Earthworm?

Jamin_Mayer

Jamin_Mayer

Location
Longmont, CO
Has anyone used the Earthworm rope sleeve, yet? I noticed this at the Trango Cinch thread. Nick embedded a photo of one.

I've given the leather cambium saver (thanks Jomoco) a try. I like it a lot. The only thing is, it blew a hole along the side from about 3 months of usage.

These rope sleeve ideas are great. They are very easy to install from the ground and retrieve from the ground.

And it is the best solution for climbing in conifers. They allow for clean rope climing!
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Who uses a rope sleeve of any sort?
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Dude... that's just liquid tight conduit. Shari's been using one for a while.

The leather cambium saver is a cool idea but it doesn't reduce friction very much.
 
I've used them, and I didn't like them. I can't recall if it moved out of the crotch more than once, or what, exactly, the problem was, but I went back to my leather (LCS).

I must not climb as much as you, Jamin, since my first LCS lasted over a year, for sure. Admittedly, a lot of our work is accessible from a 75' Altec, so climbing isn't an everyday activity.

And I must disagree, Blinky. The difference in friction between NOTHING and the leather is huge. I just revisited the "nothing" sensation with DDRT the other day and couldn't believe how much friction I've saved over the years.

Now between leather and one of those new fandangled friction devices, or a block, or whatever, obviously the leather loses. But for simplicity sake, cost, and lack of maintenance/care you must give the LCS, it is my choice for sure. You can even let it hit the pavement! And I've only gotten one stuck maybe one time in a much-too-tight crotch.

My $.02
 
I've been using one for about six months...love it. It is always on my climbing line so its easy to install/uninstall.

moss gave it to me, he's been making them for a while now....
 
matdand i use a piece of 1" webbing on my lanyard it works ok. the earthworm
wouldn't go around most of the stuff i use a motion lanyard on. it says its only good too a 4" crotch.
 
i use it as a climbing system sometimes n it protects my lanyard from careless nicks with the handsaw.
 
I use them all the time - and Dan has nade them longer when I needed them more then 32 inches.

On a lanyard they would allow you smoother moving about the tree if that is what you wanted.

THey are easy to set, they BEND where the leather are pre-bent. Mine stays on my rope, they take a beating, Mine is three years old but I do not climb daily

ONLY issue - a splice will not fit into the hole.

they are WONDERBAR
jz - did my climb for the day -= HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SISTER. 9/23/60 - 02/13/08
 
Ok. Good reasons. I just think it would get in the way. I would have to try it out. I have a lanyard that I use just for softwoods. But whatever floats your boat...
 
Another reason to consider is that it is better for the tree. Any rope rubbing on a branch will wear away to some degree or another (depending on many factors). Some sort of a sleeve will keep that wear to a minimum. Though this is of little concern to the average tree worker, the concept appeals to some of them, and many (most?) rec climbers. It falls inline with Leave No Trace ethics that many outdoor enthusiasts adhere to.

love
nick
 
I don't think I'll use one on a lanyard because when I use a lanyard, I don't want my body to shift suddenly. Maybe I'd use one on conifers.

I'm more or less curious about using one for DRT, on a life line.

I think my leather one may have blown a hole in it because of tight rope bends on smaller diameter T.I.P.'s
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The friction of the rope on the leather makes it really slick. It works just fine. In fact, I'd prefer climbing on the leather cambium saver verses a pulley. It seems to give me the right amount of friction in my V.T. climbing hitch.
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I picked one up after seeing Luke Glines using one at the comp. I used one that stayed on my rope for a year before the plastic wore through and the metal coil began to fall apart. I just got a few more to replace it. I think it beats the leather one hands down. It installs easier and retrieves easier( and hurts more to get hit by). I've found it convenient that it doesn't fit over my end splice...leave it on all the time and you don't need to tie a knot(or remember to) when retrieving. I once had the end cap come off so I did a more thorough taping job than they do. It seems too long and heavy to go on a lanyard.
 
You've all convinced me to give it another try. I've been using SRT so much lately I don't get much of a chance to, but it sounds like there are some real fans out there of this thing.

I do remember the splice problem, but problem solved, I just had to cut the splice off of my 200' blaze (d'oh!) due to nicks.

Forgot to mention in my first post that we use the 'worm' for redirects of heavy loads in the crown. I just keep a block, sling, spider rig, and a worm in the sidepouch of the bucket, add rope and you are ready for most rigging scenarios. Easier than using a second block for redirecting, for sure.

The pic shows the worm in this configuration, as a redirect, with a messy looking sling wrapped around it to keep it from moving. Hey, it works, it's not pretty.
 

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I don't see how using one on a lanyard does much for the tree. I've only seen cambium damage from rope as the result of friction when the weighted rope runs fast and generates a lot of heat.
 
I make the rope sleeves for New Tribe and the "Earthworm" was intended for lanyard use.

Being shorter allows the climber to be closer to the tie in point.

Another use the rope sleeves have is when you are advancing to a higher TIP I find that I can toss the rope end with the sleeve up and over a limb. You can even hold one end of the sleeve and fling the rope up and out of the sleeve.

The metal inside greatly reduce friction better than leather and is silent instead of the funny creak of leather.

Another great use I find is when anchoring a rope for a swing I sleeve the rope 720 degrees around the limb and secure with a bowline. This protects the cambium; prevent bites from tree rats and as the swing pendelums there is zero movement of the rope on the limb. Must be magic.

Special orders welcome.

See you at the top,
Dan House; TreeTramp
 
[ QUOTE ]
I make the rope sleeves for New Tribe and the "Earthworm" was intended for lanyard use.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the visit Dan. Nice idea you've got there. And thanks for the clarification with that as well.
 
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