New HitchHikerXF

[Muggs]

I've been playing with the HH a lot these past couple months ever since the Reflex started making a scene. The HH is the original device that could switch seamlessly between DdRT and SRT. I think I have it dialed in better than ever before, with a very simple VT tied backwards from how I normally tie it. Grabs perfectly without needing to be readjusted. Been using it on removals SRT, then switching to come down off the spar in doubled. I've been on and off again with the HH since 2018 but this is the best I've seen it perform.

How I used to tie it:


How I tie it now:



A short video shows it better

 

[Phil]

I've been playing with the HH a lot these past couple months ever since the Reflex started making a scene. The HH is the original device that could switch seamlessly between DdRT and SRT. I think I have it dialed in better than ever before, with a very simple VT tied backwards from how I normally tie it. Grabs perfectly without needing to be readjusted. Been using it on removals SRT, then switching to come down off the spar in doubled. I've been on and off again with the HH since 2018 but this is the best I've seen it perform.

How I used to tie it:
View attachment 101306

How I tie it now:
View attachment 101307
View attachment 101308

A short video shows it better

I will be trying out the "reverse" config next opportunity. Always liked the HH and its variants.

 

[Muggs]

Yeah the way I used to tie it is how Paul originally showed for the HH2. It worked fine, but I like it a lot more flipped around.


Then Richard Mumford started recommending a different hitch that he called the Catalon, but I didn't have good results with it.

 

[Bendroctanus]

I tie a Distel with mine and it seems the most consistent for me.

 

[Muggs]

That's interesting. I don't think I have ever once had a good experience with the distel, it's always just locked up tight on me...

 

[Phil]

I've been playing with the HH a lot these past couple months ever since the Reflex started making a scene. The HH is the original device that could switch seamlessly between DdRT and SRT. I think I have it dialed in better than ever before, with a very simple VT tied backwards from how I normally tie it. Grabs perfectly without needing to be readjusted. Been using it on removals SRT, then switching to come down off the spar in doubled. I've been on and off again with the HH since 2018 but this is the best I've seen it perform.

How I used to tie it:
View attachment 101306

How I tie it now:
View attachment 101307
View attachment 101308

A short video shows it better

I finally got a chance to do a decent climb and tried the "wrapping from the front" mostly like you showed. Only thin I did different is I did not have an crossover. Just 4 wraps, starting from the top working down. Brother let me tell you what a dream it was to climb with that config. It tended sooooo much smoother and grabbed really well when weighted. Thanks for sharing.

 

[ghostice]

Looking back, I have used the original HH on and off over a couple of years but went to mechanicals or (even Hitch Climbers with VT) - just 'cuz I found a couple of times that all the knot tying from scratch tended to be just one more chance to screw up while getting ready and everything else is going on around me (and gab gab gab etc.) I switched, more just to eliminate yet another source of "creeping error" with a life support system. Maybe it's my background in process safety or what, but that's how the HH shook out for me years ago. Having said that, Reflex is plain dumb butt simple, yet it can still be able to be set up incorrectly. Whoa! Cheers