Steve Connally
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Suffolk, Virginia
Got blown out by the wind yesterday and today I was the rope man on a removal so tomorrow is the day. LOL
New device from ISC
- Thread starter pcpTR33
- Start date
Bendroctanus
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- Springfield
Sail!
evo
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- My Island, WA
My point of reference being a rope wrench to akimbo.
Pitch on the line passing in the rope wrench = kinda feel it but doable
Same volume on akimbo = m6€(*;% kinda language
southsoundtree
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Olympia, WA
I wonder how much the HHFX solves the fine tuning part.
I don't like to remove and reinstall, as the fine tuning is a great aspect but takes work.
As I don't climb lots of tight forked trees , and HHxxS are burly, I can frequently advance the device on the rope through higher forks.
Thank goodness that I don't deal with pitch much!
Steve Connally
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Suffolk, Virginia
So yesterday's climbs were satisfying. Singled up on Scandere and set a Ropeguide and worked the trees MRS on Kalimba. On the ascent, did some up and down to see how the handling was vs MRS. Tended on ascent just as great as anything I've used. Maybe even better than my Vertek. Descent was good. Seems strange the heel of my hand doesn't touch the housing like the ZZ. It's a lot of thumb control and that was a little to get used to. Not a complaint. Moving around MRS was very good. It self tends almost as good as the zz. Hardly noticeable honestly. Maybe takes a little more rope weight to make it happen and I feel like the rope falling off below the device and to the side maybe effects it some also,. Able to take in a little slack on horizontal rope angles by just pulling the rope above the chain much like the zz but again needs just a little more rope weight below. I just have to give my self a little rope belly to make it happen. Not a deal breaker. Switch over in the tree is easy. Not as fast as the Vertek but faster than a hitch or a device thats not mildline. Just means I cope off rope at the TIP instead of staying on ascent, switching over to MRS, then coming off ascent. IDK if I like that too much as I like to test the new TIP still on the ascent line. It's not a deal breaker. If I really doubt shit'll hold then maybe I better make better choices on TIP. Anywho. Liked it. Added that, new boots, and the rope guide all at the same time so there may be multiple factors that cant be isolated. Two thumbs up for the initial run. Will continue to review as needed.
Aerial Traveler
Participating member
- Location
- ...
Did you use a wrench or wrench-like device when climbing SRT?
Steve Connally
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Suffolk, Virginia
I didn't. had one on the saddle but ran without it. Seemed good. Not too jerky. I need to run it more in SRS to really make a good judgement and then maybe try it with a wrench. Mostly I think I'll use the wrench for the AR event at any comps I might do because it'll help prevent jerking the patient all around....maybe.
Muggs
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Canuckistan
Had a chance to play with the Reflex the last couple days. 3 climbs on 3 different ropes, two Yale 11.7's and Squir 11.5. Twice I just spurred up and tied in DdRT, the third climb I rope walked up SRT, then switched over to doubled. Would have liked to play around more with SRT. To anyone who has used a ZZ, this thing is instantly intuitive and responsive in DdRT. Doesn't gobble up the slack quite as enthusiastically as a ZZ, probably comes down to choice of rope. 11.5 was smoother than 11.7, between the smaller diameter and firmer construction. It feels a little bulky compared to my old ZZ, but it's probably the same size as the newer generation. The links are beefy.
Switches over seamlessly between SRT and DdRT. The secret sauce is that bottom link, with the friction bar at the top, and the pulley sheave on the bottom. This link pivots based on the load on the top links, applying more of a squeeze on the line in SRT, similar to the HitchHiker designs. Very well engineered, I like it.
Fears over the swivel popping out accidentally seem overblown. I couldn't even get it to come out, there must be some secret movement or button to press that I didn't see.
3 climbs with a device isn't enough to say very much, but I had fun with this thing. Well thought out, solid construction, intuitive design. I hope the longevity is there, time will tell. This things feels like a winner.
Switches over seamlessly between SRT and DdRT. The secret sauce is that bottom link, with the friction bar at the top, and the pulley sheave on the bottom. This link pivots based on the load on the top links, applying more of a squeeze on the line in SRT, similar to the HitchHiker designs. Very well engineered, I like it.
Fears over the swivel popping out accidentally seem overblown. I couldn't even get it to come out, there must be some secret movement or button to press that I didn't see.
3 climbs with a device isn't enough to say very much, but I had fun with this thing. Well thought out, solid construction, intuitive design. I hope the longevity is there, time will tell. This things feels like a winner.
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ATH
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Findlay, Ohio
Great comparison pics @Muggs
Steve Connally
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Suffolk, Virginia
There is a trick to getting the swivel off. You probably missed it reading your owners manual. 
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Steve Connally
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Suffolk, Virginia
You’ve gotta have the rope out of the device and you’ll see how there’s a silver thingy you have to move right with your thumb then lift the swivel off the axle.
evo
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- My Island, WA
Oh that’s good, I was slightly worried that if your swapping lines in the tree the swivel could accidentally fall off.
Steve Connally
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Suffolk, Virginia
Absolutely takes some effort. I can't see that happening and when I swap it's on my bridge so I don't drop it. Murphy's law
Steve Connally
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Suffolk, Virginia
Day 3 on it. Nice prune today, Wondering if a little stiffer rope will help it eat up slack on horizontal rope angles. The Kalimba is still fairly soft compared to the Yale 11.7 ropes. Enjoyed the feel of the device. Super solid on MRS. yesterday was a multi stem removal. Many trips back to the top. Trying to tend he device on ascent while on spikes took a little tweaking. I've found with most of the mechanicals will gobble slack while spiking back up if you connect whatever you tend with. With the ISC I found it to be too heavy and tips over when you're connected to the normal tending spot (I'm in srs climbing mode, sorry should have specified). If you move your tending point to the primary carabiner attachment point it tends great in that situation. I'm talking the primary attachment point for the terminal end of the rope, carabiner location in MRS. This may be confusing......When ascending the spar on spikes and trying to drag the device up with your tending attachment to self tend the slack and advance the device, use the carabiner attachment hold for MRS. It'll tend better than the actual tending point. It's too heavy and tips forward negating any benefit of trying to drag it up and self feed tail rope. wow....that was complicated. sorry
evo
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- My Island, WA
Made sense to me.
It has a forward leaning balance that makes self tending a little awkward when unloaded. Using the Mrs/Ddrt attachment it balances the device better if you hook your tending device there. For some reason the intended tending device location isn’t quite sufficient in this application to counter the balance needed for the best self tending.
Steve Connally
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Suffolk, Virginia
what he said............
Acerxharlowii
Branched out member
- Location
- Greensboro
First climb on it today just a quick up and down, taking the lower limb had to swing out to the tip though. did a three to one with a lanyard to get out there. I have to say it is very freaking smooth without the rope wrench and just a little bit of feathering for decent.
Steve Connally
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Suffolk, Virginia
Pretty much but not as sensitive. I'm in canopies like that pretty constantly so I'm just hyper aware of it. I truly dislike surprises that result in rapid decent.
SoftBankHawks
Branched out member
- Location
- Japan
Hi Steve,
Glad to hear that you've been trying out the REFLEX. It's quite unique and direct comparisons to other devices make explanations tricky, I think. But there are certain techniques that we are used to employing and if the tool can't perform then it can be quite annoying. The early prototypes didn't have the small tether attachment. I felt it unnecessary, especially as there are two other holes available. Two key attributes to the tether point are keeping the device secure when changing out the swivel and towing a second device when rope walking.
I personally like stiffer ropes. Kalimba is not for me. I've been loving Yales Blue 32. For me it's a perfect rope for the REFLEX.
I was thinking about your comment about self tending as I was spiking up a trunk today. I've been on the Uni with a tether for a few years so it's second nature to grab the device and slide it up as I go.
Keep posting your thoughts as you go along, it's fun to read.
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