Mar Bars???

R

rangerdanger

Location
Lexington, Kentucky
What's you're guys take on these. Someone at the comp had them, but I didn't get a chance to try them out. The two times I saw them used though, they worked awesome!! Looked very cool to use and he got up 50+ ft pretty fast with them.

Also, in a comp, say you were using the upper pair to foot lock up a rope, or you were using the whole system, would the upper pair have to be backed up, or since there are two ascenders, would one back up the other??? Thanks!!
 
I can do both but my mar bar is so much easier. I originally bought it for my father in law when he used to help me. He was 50 years old and it was easy to teach him to climb on it. Its almost like climbing a ladder!
 
I love them almost as much as I love hitting your target on the first throw with the throw line! I have to say though after considering all of the pros and cons, I hardly ever accend Ddrt anymore. I think your smart to go with Srt baby!
 
I have GLEasy Bars..made by Greg Liu..they only require two CMI ascenders.......otherwise, same as Paul Sisson's Mar-Bars.


but ropewalking is less strenuous and prolly just as fast......

I seldom use my bars.....prefer to set a retrievable false crotch, and pulley, then be pulled up by a couple groundies...or use my normal ascenders...have the gear to set up a rope walking rig, but haven't yet....
 
The Mar Bars were the preferred method to enter the work-climb tree this year at the ITCC in St Louis. Not only do they make rope-climbing easier than foot-locking, they’re more ergonomic friendly, as well. Something to think about as a young climber.

Mike
 
I spoke with Paul Sisson at EXPO for about 2 hours this year with Tim and my boss. The amount of testing he did was incredible. A really cool guy to talk to. Look him up at Expo this year. That being said, I never use them, but my boss does. I love to fl personally, and am going to tune up a SRT system this winter. The Mar-Bar {maHH-baHH in New England} system is safe, effective, and expensive.
 
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I seldom use my bars.....prefer to set a retrievable false crotch, and pulley, then be pulled up by a couple groundies...or use my normal ascenders...have the gear to set up a rope walking rig, but haven't yet....

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I sure hope their pulling you up with some sort of fall protection.
 
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I don't like'em because I never know what to do with'em once I'm up the rope. Footlocking is just as easy once you get the hang of it anyway.

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Hand them to the girl, they will fit in my gear bag nicely.

I will admit they are nice but also agree they are costly.


jz
 
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I don't like'em because I never know what to do with'em once I'm up the rope. Footlocking is just as easy once you get the hang of it anyway.

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Hand them to the girl, they will fit in my gear bag nicely.

I will admit they are nice but also agree they are costly.


jz

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If you production climb, they are worth every penny. I love mine.
 
What does a person need to enter a tree? The complete Mar Bar kit uses Four CMI ascenders. It's a bit heavy on the hardware end I think. A person can enter a tree using a single prusik and foot lock method.

But between both extremes most people will find a middle point that suits them. That middle point can be one of many possible combination of prusiks, rope grabs and connectors. And what you use today may become out modded for something different down the road.
 
Ranger I think that they are a very neat device. Probably very useful in ascending into very large trees that would wear a climber out if he were footlocking.
Me personally, If I have to ascend over 60 ft. fotlocking, it takes me some time to get my wind back.
But, for the most part, and buzzers, I know there are exceptions to this, Who really footlocks higher than 60 to 75 ft. in production climbing? I dont. Believe that.
As I recall you posted a while back, and that post led me to believe that you were struggling with f'ling. My advice to you would be to stick with it and you will be thankful that you did. I got very frusrated with it at first as well. But once you really start to get the hang of it, not only is it rewarding, but very fast, and productive. I just believe that sometimes, we, as a people want to over technicalize everything.(I know that technicalize is not a word, at least I dont think it is.) I like the basics. Once you ascend you simply put the prusik and beiner into a ditty ag on your saddle and rope in. I, like many others would not know what to do with all that hardware once I got into the canopy, Other than put it on a rope and pass it down. I like the simplicity of footlocking.(Its inexpensive also.) Good luck Ranger, And regardless of any opinions, do what fits you.
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We use a separate ascent line. So when we get to the top I install my ropeguide and then clip my top mar-bar to the ropeguide so that I can retrieve it in a controlled manner later. My mar bars just hang on the ascent line until I complete the tree and come back to the ground.
 
I love mine! However i rarely use the lower set....I typically just footlock but use the uppers as they're easier on the hands and it obvioulsly makes multiple accents much easier..I don't personally back them up however at the TCC they do require a backup which IMO is a pain and not always practical.
But that said i have seen Mark C.the past two years in the Masters Challenge back up the Kong doubles which would also work with the Mar Bars.. Very clever and a cool comp trick however i prob won't use it at work anytime soon as i don't care to pack 2-3 ropes after the climb.
 
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Ranger I think that they are a very neat device. Probably very useful in ascending into very large trees that would wear a climber out if he were footlocking.
Me personally, If I have to ascend over 60 ft. fotlocking, it takes me some time to get my wind back.
But, for the most part, and buzzers, I know there are exceptions to this, Who really footlocks higher than 60 to 75 ft. in production climbing? I dont. Believe that.
As I recall you posted a while back, and that post led me to believe that you were struggling with f'ling. My advice to you would be to stick with it and you will be thankful that you did. I got very frusrated with it at first as well. But once you really start to get the hang of it, not only is it rewarding, but very fast, and productive. I just believe that sometimes, we, as a people want to over technicalize everything.(I know that technicalize is not a word, at least I dont think it is.) I like the basics. Once you ascend you simply put the prusik and beiner into a ditty ag on your saddle and rope in. I, like many others would not know what to do with all that hardware once I got into the canopy, Other than put it on a rope and pass it down. I like the simplicity of footlocking.(Its inexpensive also.) Good luck Ranger, And regardless of any opinions, do what fits you.
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Thanks!! I have a 4 day weekend now, so I'll definitely be out in the tree working on my fl!!! Got my lock down, now working on actually getting up the rope!
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Also got a my birthday coming up, so a new 150ft Tachyon is in my future!!
 
i got a full set and sold half to a friend - he got lower and i got upper, though either can function as either provided your feet fit into the smaller upper. i love them for footlocking. less hand fatigue and you can take a rest w/o having to "unlock" your hitch. it's definitely easier to stow a friction hitch once in the tree, but pretty easy to call over the groundguy and zip it to him on your tail with a biner. those of you who climb w/o ground support - well, i won't even go there.

as for backing up, the lower set are typically not on a tether of any kind and are just pulled up by your feet as you do a crunch. that means if you're tied into the upper and the cam (either of them, actually) fails, you're headed for impact. i have to admit to footlocking with the upper, w/o a backup, but i think it's not a very safe work habit. chip posted a pic i think a while back of two blake hitches tied one on each leg of a ddrt system as a backup for two handled ascenders. this is the only way i've found to really back up the marbars. anyone found a better way, other than the access line trick?
 
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