munter hitch vs figure 8

Pro vet? not really but curious to know what specific application you have in mind.
I avoid both. Corrupts the rope to much for my liking.
Prefer gri gri or rack for long descents.
Otherwise the RW and Lj or SJ is what I fly.
Cheers
 
Sorry, i dont undetstand your abbreviations?
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I was thinking for long rappels or even a crude lowering device. I used the hms the first time today but i.usually use a figure 8. I noticed the hms was faster to setup.
 
Personally I prefer the figure 8. On the other hand, there's a better chance with minimal equipment you'd have the right biner, more so than the eight. Maybe I just need to learn to tie the Munter better...
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Yeah its a little wierd to learn. But ill get it edown. Its less bulk on the saddle to have a biner than an 8. Btw does anybody know how to use the front dees on the tree motion as a fd?
 
A Munter will generally generate more friction than an F8 using the same rope for comparison.

A Munter can be tied using just a biner. An HMS style does work better but I've used a Munter with some small biners with non-rounded ends too, it just doesn't invert as easily.

I have never been able to understand why tree climbers haven't shifted away from F8's and gone to using Tubers and the like that rock climbers use.
 
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I have never been able to understand why tree climbers haven't shifted away from F8's and gone to using Tubers and the like that rock climbers use.

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Might have something to do with the tubes dont work verry well with thick ropes. (and of course the fact that climbers are thickheaded, conservative and affraid of change :-))

I deffintaly prefer the munther, less gear, easy to set up.
 
Top post Tom.

Get a GriGri, and never look back, rubbing ropes in knots is a loser, I melted a line 20yrs doing a head bomb on fig8.

Although the knots and fig 8 are ok for stuff, your safety comes first.
 
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Hey guys just wanting some input on both. What are some pros and cons of each? I would like to hear from you pro vetrans!

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Well I'm not a veteran and really not much of a pro either so take this for what it's worth. I've always thought of the munter as more or less an emergency procedure Because you dropped the tool that was intended for this purpose. Look at the two side-by-side and think about the heat that is developed on a typical descent or especially on a very long descent. Now remember the effects that heat has on metal and the strength that the metal provides. I don't have the numbers in front of me but I know it doesn't take much to make aluminum turn into butter or change properties.
 
I don't think that the aluminum alloys used in climbing gear have any sort of heat issues. These alloys have been used and improved for decades with a good track record.

What can happen is that a fast, long descent is completed and the climber leaves their rope on the tool. Since the metal is hot and the rope isn't moving there's a good chance that the rope may get melted.

A multi-meter I have has a built-in spot thermometer. It doesn't just measure ambient temp, it can be aimed to 'shoot' a surface temp too. I should have that along when I'm going to do a long, fast descent on my Uni. I bet I could get temps off of each clutch face...with or without the YoYo Barrel!
 
Munter Hitch is incredibly dangerous when climbing. If your rigging a munter to rappel out of a tree, you need your head examined.
The Munter is really bad, should never be used tree climbing, IMHO, except in an emergency lowering scenario, and even then there is better options, who these days doesnt have a f8, why would you use a munter when you could f8 it.
Your hand slips off that Munter, chances are great if your using a rope or web bridge, the biner spins around under load, you lose your braking, and you fall to the ground.
Ive seen it happen twice, with rookies both times, thankfuly they didnt get seriously injured in the falls.
The f8 is a much much safer option, if it is set properly, and then locked off properly. If your so lazy that you cannot affor the weight of an alumnum f8 keep using the good ol MH. Or maybe just quit climbing, my f8 weighs maybe 2 Oz, a big rescue one might weigh up to half pound, even that is a joke when you are talking about life support.
It doesnt matter, and I dont care how long you have been climbing and using the MH safely, I just do not care, it takes one half spin of a biner to completely screw you. With most of us now using a rope or similar bridge, that can happen so easily.
Ever tried re setting a munter under load ?
While your holding on to the rope with one hand to keep yourself from falling because you screwed up and tied the munter the wrong way ? Ive seen it attempted. It never worked. The climber rappleed the rest of the way out of the tree using their gloved hands on the rope, thanfully he had a decent pair of gloves on and it wasnt raining that day.
Use the MH you take your chances, thats the bottom line.
 
Neither the F8 or Munter pass the Whistle Test...that puts them both in the same category to me.

Why was a 'rookie' allowed to descend without some sort of backup?

If a climber tied a knot wrong it's not the knot's fault that it failed. Knowing how to tie knots properly under all conditions is imperative.

Since most tree climber's muscle memory is built on 'let go/lock off' using any sort of rope friction descent without a backup is too dangerous for me.
 
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