In the market for a foot ascender

L

LilRed

Location
Portland, Or
Any one have some reviews and maybe someone who has some history with a couple different ones.

kong vs. cmi vs. petzl.

I am looking for ease of use and durability. Also if there is a difference of wear & tear on your rope.
 
Kong, no experience.

The CMI's are clunky but heavy duty. The petzl is about half the size of the cmi and can be worn reasonably while walking around or climbing. The petzl does require usually a biner to keep the cam closed during long ascents. The cmi has a cam catch. The petzl can be easily kicked off after short use when not using the retention biner.

Overall I think the petzl is a far better choice. I would never pay for a CMI foot ascender. Although I like my CMI expedition hand ascender much better than the petzl one, wierd huh?
 
I use a Pantin and love it. It's relatively unobtrusive compared to the CMI. The NEW Pantin is MUCH smaller than the one I have. I held one at TCI. If mine were a quarter, the new one is a penny...seriously. It also has a lockout system to prevent the rope from kicking out, but I sort of like mine without that system. Like Moss says, being able to kick the rope out when desired is a "feature"!
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I've used both. I used a pantin for a number of years and just recently have gone to the CMI as my climbing system has changed. I currently use an SRT ascent system that I have built on a variation of the Sherrill Frog system that incorporates a knee ascender on my left knee and is attached to a foot harness on my left foot so that both feet and the upper hand ascender are completely independent. If I used the pantin in this system, the angle between my right foot and left knee is so sharp that the rope keeps kicking out of the pantin. The cam lock and the size of the CMI does need some getting used to, but it is not that bad, I have no trouble keeping both the CMI and the left foot harness on throughout the climb. It has been a while since I tried the pantin in this system, I'll have to pull it out and give it a try again. Can't wait to see the new one though. Any idea when it will hit the market for certain?
 
I also do not want to be locked into the rope which is why the ct and cmi are no goes for me. The ct does look nice and compact
 
The Pantin is easily locked onto a rope with a biner, through the lock hole. Without the biner the ability to kick it off is really nice.
 
With a little practice you can get in and out of the CMI almost as easily as the pantin. I can disconnect it with my opposite foot and not have to bend down. The pantin using a biner to keep it locked in, you always have to reach down and free the biner to disconnect. I know it is a matter of personal preference, but there is always more than one way. What works for me, may not work for someone else. BTW Nick, glad you like the CMI handled ascender. I replaced that one with the double handed Expedition and life is good! Big help in keeing an old fart in the trees.
 
Where the CT brand really shines is its ability to tail out rope(for lack of a better term) almost instantly once you leave the ground.The Petzl usually takes many steps unless you weight the tail or have someone hold the tail of your rope.
 
I have the CMI one, only because thats what a certain place had in stock and I really like it, It looks clunky and feels heavier but when its on your foot its no big deal. the cam seems better on the rope than the petzl, and the lock in is really nice for nasty clusters of branches on the way up. All it takes is the flick of your opposing toe to kick out the cam and then you can climb as usual. I have noticed in certain scenarios that it can scratch the bark or be awkward if you jam your foot in a crotch though.
 
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