Breaking mini carabiners on footloop of SAKA mini?

Also, I mis-titled this thread: I'm using a SAKA mini. Not sure that it makes a difference that the foot loop tether is floppy, as the bungee is still what's keeping the bottom biner from inverting/reorienting, correct?
 
If just seizing it to the ascender tether doesn't remedy it, maybe you could try seizing it with the gate opening on the top (ascender side) that way the footloop can't open the gate.
 
A friend of mine, who is also one of our contract climbers, has the same problem. We haven’t figured out yet how it happens, but it does seem to happen regularly and he uses the 4kn rated biners as well. He has great form and is an excellent climber, but somehow keeps bending these little biners. I will have to suggest girth hitching the webbing or adding s rubber trap.
 
I have been reading along so that if i encounter such a problem I can fix it.
I have to ask if you are leaving this device on your foot as your working and moving about the tree?
I have occasionally done that and in certain instances it becomes pretty slack. I generally take the tension off of the device when I get up in the tree. Then decide I need to reach a higher spot so clip back to my chestie and cimb up. I wonder if it's getting cross loaded and being it's not life support your not checking it prior to putting weight back on it again?
This is the only scenario i can picture that would cause the issue in question. As others have stated the system in under tension when in normal use and would be difficult to get mis oriented.
 
@39Buick, both times this has happened, it was on my initial ascent. When I've gotten into the canopy, I take everything off except the foot loop anyway.

Thinking of technique-related causes, I've had trouble before with the actual ascender part of the SAKA getting caught on the front of my leg/thigh, due to having my whole body very close to the rope. Things go much smoother when I create a slight bit of standoff by slightly bending my body (edit: at the waist). I may in fact be pulling the part of the rope the ascender is riding back into me, causing it to catch on me and not be pulled upwards with my foot, which creates slack in the webbing and allows the biner to rotate. After that happens, I step down forcefully and...crack.
 
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LordFarkwad said:
Also, I mis-titled this thread: I'm using a SAKA mini. Not sure that it makes a difference that the foot loop tether is floppy, as the bungee is still what's keeping the bottom biner from inverting/reorienting, correct?
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This is my saka mine. Sewn up in my sweet spot. At 52 I am done growing. Double bungee is so receptive. The throw is insane. Never any slack. And coils neatly for storage. Climb with it attached to lower D at times if doing loads of up and down. 2019-08-14 16.54.57.webp2019-08-14 16.58.30.webp
 
@swingdude, attached to lower D? I've never tried anything but attaching it to my over-shoulder tender for my device (HH2/RR). I gotta try on a lower D - it would prevent my shoulder tender from having to pull the device up the rope plus pull against the bungee.

However, do you ever find that having the bungee attached to the lower D makes the knee ascender hang up on your leg at all, preventing it from smoothly riding up the rope? Or do you have a slight bend in your body as well so that the climb line isn't laying directly alongside your leg?
 
LordFarkwad said:
@swingdude, attached to lower D? I've never tried anything but attaching it to my over-shoulder tender for my device (HH2/RR). I gotta try on a lower D - it would prevent my shoulder tender from having to pull the device up the rope plus pull against the bungee.

However, do you ever find that having the bungee attached to the lower D makes the knee ascender hang up on your leg at all, preventing it from smoothly riding up the rope? Or do you have a slight bend in your body as well so that the climb line isn't laying directly alongside your leg?
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Dude it just sits there til I am ready to use it. Lolol.....I attach to my chest harness when using it....
 
swingdude said:
Minimal thing if working footie and knee ascender in perfect harmony and the system in being tending from the sternum.
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I'm mainly thinking of times in the past I've tended my HH2 with the hitch tied tight; that thing on Vortex with the hitch tied tight with 5+ wraps...it has gotten painful. However, it has become much better as I've played with larger diameter hitch cords, hitches tied not as tight, and less wraps. And, of course, with an RR, tending is effortless.
 
swingdude said:
I can make a vid too. Have many clips just not fussed to edit. Here I am doing a 45'ascent....I am 52.
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You quick! Such great sound effects.

You definitely have more of a bend at your waist than I do, unless I'm deliberately trying to keep the rope off of me, in which case things go much smoother for that knee ascender. Maybe that's all it comes down to...
 
If you are trying to keep rope off you, you will be creating drag. Just relax and see where everything falls . If system too high it will interfere with your hand over hand . Too low it will create drag. Need to be right in front of sternum. Your knee ascender should be advancing fast without losing tension. Try to keep thing moving up without much sway. That also loses momentum. Hope things improve.
 
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swingdude said:
If you are trying to keep tope off you, you will be creating drag. Just relax and see where everything falls . If system too high it will interfere with your hand over hand . Too low it will create drag. Need to be right in front of sternum. Your knee ascender should be advancing fast without losing tension. Try to keep thing moving up without much sway. That also loses momentum. Hope things improve.
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I may make a video. Would love to have y'all critique my climbing! Is the perspective your video was shot from enough for you to tell much with?
 
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