lockjack and lockjack sport

[bouregreg]

i'm trying to get input and opinions on the lockjack and the lockjack sport. any ideas? don't want to just buy one without knowing the ups and downs. could anyone please list advantages and disadvantages? i am currently using caveman-era blake's hitch, which just ain't cutting it anymore. (i did try the lockjack at the TCIA conference of 2011, but only at their display climbing area.)

 

[Crazy_Jimmy]

I use the spiderjack but I wouldnt jump from a blakes to a spiderjack.I would try maybe an eye an eye prussik with a hitchclimber or possibly one of the lockjacks.Personally ive never really used the lockjacks so I dont really know how they perform.I do think a hitch climber setup would be a great improvement over a blakes hitch.

 

[RopeShield]

Get the sport the swivel is essential imo.
No knots, no friction adjustment for different weights of climbers or different rope combinations.
Slack tending is wicked easy.
I train apprentices on the LJ almost yearly and they all say the samething when I get them to try rope on rope.

"Lj is so much easier."

it is quite an improvement.

I went straight from rope on rope into the LJ in huge removal with no issues.

All the best

 

[rfwoodvt]

Everything has its time and place.

I climbed on the LJ from 2004 until last year. It worked very well on the 12.5 mm lines for me (I'm a heavy guy) but when I went to 11mm, even with the right clutch, I had some issues with line creep.

You really can't beat the device's ability to self tend once you get going and if you can find an extendable tehter that works for you you have the best of the blakes with the best of a eye-2-eye hitch.

It is defintely one of those things you have to grow into though. While it's operation is a natural thing, learning its sweetspots and what it can do takes a while. Also, least in the 4 I've owned, the sweetspots are somewhat tiny and not the same LJ to LJ.

If you can foot lock the tail you will find the LJ to be the cat's meow as well.

I've recently converted to the Unicender and RW for SRT and just the Unicender for dDrt work. That said, I am still hanging on to my LockJacks for now.

 

[RyanCafferky]

I have both the Lockjack and the Spiderjack. I love both of them and almost never climb on a hitch of any kind. Like others have said though, going from a blakes hitch to a spiderjack will be quite a jump. Just take your time and get to know the device and how it works. You will scare yourself a time or two because of how fast the ART products react. Low and slow is the best way to learn any new climbing system.

After reading what Ropeshield posted on another section of the forum I have started incorporating a Rope Wrench into the operation of either device for long descents or for trees with lots of rappelling. It makes it both less jerky, and reduces wear on the clutches.