Bi-Directional Friction Hitches

[Tony Greenway]

Hello all! Quick question, are the schwabisch and distel hitches bi-directional, or uni-directional? Asking for a friend. LOL

 

[evo]

Nope.. says a friend.

 

[KevinS]

Prusik is by I wouldn’t have it as my climbing knot

 

[SFEnt]

Yes, the schwabisch and distel are friction hitches that can be used ascending or decending. A prusik is meant for uni-directional use...

 

[Leroy]

Distel yes but I don't think you're supposed to descend on a schwabisch without a figure eight below.

edit, looks like its good for up and down, I've only ever seen it used as a footlock knot before this.

 

[KevinS]

I’ve climbed ddrt on a swabisch and a Distel they’re both great knots that tend not to slip when you’re teaching and building up confidence. They can bind more than a vt, etc. But they are good reliable knots for accent and decent to work off of.

 

[KevinS]

Pussik however will slip like crazy and needs a fig 8 for decent. I DO NOT recommend swinging and or side loading Prusik or kliemhiest. They’re not working knots they’re for high speed acsent only

 

[KevinS]

Distel yes but I don't think you're supposed to descend on a schwabisch without a figure eight below.

edit, looks like its good for up and down, I've only ever seen it used as a footlock knot before this.

Swabisch and a figure 8 you will not be going far fast at all

 

[Leroy]

That is how I learned to descend on a footlock line, open up the hitch and ride down on the 8, fast as you'd like...

 

[KevinS]

Hello all! Quick question, are the schwabisch and distel hitches bi-directional, or uni-directional? Asking for a friend. LOL

Can you clarify what you are asking about or what the use would be?

 

[colb]

@Brocky

 

[Brocky]

Like the Prusik, both hitches can be loaded from the top or bottom. The Klemheist becomes the Kruezklem hitch when turned upside down, and the Distel needs to be be tied more symmetrically like the Prusik to work.

 

[ClimbMIT]

Like the Prusik, both hitches can be loaded from the top or bottom. The Klemheist becomes the Kruezklem hitch when turned upside down, and the Distel needs to be be tied more symmetrically like the Prusik to work.

Hmm good to know. Gotta link?


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[Brocky]

No link, just a collection. The Klemheist is the drawing with the red Kluezklem next to it. The bottom one is a modified Distel. The Heddon hitch might be another bi dirctional friction hitch, more testing to see if it would retain its configuration is needed.

 

[colb]

Hmm good to know. Gotta link?


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Not to say that one shouldn't verify things of importance, but @Brocky is a walking compendium of hitch knowledge. That picture is likely from his self-drawn sketch book of a few hundred hitches... It's incredible that he is willing to share like this.

 

[Brocky]

Good point @colb, hitches are kind of buyer beware, as there multiply factors determining if they work for you, not just the way it's tied.

The Kruezklem is in The Tree Climber's Companion, that's where I first saw it.

Your estimation is off, I only have a third of what you guessed.

 

[surveyor]

I like the look of that modified Distel.

 

[Brocky]

I came up with it a month or two ago on another thread about bi directional hitches. Don't know how it works, I must have thrown out the drawing I did last time, so forgot about it and didn't test it.

 

[ClimbMIT]

@Brocky Thanks for responding so quickly and sharing your knowledge. I have been using the Tapatalk app and apparently I managed to subscribe to every thread. [emoji848] I like the looks of the modified Distel because it looks so easy to tie.


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[Woodwork]

I like the look of that modified Distel.

Me too. It looks symmetrical like a conventional prusik, but with a twist, so I guess it grabs and releases equally well in both directions...?