Helpful tool

T

Tim epperson

Location
Atlanta
Once I passed forty I found it more and more in-appealing to work my way out on a limb or to some outer tie-in point to place a rope or retrieve a stuck throw cord. Got turned on to a gadget called the Sidekick. Has extended my climbing life and made things much simpler and safer. I rank it up there with slings and binge, micro-pulleys and carabiners. Pro and recreational should check it out.
 
I use a Jameson pole with a pole saw hook (minus the blade). Advantage is being able to hook and retrieve decent size hangers, whack deadwood, etc. Usually end up throwing it back down to the ground. It has held up remarkably well to the abuse for years....the sidekick OTOH is a piece of fragile junk, imo. I own one and am afraid to use it on account of its delicate, feminine constitution.
 
Pelorus said:
I use a Jameson pole with a pole saw hook (minus the blade). Advantage is being able to hook and retrieve decent size hangers, whack deadwood, etc. Usually end up throwing it back down to the ground. It has held up remarkably well to the abuse for years....the sidekick OTOH is a piece of fragile junk, imo. I own one and am afraid to use it on account of its delicate, feminine constitution.
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It's designed for the plAcement and retrieval of ropes in trees, can be utilized with only one hand--and if dropped (or thrown ) to the ground is light enough to pose little or no danger to those below. Abuse of tools over time just doesn't pay
 
I had a retriever and just kept repairing it over the years. We kept it in the bucket but my climber pulled 2 sections apart and I think it's junk now. I agree abuse doesn't make sense but fragile tools don't make sense either. The hooks are designed to not hang up on everything but that causes them to not grab what you want them to hold either. I fastened a steel s hook on the end so I could pull what I intended to pull or push a rope as well. I agree with Pelorus these things are gimmicks, that go part of the way to what we need but not far enough
 
Tim epperson said:
Abuse of tools over time just doesn't pay
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Of course it can and often does....unless you are planning on passing down a tool through generations of your descendants as an historical artifacts. (I doubt your car antenna sidekick is gonna last very long).
Tools and equipment are designed and engineered to wear out or become obsolete. Accelerating the process by operating a tool outside of it's design parameters doesn't have to make it's shortened lifespan unprofitable!
 
Pelorus said:
Of course it can and often does....unless you are planning on passing down a tool through generations of your descendants as an historical artifacts. (I doubt your car antenna sidekick is gonna last very long).
Tools and equipment are designed and engineered to wear out or become obsolete. Accelerating the process by operating a tool outside of it's design parameters doesn't have to make it's shortened lifespan unprofitable!
Click to expand...
Dblehron said:
These things are as delicate as pop cans... I'd much sooner climb out the 15' of reach it gives me than waste the money.

Good idea, poorly executed.
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Dblehron said:
These things are as delicate as pop cans... I'd much sooner climb out the 15' of reach it gives me than waste the money.

Good idea, poorly executed.
Click to expand...
your time, your energy, your risk---your call
 
My bad, Tim; I missed the part about you using the sidekick for recreational climbing. It will possibly stay intact a little longer in your scope of practice.
Cheers,
Dave
 
Those things are way to fragile to have on you climbing. I do however keep one in the bucket to help retrieve the rigging line when your rigging point makes it hard for the groundie to get the rope back to you.
 
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