Knee ascender modifications

[Mss3y]

Decided to Frankenstein my knee ascender. So previously I had been using a standard setup: Camp turbochest, weaver footloop, plus shockcord clipped to the top of the ascender for tending. Here is my new creation:




Extra webbing with PE tubing containing bungee down both sides, small pulley at the bottom for the bungee to run around and back up ala HAAS Velox. Also, it's foldable for storage like the SAKA


One thing I like about the turbochest is you can flip it upside down and use as a light duty progress capture haul system. I did not want to lose that functionality. The footloop is only girth hitched to the adcender so it can still be removed and reassembled in tree (the Weaver footloop comes with a metal ring it is typically girth hitched to for adjustability).

 

[Bart_]

If it's ok, what's the length of the tubing and/or whole length? Did you set it to have the ascender right at your knee cap, or below? thanks

 

[Mss3y]

Ascender is just above my knee, hurts less if it bangs into you there versus hitting bone if it sat at the knee or a little below. Stopper knot side tubing is 11.5" total, clip side is 12.5" total. I wanted the clip side higher so it was above the bottom and behind the ascender so nothing would get hung up. Both sides are cut 6" above pulley to provide folding ability.

 

[Bart_]

Do you climb with a longer stride given the extra length between knee and ankle ascenders? I balanced that against the knee "croll" bumping up too close to my bridge. Sort of split the difference. Assume you use a neck or chest bungee tethering point above the bridge. When I was first gangbusters I power speed strided up the rope but later tended to just take smaller steps which took away the need for spacing to accomodate big strides = shorter Haas length/size.