Knee Ascender

[data farm 26]

What is the best grab and go knee ascender available for purchase atm? The less fussy, easiest to dial in is what I'm looking for, please advise if you've got the time, thanks!

 

[Matias]

What is the best grab and go knee ascender available for purchase atm? The less fussy, easiest to dial in is what I'm looking for, please advise if you've got the time, thanks!

I have been thinking about building one out of my ninja. I like the non toothed cams and how easily it comes off the rope. I get that that can be annoying if it happens unexpectedly, but I don't have that issue enough to care. Then I would get another for my foot ascender and have a matching set.

 

[Jonny]

I have a SAKA Mini-Max that I love. I don’t think that exact one is still available but it’s pretty much a regular SAKA or a SAKA mini, depending how I choose to set it up. There’s a folding SAKA now that I hear is very nice.

Any of the SAKA products from Climbing Innovations beat the pants off my old HAAS or any of the homemade ones I cobbled together. I spent a lot of time and bought a bunch of components dicking around with building my own, it was interesting and fun, and the finished product worked well enough, but not as good as a real SAKA.

Products

climbing-innovations.myshopify.com

 

[data farm 26]

That folding one looks perfect. I forgot about the saka, glad I asked!

I wonder which one is better though, mini or foldable? Half a dozen of these 6 of the other?

 

[Jonny]

Weaver Leather, Climbing Innovations and Richard Mumford are pleased to announce that the lawsuit is over!

Weaver Leather, Climbing Innovations and Richard Mumford are pleased to announce that the lawsuit is over! Mumford’s SAKA mini-Max has been found not to infringe on any patent of Weaver Leather. It was also found that Mumford’s survey and GoFundMe request for help, posted on at least...

www.treebuzz.com

Also for reasons found in this thread, I personally choose not to spend my money on products made by Weaver, the maker of the HAAS knee ascender. Richard Mumford, who makes the SAKA, among other products does a lot of work to improve the products we use. He’s an active member here, he runs a fine business, and he’s always there to answer any questions folks may have. That whole thing seemed like a large corporation bullying a small business, and forcing our friend to piss away his hard earned money in litigation costs until he eventually had to fold. It was beautiful to see the community rally behind him and raise some support to help make sure we can still have more than one choice of off the shelf knee ascenders. At the time, I don’t think Camp, Petzl, and whoever else was offering a knee ascender.

By all means, it’s a free market and we’re all entitled to spend our money however we want, and I hear the HAAS Velox model is a vast improvement over the original HAAS, but many folks agree that a SAKA is the superior product.

 

[Phil]

Also for reasons found in this thread, I personally choose not to spend my money on products made by Weaver,

Same. That whole deal put a sour taste in my mouth. If not for that, I prolly would have bought their felling belt rig.

 

[data farm 26]

I'm surprised that there aren't more options on the market by now, is are there?

I once made a setup that I strapped around my leg right above my knee. No foot loop or bungee. A production version of something like that would be ideal...

 

[oldoakman]

Richard also supports many TCC Events etc. You only see weaver at trade shows.

 

[Webfoot]

I once made a setup that I strapped around my leg right above my knee. No foot loop or bungee. A production version of something like that would be ideal...

What took the place of the foot loop? You were stepping down on something I presume, as a strap on the knee taking full body weight doesn't sound pleasant.

 

[data farm 26]

No foot loop, it was a webbing looped cinched around my leg with rope man. Wasn't unpleasant at all.

 

[Webfoot]

I've never seen something like that. How wide was the webbing, and did you pad it?

 

[islandarb]

This is what you mean. Jo Hedger helped me with this. This is 2015. Longgggg ago.

 

[islandarb]

These are what I use now. Own many SAKAs. Have owned many HAASs. Nothing compares to the simplicity and responsiveness of these. That turbochest is just so neat and fast. Easy on the rope.....

 

[data farm 26]

I've never seen something like that. How wide was the webbing, and did you pad it?

Just a 1" loop, no padding.

 

[Webfoot]

There is still a foot loop on this unless I am seeing it wrong? @It'smeLevi is this the setup you mean or is your system attached ONLY at the knee?

This is what you mean. Jo Hedger helped me with this. This is 2015. Longgggg ago. View attachment 94165

 

[96coal449]

This is what you mean. Jo Hedger helped me with this. This is 2015. Longgggg ago. View attachment 94165

I joined late 2015. I recall this old pic.
Pure swing dude........love it.

 

[data farm 26]

There is still a foot loop on this unless I am seeing it wrong? @It'smeLevi is this the setup you mean or is your system attached ONLY at the knee?

Just above the knee, no foot loop

 

[96coal449]

Weaver Leather, Climbing Innovations and Richard Mumford are pleased to announce that the lawsuit is over!

Weaver Leather, Climbing Innovations and Richard Mumford are pleased to announce that the lawsuit is over! Mumford’s SAKA mini-Max has been found not to infringe on any patent of Weaver Leather. It was also found that Mumford’s survey and GoFundMe request for help, posted on at least...

www.treebuzz.com

Also for reasons found in this thread, I personally choose not to spend my money on products made by Weaver, the maker of the HAAS knee ascender. Richard Mumford, who makes the SAKA, among other products does a lot of work to improve the products we use. He’s an active member here, he runs a fine business, and he’s always there to answer any questions folks may have. That whole thing seemed like a large corporation bullying a small business, and forcing our friend to piss away his hard earned money in litigation costs until he eventually had to fold. It was beautiful to see the community rally behind him and raise some support to help make sure we can still have more than one choice of off the shelf knee ascenders. At the time, I don’t think Camp, Petzl, and whoever else was offering a knee ascender.

By all means, it’s a free market and we’re all entitled to spend our money however we want, and I hear the HAAS Velox model is a vast improvement over the original HAAS, but many folks agree that a SAKA is the superior product.

Yup, FUCK Weaver. No dime for them since.

Levi.....SAKA all the way. Silk.....even though I don't climb production SRT, RM hooked me up years back. It's smooth when I play around at home with SRT.

 

[islandarb]

Sakas are great. Just think these homemades are way neater are more responsive up the ropes I use.

 

[islandarb]

These are what are in my parts box. Have owned many many more and these are not all I own either. Love me some SRT.