Dialing in the lanyard....

[Zebco Kid]

Hello All,

Great day of climbing yesterday. I had the chance to share some trees with a professional arborist who also climbs recreationally. I got some good tips along the way as we moved about in the canopy.

One of the learnings was that perhaps I have too many options in my arsenal...which can lead to clutter/confusion (neither being great attributes above the ground). Just one less piece of equipment on the belt.

So, I've rearranged my lanyard system for my next outing. I'm abandoning the ART positioner, and deploying a traditional carabiner, pinto pulley, and Michoacan prusik. My lanyard is double ended. On my "active" end, I have an ISC Snap. This connects to the aforementioned carabiner/pulley/prusik.

My question is whether I can use the ISC Snap as a primary attachment device similar to a standard triple locking carabiner like the Petzl Sm'D Triact-Lock. I would like to be able to be suspended from my lanyard while I'm re-deploying my main line. This would require using the ISC Snap for that purpose.

*Note...It's embarrassing to ask these questions to such an esteemed and experienced group...but it's even more embarrassing to fall out of a tree because I was too embarrassed to ask.

 

[vkoot]

Yes, ISC snap is made for life support. It's triple locking in its own way.

How is going back to a prussic and pulley going to simplify things for you? The positioner is about as simple as it gets.

 

[Tuebor]

The locking mechanisms of the ISC snap can sometimes get stuck overlapping each other, causing the gate to stick open. You'll know when it happens so it's not a real risky situation. Bang it against a limb a few times and it should unstick.

 

[Zebco Kid]

Thanks All,

Leonelito...you're right in that the ART Positioner it's as simple as it gets. In fact, I think it's a great product.

The way I have my lanyard setup is a 22' double ended. The leading system (front end) has been the ART Positioner and the ISC Snap. The trailing system was a Pinto Pulley, a prusik, and two carabiners. With the change, I will just focus on the leading system, reducing my harness load by one positioner and one carabiner. I know it's not much weight, but every bit helps, and gaining focus on the leading system for everything should keep the mental clutter to a minimum.

 

[Dan Cobb]

First, let me say that I love your enthusiasm for climbing. Second, it's refreshing that you're so willing to ask, learn and take advice.

I'm in the opposite camp as you on weight savings, though. I work solo, so I climb with everything I might possibly need to avoid extra trips to the ground. I do agree it's overkill to have multiple options to accomplish the same objective.

 

[SeanRuel]

The ISC Triple snap is less secure than the double IMO. I experienced the binding demonstrated by Climbing arborist 's video as well. I Removed it from service as a unreliable piece of gear.

 

[Njdelaney]

If I am understanding @Zebco Kid I think he is making the switch to biner/pulley/hitch only because he intends to simplify the lanyard by removing one of his two "ends", but wants to be able to use the remaining end for both positioning and as a second system or mini MRS. Is that right? If so, that makes perfect sense to me, and you'll surely be able to sell the ART here pretty easily. I have the ISC triple snap on two of my lanyards and it works fine when using the lanyard as a small MRS system. Doesn't orient itself quite as easily as an oval biner but that's a trade-off you'll have to weigh for yourself. I like a snap on the end of my lanyard because they are heavier and easier to chuck around a trunk or overhead, and find them easier to attach, but it isn't a huge difference. Many of these things you'll just have to try and see how they suit you.

 

[flyingmosstreen]

I guess you can always use the other end of your climb line for a third system if you need the comfort to be tied in twice while moving TIP?

Currently I am using a standard hitch climber setup stuffed in a ditty bag of 25' blue scion. I tried my shorty lanyard (15') for a while and found that the tail was always getting in my way.

Lately, I have been very conscious of managing slack in my lanyard and taking the extra second to tail extra back in to the bag.

My 15' lanyard has the isc snap with a swivel. And it's great though. I can attach to the Becket on the pinto and have my MRS system easy peasy. But again I only have about 7' of travel in that configuration.

 

[Zebco Kid]

If I am understanding @Zebco Kid I think he is making the switch to biner/pulley/hitch only because he intends to simplify the lanyard by removing one of his two "ends", but wants to be able to use the remaining end for both positioning and as a second system or mini MRS. Is that right? If so, that makes perfect sense to me, and you'll surely be able to sell the ART here pretty easily. I have the ISC triple snap on two of my lanyards and it works fine when using the lanyard as a small MRS system. Doesn't orient itself quite as easily as an oval biner but that's a trade-off you'll have to weigh for yourself. I like a snap on the end of my lanyard because they are heavier and easier to chuck around a trunk or overhead, and find them easier to attach, but it isn't a huge difference. Many of these things you'll just have to try and see how they suit you.

Njdelaney,

That would be a Bingo on all accounts!

I’ll likely hang onto the ART, as I suspect there will be a time and place where climbing with a shorter lanyard will be just what the canopy “ordered”. In that case, I’ll have that Sterling Positioning Lanyard rig in my kit and ready to swap. As an example, this weekend I’m heading to some private property with 200’ Redwoods. Perhaps there’s no need to haul a 22’ lanyard around when it’s SRT straight to the top.

 

[Stumpsprouts]

Thanks All,

Leonelito...you're right in that the ART Positioner it's as simple as it gets. In fact, I think it's a great product.

The way I have my lanyard setup is a 22' double ended. The leading system (front end) has been the ART Positioner and the ISC Snap. The trailing system was a Pinto Pulley, a prusik, and two carabiners. With the change, I will just focus on the leading system, reducing my harness load by one positioner and one carabiner. I know it's not much weight, but every bit helps, and gaining focus on the leading system for everything should keep the mental clutter to a minimum.

I think you’ll enjoy the simplicity of a shorter lanyard and art positioner. It will keep your possibilities limited, but you’ll focus more on your main rope and on the tree itself. At least, try it out for a few days kind of thing.

I had a longer 20’ lanyard for several years and switched to a 12’ maybe 3 years ago, and I love it. i think the caveat is that I often set up a second tie in point in a sprawling tree with a second climb line.

 

[Zebco Kid]

Thanks Stumpsprouts. Perhaps that’s what I was beginning to experience. Too much thought about gear, and not enough about the “flow lines” of the trees.

I’m excited to get out there again. I have “climbing fever” pretty bad!

Cheers.

 

[Lupin_IV]

I think you’ll enjoy the simplicity of a shorter lanyard and art positioner. It will keep your possibilities limited, but you’ll focus more on your main rope and on the tree itself. At least, try it out for a few days kind of thing.

I had a longer 20’ lanyard for several years and switched to a 12’ maybe 3 years ago, and I love it. i think the caveat is that I often set up a second tie in point in a sprawling tree with a second climb line.

Long lanyards are super cool but I also switched to 12’ single ended lanyard and it has been my biggest advancement in ergonomics and stress reduction in quite awhile. The long lanyard turned out to be a false sense of security. I carry a long prussik to setup a 2nd ended lanyard if needed, among other things. Less is more. I’m getting frustrated just thinking about the potential tangling of adding even a few more feet back… I mostly carry a hook line too tho.