Kong dual ascender

R

rangerdanger

Location
Lexington, Kentucky
Ha guys, just had a quick question on these. I know Sherrill sells them for $160, but Wesspur has them for $118 I think. Since I buy most everything from Sherrill and don't want to stop yet I wondered if you called them and mentioned the price difference if they would match the price. I'm pretty sure they do, just wanted to check on here.

Also, whats the best way to back these up. From what I've read on here about them, you MIST back them up. Just wondered what the best way to do that is. And it would be while footlocking. Thanks
 
well there are a few ways and problems.

The problem is that no normal Krab fits through the holes on the top. so you become limited to using a quick link or something odd like that.

One way to back them up is to set your line in a nice branch union, tie a circus bowline (Norm hall can explain that one) and run it up into the tree as if it were a running bowline except with an extremely long tail. This way you can pull on one side of the rope and it will not fail. You then tie a (insert favorite hitch here) on the side that will not end up pulling the knot downwards, and connect to the ascender.

Another involves 2 ropes, I find it is best when they are the same size and stretch. One is inserted into the desired crotch and pulled to the ground. Once again tie a circus bowline (again ask Norm) but do not run it up. Instead take your other rope which will be your main climbing line, attach to circus bowline with a Krab and then pull the original line up to the desired height. Tie this rope to an adjacent tree or what-have-you and your are off. This way, if either side of the ascender fails, the rope will not pull from one side sending you downwards.

Now when you climb you will ascend on one side of the ascent line and one of the climbing line. so you may feel a bit odd the first time climbing on ropes that are 2 totally different colors, but I have used this for that last few weeks and it works wonderfully.

I can try to get some pics if you like.... we will have to see. The weather has not been the greatest in IL these past few days.
 
Thanks guys. I was looking through an old TCIA footlocking article and they back theirs up with a Macrocender I think its called. Its the red petzl belay device, like the microcender, expect it can be attached mid line. Would this be a decent way to back this ascender up, or would a hitch work better??
 
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Ha guys, just had a quick question on these. I know Sherrill sells them for $160, but Wesspur has them for $118 I think. Since I buy most everything from Sherrill and don't want to stop yet I wondered if you called them and mentioned the price difference if they would match the price. I'm pretty sure they do, just wanted to check on here.

Also, whats the best way to back these up. From what I've read on here about them, you MIST back them up. Just wondered what the best way to do that is. And it would be while footlocking. Thanks

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Such a device is fundamentally flawed in my opinion, and its back ups have always appeared complex/contrived and questionable to me.

My advice would be to spend the time and money learning the secure frog system; using two ascenders inline is how they were designed to be used (rather than side by side), and is safer without need of further back-up.
 
Ranger, I cant talk to the Kongs, but I do use the Microcender as a back up to my Petzl hand ascender and I dont have any problems with it. Acutally I think it is a great little tool. The Microcender might be pretty versitle as well.... here is my reasoning.... I have read from various sources that the Microcender can be used to back up a figure 8 (or other rappel device) in place of a prusik. I have played around with this setup and it seems to work fairly well. I would not take this as gospel since it still seems alittle fishy to me. Maybe others will chime in on using the Microcender as a backup. My guess is that people will not think it is such a good idea.
 
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One way to back them up is to set your line in a nice branch union, tie a circus bowline (Norm hall can explain that one) and run it up into the tree as if it were a running bowline except with an extremely long tail. This way you can pull on one side of the rope and it will not fail. You then tie a (insert favorite hitch here) on the side that will not end up pulling the knot downwards, and connect to the ascender.

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Instead of using a circus bowline, couldn't you just use a butterfly knot? I like this idea though, seems much simpler than a lot of the other backups so far.

Thanks for the post
 
ya, you can use a butterfly, circus bowline, or an alpine hitch? i think thats the name. I just use the Circus cause I can tie it very easily without taking off my nice warm winter gloves.
 
ranger, id buy the rock thompson dual microcender, its works like a microcender but is doubled up side to side, it captures both sides of the rope and away you go, if you want, ill sell you my kong double ascender for 90 bucks plus shipping that way i can buy the dualcender
 
Sounds like a deal familytree. Give me a few weeks though. We should be getting many more jobs in soon, and we'll finally have some free money, because right now its all bills, food, etc. The essentials. I'll pm you later when I get the cash. Thanks
 
i prefer two petzl ascenders side by side this seams a much nicer position than the kongs and i think the petzls are a better design. you can also use the petzl ascender in the srt set up giving you more versatility.

i have also had a fall with the kong asceneders so its srt or petzls for me.
 
Never mind familytree. Dad suprised me today with a new pair he bought from Karl Kummerling. He was in town yesterday.(Comes down in a van full of gear every so often) and to pay me back Dad bought the Kongs. He still owed me some dough and he has a credit thing going on with KK, so he dosen't have to pay the full $100 right now. Thanks for the offer though.
 
no problem man, im selling them to someone from jersey, either way im gettin rid of em and i can buy what i really want, the real kicker here is that i bought them from northeastern supply at the tci show for 160, and that was with a 20 percent discount, i guess they marked up the price before they put that 20 percent down, after i bought them i went onto wespurs website for the first time just to see that they sell them for much much cheaper, either way i am disapointed, and they are a pain to back up
 
Yeah. my Dad has one of the oringal dual mocroascenders like you want, but he never uses them anymore. I plan on using those to back the Kongs up. Should turn out fairly nice. And I tried to talk him into trading them to you. He won;t let them go though, since their one of the oringal ones from Don Blair.
 
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the oringal dual mocroascenders like you want, but he never uses them anymore. I plan on using those to back the Kongs up.

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Ranger;

Are they the original Footlocker (purple color) with no webbing? From your description this is what you have. BEWARE--they <u>will not</u> work as a backup.

But, if your Dad has the newer Dualcender (red or other color) with the webbing, then they will work very smoothly.


See this:

http://www.treebuzz.com/pdf/CC_Jun07.pdf

page 52 of the article, with photos.

Use a separate tether on each device.
 
Thanks. And yes, its the purple one without the webbing. Thanks alot.

Rookieclimber, could you explain that first option alittle better.(circus bowline part) I'm either going to do that or just back them up with the microascender's(red ones) or hitchs for know unitl I can buy the new dualmicrocender. Thanks alot
 
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