Hitch advice for 240 pound climber

southsoundtree

southsoundtree

Been here much more than a while
Location
Olympia, WA
My supervisor is still stuck on a blake's hitch which is hard to advance after he sits on it, or descends. His Blake's grabs decently for stopping on descent after sliding a little bit to bring him to a stop.

He's climbing on 1/2" Arbormaster Gold Streak. We have a length of bulk 3/8" Beeline to tie a hitch cord. Perhaps another hitch cord would be better.

Suggestions on a hitch and/ or hitch cord for that rope/ weight combo.
 
I'm down to a svelt 305 and have no issues with Ocean on PI. I like a distal over a Schwabisch. Used a VT a few times without a problem either. Now Jamin, I know you feel that us larger guys need to stay out of the trees, but some of us are pretty acrobatic in the air, sort of like hippo's under water.
 
Try the Michoacan. It is essentially a Blake's, but it is closed. He can start with 3 up, then finish like a Blake's, if it's not enough, go 4 up. It's a nice hitch.

michoacan-blakes.png


-Tom
 
If you've got a piece of Blaze/Bandit layin' around, tie the Blake's with that. I've gotten up to 220, and arb master with a blake's on blaze has always preformed perfectly. Bites well, releases well, stays tied. I've never ran in to anyone too heavy for that combo. If he is stuck with the bee line/arb master, you'll probably end up having to switch knots.

Regarding big guys in trees: like I've said, I've gotten up to 220, but a buddy of mine hasn't seen 290 since he was 16. He's a big short guy, but according to his Dr he is "healthy as a cow." I concur with the hippo in water metaphor. Dude used to out climb me all day every day. Now that he's been livin' the good life though while I've steadily improved, I'm sure I could spank him.
 
I am 6 foot 6, 250. I've run all sorts of combinations, just add another wrap. Currently, tying a diestal on 1/2" saftey blue with 8mm technora. This combination has held up without a slip since August. I climb probably 2-3 days a week, and its the best setup I've had yet.
 
Use or try a three wrap blakes. For poison ivey I use three wrap and tail under bottom coil. For normal line, just three wraps and tail thru bottom two coils. I'm 220-230 geared up.
 
I weigh 220lbs and i like 8mm op on tachyon with a 3 wrap 4 tresse vt and a hitch climber or a 3 under 2 over taunt line with a steel snap for a closed system
 
[ QUOTE ]
Try the Michoacan. It is essentially a Blake's, but it is closed. He can start with 3 up, then finish like a Blake's, if it's not enough, go 4 up. It's a nice hitch.

michoacan-blakes.png


-Tom

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree Tom. This might be a good one to try.

SZ
 
I'm using 8mm ocean on Ultra vee and Tachyon with hitch climber. I will be with this combo for a while. Ocean for me is very smooth on descents and doesn't cinch up. I'm in at around 260 now ( winter insulation). I think all climbers need to monkey around with different hitches low and slow, especially us " buffet lovers".
 
10mm Knut or VT on Tachyon for me. Never really liked a Distel as it really seemed to jam. Still gotta try a Michoacan some day.

Nice to hear from other 200+ers. I'm 6'4" 235lb. Glad I'm weighing in alright as I keep hoping I could shed about 20lb.
 
Holy crap, y'all are some big boys. You make me feel tiny at 6' 175. It's funny cuz there's a thread about tiny guys too, I forgot which thread it was though. I guess there is an advantage to being a larger climber in the sense that saws, saddles, and trinkets are relatively less weight. I weighed myself with all climbing gear and came in at about 225 lbs which is a lot for me. Pull ups and dips are pretty routine tree climbing moves and I really feel that extra 50 lbs. Do you "big" guys feel weighed down by your gear? I'd imagine less so than us "little" guys. Sorry for the derail but it's kind of how I roll, stream of consciousness and what not!
 
Consider us the offensive line banjo. And you are right, you are tiny! All joking aside, we fuller figured climbers have to adapt a little differently than the smaller guys and develop our own techniques that work for us. Will we ever win a TCC comp, probably not, but there will be big guys in there trying their best. As to your question of gear weight, it all weighs the same and the effect is the same. I try to keep things as light as I can except when it comes to work load ratings on my ropes.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Consider us the offensive line banjo. And you are right, you are tiny! All joking aside, we fuller figured climbers have to adapt a little differently than the smaller guys and develop our own techniques that work for us. Will we ever win a TCC comp, probably not, but there will be big guys in there trying their best. As to your question of gear weight, it all weighs the same and the effect is the same. I try to keep things as light as I can except when it comes to work load ratings on my ropes.

[/ QUOTE ]. So that is why your climbing on 3/4" stable braid?
 
What about a RW with the hitch even on a doubled rope for those heavier weights?
 
maybe just try a different rope. new england has always run the best for me. i've used 8mm.,10mm.,and 1/2 in. split tails on it. knots anywhere from blakes (cause the tautline sux) to distel to vt. gotta try different stuff a couple ft. off the ground to see what works before you climb.
 
I feel the extra weight of gear and boots and heavy winter clothing for sure. It's like 30 or 40 pounds more. Rec climb in summer is not the same as work climb in winter.
I heard an unsubstatiated statement that some climbing hitches only rated to around 300 pounds. In which case a 250 pound guy in full winter gear with saw comes close or over that.
Anyone know of any documentation on hitch ratings?
 
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