Yeah. I don't see how you could compare the original prototype of a device like the RW, which is produced by an individual, to the second production incarnation of the Zig Zag which is produced by a large corporation like Petzl (with millions to spend on R&D and state of the art in house testing...
I've gotta back up the rock climbers a little bit on this one. Probably because I was a dirtbag who devoted his life to it from 16-26. The people you met in your college climbing class are NOT indicative of rock climbers as a whole. Those people got into rock climbing because "it's a really good...
The only reference I can find regarding those sharp edges supposedly created by hard anodizing is off of that Rock Exotica link. That doesn't mean there isn't some truth to it, but this sounds a lot more like one of those industry accepted myths like micro fractures (something that was laid to...
And I found the GriGri fatality. Complete freak accident and the actual cause is unknown. The best guess is that something, possibly sand or a rock was in the dam when it was loaded. Don't know how that was relevant to this discussion.
I guess what I meant was that in terms of physics tree work is careless and sloppy. There are so many variables that change constantly and many can't be known. Tell me what the tensile strength is of your TIP was today, you can't know without pull testing it. Every one will be different. Our...
This thread has really gotten interesting. Ironically I was devising a research project that I wish I had the time to do that kind of follows alongs these lines.
I'd love to figure out how those numbers that theoretical physics gives us stack up in a real world scenario. RescueMan seems to...
I also came into tree work from rock climbing. I guess what I've seen is that while rock climbing can be a valuable primer for tree climbers in terms of body positioning, there are a lot of short cuts that most climbers take that are not acceptable in a work environment. Often the better...
Are you implying that to be a good tree climber you need to be a rock climber? I beg to differ.
While I do find that tree climbing keeps me in shape for crack or tufa climbing ( think Yosemite or Kalymnos) I don't find that much transfers the other way. Comfort at height is about it. I know way...
I'm with Jeff.
Like Levi, I mistrust buckets, something about the way they move.
Without any other variables, I'd say buckets are likely safer, but you can always add in proper maintenance (or lack therof), operator experience and knowledge, even the false sense of security that you are out of...
Some of the hype around this is hilarious! You'd think they could get a climber to write for them to prevent it from being complete gibberish. That being said, congrats Tommy and Kevin!