2017 Belay Devices For Tree Work

FreeFallin

FreeFallin

Branched out member
Location
Wisconsin
I apologize if some of these devices have already been discussed but I am interested in hearing feedback on 2 of these 4 devices for tree work.

The first 2 are glorified ATC units that as far as I can tell are not popular with the tree crowd (correct me here, but in all the work photos, I have never seen one).

The Grigri Plus is interesting, I like the new changes like the "panick mode", as a fairly new rec climber I often go out with friends that are not climbers themselves, this device looks like it might be a good solution as a base anchor device that would allow a non climber with minimal training to lower my broke body out of a tree after a spectacular failure. On the other hand that's a lot of money to shell out for something I hope to never need...

The last device, The Revo looks like it could have potential for controlled movement in the canopy. The rope orientation makes it useless for SRT ascents, but I have seen several people that use a prusik and micro pulley in the canopy to move around more laterally, if you don't happen to have an RR, RW, Uni, or Akimbo :(, then what do you think of using a contraption like this once in the tree? I especially like the fall arrest feature as my name connotes.
 
I just don't think you can improve on the good old fashioned prussic and micropulley. There are positions where these devices just wont cut the mustard and the tending isn't so great. If you can't get a mechanical get a hitch climber, good cordage and at the minimum a rope wrench. None of the devices work well with doubled rope and 2 of the 4 you have shown wouldn't lock off if you took a fall. I personally am not a fan of a device holding my life up that could get crushed by falling debris. There are plenty of folks who base tie with a grigri or and ID but I'm not onboard with that. Good old fashioned bowline on a bight around the base. If you're worried about getting down via the groundsman then throw an alpine butterfly above the base tie and hang a biner on it. Have another rope out there with a eye or a knot at the end. They could easily run it around another tree a few times, hook to the alpine via the biner and lower you down. It just doesn't get any simpler. One piece of hardware and 2 ropes.
 
Unless it's a financial reason! I had the impression that a mechanical was financially out of reach for him. Don't know why I thought that. I can't remember the last time I climbed on hitch cord.
 
Financial is definitely a part of this, I am passionate about trees and climbing, but it's not an income stream for me so with a family it takes time to justify dropping $300 on a piece of gear. Eventually I will anyways because I am a gear head and my wife still thinks I'm cool.

The first 2 devices are really useless for tree climbing except for bombing out.

The reason I like the idea of a Grigri as a safety add in, is the skill and strength factor of people on the ground. What you said Steve -
Steve Connally said:
They could easily run it around another tree a few times, hook to the alpine via the biner and lower you down. It just doesn't get any simpler.
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is a great idea if I am on the ground, but if I am out climbing with my 12 year old, she may not have the strength or skill to do that, but she could work the handle on a Grigri.

What I was thinking for the Revo is a possible entry level mechanical for getting around in the canopy, I can use SRT to climb with my chest ascender, but a chest ascender is really a poor choice once in the tree. I have taken a liking to operating in the tree with a micropulley hung on a friction hitch high on the main line, and then running my tail through the pully and using the mechanical advantage to move up and down around the tree.

But to do this, I need something that will let me move both directions easily on the rope, something like the Revo might do this for 120 bucks or so, just thinking out loud here.
 
I see on the chest ascender. I thinking f you refine your technique you'll see that the mechanical advantage really hinders your freedom of. movement. There is a learning curve. Have you considered finding some guys to ref climb with to bounce ideas off? The extra money for a multicender would pay off in the long run and really change your game.
 
Steve Connally said:
I see on the chest ascender. I thinking f you refine your technique you'll see that the mechanical advantage really hinders your freedom of. movement. There is a learning curve. Have you considered finding some guys to ref climb with to bounce ideas off? The extra money for a multicender would pay off in the long run and really change your game.
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You're probably right, I think more experienced eyes on what I am doing will help find viable patterns to follow, I am a couple months away from any kind of enjoyable outdoor experience here in the frozen north, but come March or April, I'm sure I can find some climbers around Minneapolis that want to hit the amazing woods we have around here.
 
If a low price multicender is what your really after you might try the hitchhiker 2 for $160 it comes with everything you need except your favorite climb line. Thats what i am currently using, I am drawn to mechanicals but I think I am going to wait until the akimbo is available. Some people like to experiment with different hitch cords on the HH2, but that's not too expensive either.
 
As for the multicender, I am still praying to the tree gods to drop an Akimbo on my head in the next couple months when it (hopefully) goes retail.
 
Jehinten said:
If a low price multicender is what your really after you might try the hitchhiker 2 for $160 it comes with everything you need except your favorite climb line. Thats what i am currently using, I am drawn to mechanicals but I think I am going to wait until the akimbo is available. Some people like to experiment with different hitch cords on the HH2, but that's not too expensive either.
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That might be an option, does it come with a hitch cord? I climb on Sterling 11.2 mm Scion line, I have had good luck with more dynamic ropes as friction hitches on it.
 
Yes it comes with a steel carabiner and hitch cord. I bought mine while treestuff still carried them, it came with 10mm beeline. I think wesspur sells it with the RIT cord.
 
The first two are a little bit more than just a tube belay device in that with semi static and static ropes they will autobloc and hold your weight after climbing a short distance to get some rope weight on them. They put a bend in the rope so you can't use ascenders below them. An ascender with footloops attached above works or they can be used in a DdRT system.

The Revo could maybe be used in a 2 in 1 lanyard system if it had a swivel attachment. It could also be used in the o rig system of DdRT climbing to advance your hitch to pull under it.
 
The rope wrench does the same thing as the first two devices, and is a much better option. And just like the wrench, make sure any friction hitch you use with them goes under the device, so your prussic isn't taking your full weight. You can use an atc guide or petzl reverso upside down (guide mode) to make it progress capturing for ascent without a prussic, but trust me this is a pretty annoying way to go, and as others have said, you won't be able to use any foot ascenders (or haas) below it. Furthermore, the mega jul is finicky in its release position from the brake plane, and I and most of my (rock) climbing partners find it annoying to use.

The anti-panic mode on the new gri-gri is terrifying the first time you feel it, as the handle snaps out of engagement. Also, the gri-gri and revo are only good for ropes up to 11mm, which limits you rope selection. These devices are also intended to be used on supple, fully dynamic rope (stretching upwards of 10% under static load, and over 30% under dynamic load) and even using them with a worn and stiff rock climbing rope is difficult. In my opinion most arbor ropes are not very user friendly in these devices. However, whenever I have to ascend at the crag and don't have an ascender, I always use my gri-gri 2 in a 2-1 set up with a bachmann knot for my foot loop and my tail redirected through the carabiner.

Here is a good discussion of using the revo as a fall arrest device. You can also modify the gri-gri to feed rope on a lead ascent by drilling holes in the flange on the right side to attach some cord, and clipping it to a chest harness an running the rope from a backpack, over your shoulder, and down through the device. This is not endorsed as a method of ascent by Petzl, but does work. Also keep in mind that a couple years ago Petzl endorsed the gri-gri as a top rope soloing device, but in conjunction with a secondary system and back up knots, and that it is not auto-locking, but braking assisted- in the right circumstances the device won't lock.
 
The Wrench does allow the climber to make numerous minute height adjustments, but the tubular belay devices are helpful in a long descent to reduce the wear on the hitch cord, I use the ATC Sport under my hitch to do that.
 
While I agree with the general consensus to either get a hitch hiker or a rope wrench I am strictly a rec climber and I do own a few different grigri / similar devices and they sometimes do serve a purpose for how I [again, strictly rec] climb SRT, both on initial ascent and for positioning in the tree just hand tending on limb walks or moving around on a platform.

I own a grigri 2, a grigri + and a lifeguard.

Of the 3 my least favorite is the gg+, the gg2 and the LG are very similar in real world use with the only noticeable difference being the feel of the "sweet spot" while lowering, I don't consciously prefer one over the other but I do seem to grab the grigri2 more...


As to the grigri+, total waste of money. The "anti-panic" feature is a sales pitch at best and a possible liability at worst. I'd liken it to how a click type torque wrench works: yes it does give an alert and a small click-off when activated (handle pulled to far) but THAT'S IS, you can keep on pulling and drop the climber with ease, there is no physical disconnect between handle and cam like the advertising would have you believe. Save the $50 and spend an extra 2 minutes training your newbie friend at the start of the day and you'll be much safer / better off (plus you'll have $50 more in your pocket lol) ..

A couple pluses for the LG is the metal handle and much stronger handle return spring, I mention above I use the GG2 most but I think that's out of habit, I had it first and have used it at the climbing gym for years, I think the LG is probably the best assisted breaking belay device for rec tree climbing. Having said that, all of them are gear I own for my kids and buddy to use when they come climbing with me, I use a rope wrench for the majority of my climbing, having to deal with the 3:1 and the change of direction of the tail out of any of these style devices is just such a huge hassle it's really not worth it.

Edeted four spellin'
 
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Thanks for the review of the devices. I own a Lifeguard and use it as a multicender on SRT for rec climbing. Haven't used a gri gri, so it was helpful to know how they compare. I've found with a little weight on the bottom of the rope the Lifeguard grabs each time without having to set it with your brake hand. I use a handled ascender with footloops attached above the device, and ascend with a sit-stand method. As you said there are easier ways, but with rec climbing it's about having fun.
 
[QUOTE=" I own a Lifeguard and use it as a multicender on SRT for rec climbing. [/QUOTE]

How do you like the lifeguard? MadRock has come quite a long way from when I started climbing, and I really like their wiregates. I checked out the lifeguard two years ago in Chattanooga, some folks next to us had one, looked pretty cool. Is it as smooth as a gri-gri?
 
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