If you end up putting a device on it, make sure it is suited to that line construction. Some people prefer hitch cords of smaller diameter than the rope. I don't know how a rope runner/bulldog bone performs on 9mm. I'm running worn out 10mm oceans michoacan hitch on about 15' of old 10.2mm dynamic rock climbing line with a carabiner acting as a hitch climber pulley. I stash it in a salvaged/repurposed mountainsmith frostfire II pack top (now you know my age, lol). It's a very hasty mad max rig composed of spare parts, but it ain't life support and it's got me doing work. Biggest problems I'm having are:
1. I need to be using the line more instead of the branch on my horizontal walks. My foot ascender/hitch combo really gets me to the hook, and things are usually balancy on the limb walks I'm using this thing on. My only concern is that the tight lines won't allow me to swing up onto the branch once I'm at the hook.
2. My double fisherman stopper doesn't slide through crotches, but kind of Monkey fists, preventing the hook from setting. Since the hook is not life support, this is a great opportunity for me to learn how to splice.
3. Extra line management. Careful of a long line that approaches throw line diameter... I'm not sure I'd want to deal with 50ft. of that in a tree.
Things I like about my hook are:
1. Short line is easy to manage and dovetails with my (thus far) "developing" throwing skills.
2. I'm straightforwardly accessing outer canopy that was too inconvenient to access before. I'm sure the career guys have tricks for all those crotches that are 15ft. away - I've seen some great stuff on video from guys like @yoyoman and @Pfanner man - but a hook in the hand can't be more straightforward for a newer guy like me.
3. Spar to spar transitions are great.
In my mind, I may be transitioning the hook to a ce lanyard-type double flipline system with two snaps and a hook.
That all said, I'd like to know how the smaller mm performs if you go that way.
1. I need to be using the line more instead of the branch on my horizontal walks. My foot ascender/hitch combo really gets me to the hook, and things are usually balancy on the limb walks I'm using this thing on. My only concern is that the tight lines won't allow me to swing up onto the branch once I'm at the hook.
2. My double fisherman stopper doesn't slide through crotches, but kind of Monkey fists, preventing the hook from setting. Since the hook is not life support, this is a great opportunity for me to learn how to splice.
3. Extra line management. Careful of a long line that approaches throw line diameter... I'm not sure I'd want to deal with 50ft. of that in a tree.
Things I like about my hook are:
1. Short line is easy to manage and dovetails with my (thus far) "developing" throwing skills.
2. I'm straightforwardly accessing outer canopy that was too inconvenient to access before. I'm sure the career guys have tricks for all those crotches that are 15ft. away - I've seen some great stuff on video from guys like @yoyoman and @Pfanner man - but a hook in the hand can't be more straightforward for a newer guy like me.
3. Spar to spar transitions are great.
In my mind, I may be transitioning the hook to a ce lanyard-type double flipline system with two snaps and a hook.
That all said, I'd like to know how the smaller mm performs if you go that way.
