New father to a Captain Hook looking for setup advice

[Matias]

Yeah I saw it. I'm just wondering bit bulky but can be done with an zigzag that's all.

I mean, if you've got an extra Zigzag, I guess sure, why not, but I only have one, and I love it on my primary. I want that Reon Rounds tether that he's got there on the ZZ to run the RW on a metal tether. Anyway, the hook can hypothetically be used without anything but a rope, but there are many tools available to save effort. I am gonna use my zillon for a pulley with instantly releasable progress capture. This way I can use one, or maybe even both foot ascenders to pull myself out to the hook while smoothly letting out the main tie in.

 

[Vicente]

Have you consider getting a
Taz lov3 ?

No I'm really happy with my camp giant, if I were to get something like that I'd get the camp druid or druid pro, the build quality on my giant and other camp products has been excellent and the druid is less expensive than the Taz lov3.

 

[DSMc]

FWI, I went back and fixed the bad link in the above quoted post with this.

Safeguard (Springless)

SAFEGUARDS ARE RESTOCKED Springless Lifeguard By constructing the Lifeguard without the internal spring, the Safeguard is a great tool for rescue and rigging work. It will lock onto the rope with very little force giving you the confidence that once the position of the rope is set the device...

madrock.com

 

[DSMc]

Having used both the Grigri and the Safeguard, the Safeguard is much more consistent when used as a tree climbing lanyard adjuster.

 

[moss]

Oh plz ... I'm not an gear geek but you makes me wanna get it ! Used/ New Original GriGri ( oldest one ) is priced as $137 as premium priced it seems like now on ebay ...lol
GriGri 2 is about $80 -$100 .
GRIGRI + is $130 range. And they all do the same. Its GriGri . Cant go wrong with that Petzl name anyway.
CAMP USA is kicking back like an adopted rich spoiled trust fund kid with its famous Italian daddy's name ...lol.

And right now , its literally , clock are running out and operators are standing by !! moment for me... since all those hunters and kids are making orders right now as we speak... and its gonna sold out in less than couple of days...
oh man ... You are killing meee ! DSMc ! LoL

The original GriGri is a great and versatile device for tree climbers. When the Grigi II came out I cried for years (after I had one in hand). I modified it to make it reasonably functional for tree climbing. Then they recalled it because people were breaking the handle off. After all the work I put into mine no f'ing way I was sending the defective handled device back. Climbed on it for many rope miles after that, not using it anymore, nice museum piece.

Used it mainly on Sterling HTP 10mm for getting out of tall forest conifers. Did not like it at all as a lanyard adjuster, that's another topic as to why.

The purpose of the horn (made from a retired Kong pear-shaped autolocker with a bad gate) is to allow the line to exit the Grigri and flow well for a much more natural and useful belay-hand grip by my right hip. The folded over metal position with the off-the-shelf GriGrig forces your belay hand to be directly under the device which sucks, an inconvenient and weak belay position. So many subtle ergonomic considerations with all of these mechanical belay devices, I always try to try before I buy.

The photo above is a nice lock-off on the horn I discovered after the fact.
-AJ

 

[moss]

Wow . What a modifications on GriGri2 !! I don't know how you do it but it's truly an innovative !!! It's like hybrid of fig 8 and Grigri !! I like that.

Yes , Moss , I've heard OG GriGri were so great so many times.
Time passes so fast is this . Now , Its so hard to obtain OG GriGri now.
I never thought of Grigri 2 having bad reps but I guess that's true coz they've discontinued it . I've never used GriGri + . I bet its almost just same as grigri 2.

I'm thinking to get one belay device for 3:1 mechanical advantage progress capture systems with CPT hook . Ive seen cool footages of our one & only ! "Aerial traveler" was using it. I believe it's a Trango Cinchi he was mentioning it on somewhere. I thought of Petzl I'D but that thing is not only expensive but also huge and has bit aggressive cam tooth on it. ... I thought Master Aerial Travers idea is a cool idea but both OG GriGri , Trango Cinchi are no longer available. If you know any good belay device for that purpose that would be really appreciated .

You can have my Trango Cinch, PM me with your mailing address. It’s good but not using it.

Just because I never liked the GriGri II doesn’t mean a thing, its reputation is intact ;-)
-AJ

 

[moss]

I should clarify. If a tree climber is using a GriGri II as a hook line or lanyard device, they need to be careful about slightly slacking their line and then leaning back/reload it without taking out all the slack, the line will slip through the device when loaded. The Trango Cinch will grab without hand tending it. Big difference.
-AJ

 

[DSMc]

I should clarify. If a tree climber is using a GriGri II as a hook line or lanyard device, they need to be careful about slightly slacking their line and then leaning back/reload it without taking out all the slack, the line will slip through the device when loaded. The Trango Cinch will grab without hand tending it. Big difference.
-AJ

Yes, and worth repeating!

 

[DSMc]

Yes. Lanyard use has very specific requirements that differ from normal belay type use.

 

[DSMc]

In essence, yes. The need for consistent and unassisted rope capture is a prerequisite for safe use in all work-positioning systems.

 

[Jonny]

The Petzl Grillon is like a springless GriGri, and the handle is a bit different. More like a knob on the Grillon instead of the handle. Also there’s a screw that keeps it closed.


These springless devices are all very similar I think. I never used a Grillon, but I do have the SafeGuard, Cinch, and Vergo, and as long as I stay in the recommended rope diameter, performance is nearly identical. I do like the build of the SafeGuard better, seems a little more heavy duty plus has a metal handle while the others are plastic. Made in Taiwan kinda bothered me at first, but not anymore. I trust it and Mad Rock is a reputable company.

 

[DSMc]

Petzl Exo ESHOOK looks good too.

Yes it does, but it is a two-handed device and as such will be less than optimal for moving through trees.

 

[moss]

Is there hands free ones or one handed device ?

Yes, a hitch ;-)

Lever release belay devices are by necessity two-hand devices. Hands-free is the default "resting under load" behavior of the levered belay devices, hitches and mechanical multicenders.

Trigger warning ;-) A hitch in MRS mode can send you flying very fast (free fall) down the rope (enough to melt polyester fibers) if you don't have your other hand on the rope tail when in rappel mode. It can be done one-hand on the hitch but very tricky more advanced technique, best to keep a second hand on the tail until a climber understands when they can one-hand the hitch for descending or letting out slack and when they can't.

A detail on MRS hitch descent, a climber can take a slight amount of load off the hitch by putting friction on the tail with their belay hand, allows smoother hitch function on longer rappels and allows a climber to go a little faster without melting "fun stripes" into your main climbing line.

The same is true on SRT/SRS descent no matter what the device or system, a light hand on the tail helps modulate friction through the device and can smooth your ride.
-AJ

 

[DSMc]

AJ, described two handed use well, but there are many times in work-positioning, such as when not fully weighted, that one-handing a device is both safe and energy efficient.

Some devices are better at this than others.

 

[moss]

AJ, described two handed use well, but there are many times in work-positioning, such as when not fully weighted, that one-handing a device is both safe and energy efficient.

Some devices are better at this than others.

Yes! Advanced but routine when you have the experience under your belt.
-AJ

 

[moss]

Ahhh... So ?
basically, what you guys are saying is " if one doesn't know how to rappel with Fig 8 with control then it doesn't matter what kind of devices he or she uses ....

Not a bad way to look at it. I’d never rappelled on an F8 until I was years into my tree climbing. Did not arrive at tree climbing through any other high angle discipline.
-AJ

 

[Vicente]

Not a bad way to look at it. I’d never rappelled on an F8 until I was years into my tree climbing. Did not arrive at tree climbing through any other high angle discipline.
-AJ

I didn't use a figure 8 for years, either rock climbing or doing tree work, actually I'm not sure I've ever used one similar devices but not a figure 8. Honestly something like the camp giant is about as safe and simple a device to use as you can get, even if you run the rope backwards you can have an easy smooth controlled descent, run the right way you pretty much can't fall and like I said even backwards it's easier to use than a figure 8 or similar.

 

[moss]

10 years ago you’d see a fair number of pro tree climbers with an F8 on their harness. Nowadays not so much. F8 fails the “whistle test”. Meaning if you let go of the line with your belay hand, you’re headed for a dirt nap. Any tree climber life support device needs to hold your position on rope with both hand free… slapping away at a swarm of wasps whose nest you just disturbed. And there is the rope twist that an F8 creates, that can cause some other problems for a tree climber.
-AJ

 

[Tuebor]

I've never used a figure 8 either. I learned rock climbing from my uncle, who started climbing in the early 1940s. When he taught me in 1993, he was still rappelling with crossed carabiners, and body belaying me while I climbed, lol. I don't think he owned a figure 8. When I got home, I went to purchase an 8, but the store clerk steered me to a Black Diamond ATC. I never used a mechanical belaying device either, until I took up tree climbing a few years ago.

 

[Tuebor]

So? what device do you have as descender for tree climbing ? Compact Bulldog bone? That's the best !

Whatever I went up the tree with on that particular day.