Pocket sling used in place of a snake anchor

[Phil]

I don't want to spend the money on a snake anchor. I have some 3/8" Tenex Tec and a small rigging thimble so I made a clone. Tight pockets and a short but good in-tree usable length for redirects or a make shift friction saver. Has anybody done break test strengths of pocket/ultra slings when loaded in this configuration? Pocket slings are generally loaded in a choked configuration and this would pull directly against the brummel's so not sure if the breaking strength would be affected in a negative way. It won't have the shock absorbing properties of the snake anchor but this is more proof of concept than trying to make an exact replacement. Thoughts? Mostly concerned about the strength of the configuration.

 

[Shadowscape]

I don't want to spend the money on a snake anchor. I have some 3/8" Tenex Tec and a small rigging thimble so I made a clone. Tight pockets and a short but good in-tree usable length for redirects or a make shift friction saver. Has anybody done break test strengths of pocket/ultra slings when loaded in this configuration? Pocket slings are generally loaded in a choked configuration and this would pull directly against the brummel's so not sure if the breaking strength would be affected in a negative way. It won't have the shock absorbing properties of the snake anchor but this is more proof of concept than trying to make an exact replacement. Thoughts? Mostly concerned about the strength of the configuration.

All I use is some 1/2" Tenex Tec spliced into an ultra sling type of thing. Goes around the tree, through an opening and a carabiner on the end loop to the climb line. I keep one in each of my climbing rope bags so I don't have to hunt for one.

 

[Phil]

All I use is some 1/2" Tenex Tec spliced into an ultra sling type of thing. Goes around the tree, through an opening and a carabiner on the end loop to the climb line. I keep one in each of my climbing rope bags so I don't have to hunt for one.

That's definitely another good configuration for the ultra sling and does not require the thimble. I added the thimble so I could have the option of deploying this in a friction saver style setup as well with the rigging ring acting as the small ring. The MBS of 3/8" tenex tec is 6,100 lbs. Plenty strong and much more compact than 1/2".

 

[data farm 26]

Seems plenty strong to me but the unfriendly bend radius of the biner would have me thinking twice.

 

[Shadowscape]

Seems plenty strong to me but the unfriendly bend radius of the biner would have me thinking twice.

I don't believe he is using the carabiner around the tree. Sling through the ring, and the carabiner attaches the sling to the climb line. At least that is how I run them.
Sometimes I attach the carabiner to a Petzl Rig and the climb line through that if I foresee where I may need help getting down, but that doesn't happen too often.

 

[Shadowscape]

That's definitely another good configuration for the ultra sling and does not require the thimble. I added the thimble so I could have the option of deploying this in a friction saver style setup as well with the rigging ring acting as the small ring. The MBS of 3/8" tenex tec is 6,100 lbs. Plenty strong and much more compact than 1/2".

I use 1/2" only because after a year's worth of climbs I find the Tenex Tec will be fraying from the bark of the trees, and I still have plenty of strength left. The 3/8" would want me to toss it when the fraying begins. But it probably is fine. A lot stronger than my Yale Blaze I use for the anchor rope to my DRT set up.

 

[Phil]

I don't believe he is using the carabiner around the tree. Sling through the ring, and the carabiner attaches the sling to the climb line.

Correct. The carabiner will not see a side load.

I understand the fraying issue as well. I use 1/2" tenex tec pocket slings for winch line chokers and it amazes me how strong they are even after considerable fraying.

I think removing the rigging thimble and just using the sling in a traditional "choke the end bight through a pocket" is plenty good. I just want break test strengths for the configuration I showed because of curiosity.

 

[Matias]

Correct. The carabiner will not see a side load.

I understand the fraying issue as well. I use 1/2" tenex tec pocket slings for winch line chokers and it amazes me how strong they are even after considerable fraying.

I think removing the rigging thimble and just using the sling in a traditional "choke the end bight through a pocket" is plenty good. I just want break test strengths for the configuration I showed because of curiosity.

Any break test results?

 

[Phil]

Any break test results?

Nope. Curiosity hasn't killed the cat so to speak. In order for me to get this break tested, I basically need the easiest most convenient opportunity to miraculously fall in my lap and cost me zero dollars. My use of half inch tennex tec pocket slings for chipper winch chokers is all I really need to see in real world application to know that there's nothing to worry about strength wise.

 

[Matias]

Nope. Curiosity hasn't killed the cat so to speak. In order for me to get this break tested, I basically need the easiest most convenient opportunity to miraculously fall in my lap and cost me zero dollars. My use of half inch tennex tec pocket slings for chipper winch chokers is all I really need to see in real world application to know that there's nothing to worry about strength wise.

Yea, that's exactly my thoughts with regards to break testing. I have enough real world data from which I draw confidence in my estimates of what will be safe enough to ensure no loss of life or property. Safer than safe enough feels like a lot of mental masturbation.

 

[Mowerr]

I would think your good