i bought a Petzel Zillion and was wondering if I could use it in conjunction with the sidewinder and what rope most prefer to use with it? Thanks
Best rope for Zillion?
- Thread starter luke lefebvre
- Start date
Greg_L
Participating member
- Location
- Bloomington, IN
The sidewinder requires that you use the 10mm beeline that it comes with, unless you're mechanically minded and can dismantle it and insert a different rope (also 10mm).
The sidewinder also comes with, I believe, a spliced eye on the leading end, which would, in itself, be impossible to thread into the Zillon. You'd have to feed the tail end through which, again, requires dismantling the sidewinder.
That, in itself, I believe makes the combination of the two strictly unlikely. HOWEVER.
The Zillon uses the same friction 'chain links' as the Zigzag, which is rated/recommended for lines 11.5mm to 13mm. The stock rope/lanyard (which I personally hate...too stiff and bulky) is 13mm. As you go smaller in diameter, the links have to stretch further and further out to grasp the smaller diameter. This puts more and more strain on the moving parts of these links. I don't expect a fail, but I'll go so far as to say that 10mm rope makes the zillon look decidedly unhealthy. In addition, when you release the zillon under tension, smaller diameter ropes tend to "jump", rather than adjust smoothly. This is amplified when you use it in SRT mode (ie with a thimbled prussik, etc.) I'd recommend a rope that fits the Zigzag's diameter specifications.
That being said...I've run Sterling Tendril (11.1mm) on both my Zillon and my Zigzag at various times, and had no issues to speak of. Jared Abrojena at a clinic in Sacramento a few months back had KMIII (11.1mm )on his Zillon. Petzl must've been thrilled...but hey, it worked, though he noted that it slipped just a tad when set up SRT, which I would probably attribute to the stiffness of the rope. Tendril lets it bite just a bit more than the stiff, static KMIII.
I'm running Luna (=Poison Ivy, 11.7mm) on my Zillon right now...had Treestuff splice an eye on a 12' piece and knotted the end myself. Works great; very smooth, and has enough weight to pitch it around branches without being so thin I don't trust it. I wouldn't recommend anything smaller than 11.1mm, because we know, at least, that it works...but that being said, I'd suggest erring on the side of caution and sticking to something closer to 11.5.
Probably more information than you wanted. Hope it helps!
PS. Congrats on your investment. One of the best tree-related purchases I've ever made.
The sidewinder also comes with, I believe, a spliced eye on the leading end, which would, in itself, be impossible to thread into the Zillon. You'd have to feed the tail end through which, again, requires dismantling the sidewinder.
That, in itself, I believe makes the combination of the two strictly unlikely. HOWEVER.
The Zillon uses the same friction 'chain links' as the Zigzag, which is rated/recommended for lines 11.5mm to 13mm. The stock rope/lanyard (which I personally hate...too stiff and bulky) is 13mm. As you go smaller in diameter, the links have to stretch further and further out to grasp the smaller diameter. This puts more and more strain on the moving parts of these links. I don't expect a fail, but I'll go so far as to say that 10mm rope makes the zillon look decidedly unhealthy. In addition, when you release the zillon under tension, smaller diameter ropes tend to "jump", rather than adjust smoothly. This is amplified when you use it in SRT mode (ie with a thimbled prussik, etc.) I'd recommend a rope that fits the Zigzag's diameter specifications.
That being said...I've run Sterling Tendril (11.1mm) on both my Zillon and my Zigzag at various times, and had no issues to speak of. Jared Abrojena at a clinic in Sacramento a few months back had KMIII (11.1mm )on his Zillon. Petzl must've been thrilled...but hey, it worked, though he noted that it slipped just a tad when set up SRT, which I would probably attribute to the stiffness of the rope. Tendril lets it bite just a bit more than the stiff, static KMIII.
I'm running Luna (=Poison Ivy, 11.7mm) on my Zillon right now...had Treestuff splice an eye on a 12' piece and knotted the end myself. Works great; very smooth, and has enough weight to pitch it around branches without being so thin I don't trust it. I wouldn't recommend anything smaller than 11.1mm, because we know, at least, that it works...but that being said, I'd suggest erring on the side of caution and sticking to something closer to 11.5.
Probably more information than you wanted. Hope it helps!
PS. Congrats on your investment. One of the best tree-related purchases I've ever made.
Last edited:
Thanks Greg. Good info!
chiselbit
Been here a while
I run blaze rope in mine and really like it.
JeffGu
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Osceola, Nebraska
I just got a Zillon today... I know, for a guy with 3 ZigZags it took me awhile... but went out in the wet snow and played with it. Love it.
I'm going to leave the original rope on it for awhile. So far, I actually like it.
I have a hank of Yale 11.7mm Hedera double braid here I'll splice up for a replacement rope.
Should have got one of these a long time ago. Just love the thing.
I'm going to leave the original rope on it for awhile. So far, I actually like it.
I have a hank of Yale 11.7mm Hedera double braid here I'll splice up for a replacement rope.
Should have got one of these a long time ago. Just love the thing.
chiselbit
Been here a while
I think ANY rope will be better than the original, lumpy, bumpy, piece of crap rope that comes with it. I never understood why they made a superb piece of equipment and then selected that rope.
JeffGu
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Osceola, Nebraska
Actually, 16-strand climbing ropes are very popular for lanyards... they're tougher than double braids, and the full 1/2" size feels nice in the hand.
However, they certainly are not as smooth, so I can see why people might not like it with the Zillon. I ran a ZigZag on XTC 16-strand for about a year, so it doesn't really bother me. I switched to the Yale 11.7 ropes with them mainly because the ZZ runs a little smoother and tends slack a lot better with those ropes. That's not much of an issue with a lanyard, but I will splice up the Hedera and give it a try if I decide I don't like the original rope after using it for awhile.
However, they certainly are not as smooth, so I can see why people might not like it with the Zillon. I ran a ZigZag on XTC 16-strand for about a year, so it doesn't really bother me. I switched to the Yale 11.7 ropes with them mainly because the ZZ runs a little smoother and tends slack a lot better with those ropes. That's not much of an issue with a lanyard, but I will splice up the Hedera and give it a try if I decide I don't like the original rope after using it for awhile.
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