

 

[Crimsonking]

I use a knock off chest ascender with doubled bungee tied to a micro biner, and 3/8" rope jacket for a foot loop. When stowed on my saddle it's all rolled to the size of the ascender and stays out of the way. I have $30 in the whole thing.