Petzl Grillon positioning lanyard

[JJM IV]

I recently purchased a Grillon but don't care for how hard the device sinches on the rope lanyard, while fully loaded. Any suggestions for replacement rope lanyard?

 

[Matias]

The Zillon is the smoothest. I put my own ropes in it, but if your co. Is super by the book, Petzl says it can only be used with one specific rope they make for it. Not bad rope, but limited length selections, and none long enough for what I want, and I run a technora rope in one.

 

[Matias]

I've never run an ART, but it is highly acclaimed.

 

[Boomslang]

The Zillon is the smoothest. I put my own ropes in it, but if your co. Is super by the book, Petzl says it can only be used with one specific rope they make for it. Not bad rope, but limited length selections, and none long enough for what I want, and I run a technora rope in one.

I run a Zillon too and my only two (minor) gripes are: One, because it's not midline attachable you're left with an ugly knot in the tail...unless you take the time to splice an eye after threading it through, but I'm not THAT fussy. And two, because it's so smooth and responsive it can lead to the occasional asshole pucker when something bumps it.

I've never run an ART, but it is highly acclaimed.

I used one for a bit and while it's compact and smooth (once you're used to it) I got fed up with it gobbling slack so easily.

 

[Boomslang]

I recently purchased a Grillon but don't care for how hard the device sinches on the rope lanyard, while fully loaded. Any suggestions for replacement rope lanyard?

When you say the Grillon cinches the rope hard does that mean you are having difficulty releasing it under load? If that's the case you could try a smaller diameter rope. I'm not sure what the OEM rope is, but you could try any 11mm rope and see how it works

 

[Matias]

I run a Zillon too and my only two (minor) gripes are: One, because it's not midline attachable you're left with an ugly knot in the tail...unless you take the time to splice an eye after threading it through, but I'm not THAT fussy. And two, because it's so smooth and responsive it can lead to the occasional asshole pucker when something bumps it.


I used one for a bit and while it's compact and smooth (once you're used to it) I got fed up with it gobbling slack so easily.

Will agree that there's the occasional bumping that I have grown very wary of. I am that fussy, and will splice tails, but I still like practicing my splices. I will also sew tails to not waste expensive rope.

 

[Jonny]

I’m hating my Zillon. It is smooth, but 3 times it’s released on me when I didn’t want it to. Twice from being poked with tiny little twigs, and once when I was in an awkward position and my thigh or the fabric on the thigh of my pants released it. Also if I try using it with a long lanyard (I like long lanyards) the weight of the tail will pull it through until the carabiner butts up against it. I’m back to a hitch or the Trango Cinch or BuckGrab if things are wet and freezing or pitchy.

It’s a fine MRS device, I like using it as a little MRS system with a long lanyard.

Using Drenaline on it.

 

[Matias]

I will put it out there that I've only been climbing for about 5 years, and only 2 on someone else's clock; part time at that. So, I am not the fastest among us for sure, but I am faster than my coworkers that haven't moved past using their tail to tie a tautline hitch directly from their harness.
I have been off for waaay too long due to a ridiculous string of circumstances, but am thinking of trying a hitch again, nowthat I know how to tie more options, and have a good selection of cords to try.
I also like to keep my tail in a ditty bag if I'm using my longer lanyards. I have a 23' and a 30', and I don't like having long tails in dense oaks

 

[Pinhead Squirrel]

I wish I can maneuve like this guy with Zillon but I think compact bull dog or bora does better overall.
I don't know anything about Grillon .

 

[Stumpsprouts]

I recently purchased a Grillon but don't care for how hard the device sinches on the rope lanyard, while fully loaded. Any suggestions for replacement rope lanyard?

Swivel ART, if you have the money. If not, a tidy rope hitch with pulley is 90% as good. I think a rope hitch actually has much better action and grab than any of the mechanicals but the ART is so dang compact so it puts it on top IMHO.

I think I would be very unhappy with the setup you have there.

 

[JJM IV]

When you say the Grillon cinches the rope hard does that mean you are having difficulty releasing it under load? If that's the case you could try a smaller diameter rope. I'm not sure what the OEM rope is, but you could try any 11mm rope and see how it works

YES - difficult to release under load. Thx for reply.

 

[Matias]

I wish I can maneuve like this guy with Zillon but I think compact bull dog or bora does better overall.
I don't know anything about Grillon .

Isn't that someone that hangs around these threads? I want that reon rounds tether

 

[Pinhead Squirrel]

Isn't that someone that hangs around these threads? I want that reon rounds tether

Its Tachyon I think .
Hit up @ghostice He'll let's you know his set up with zz and zillion.

 

[ghostice]

Its Tachyon I think .
Hit up @ghostice He'll let's you know his set up with zz and zillion.

For what it's worth, I'm using a couple of Zillon's right now on Tachyon - one on a lanyard and one on a Captain setup. Both smooth as butter. The lanyard tat that comes with the Zillon lanyard stock is even a bit fatter, particularly once it gets fuzzed up with wear, but at least for my body weight both Z's work well (just like the Zig Zag). I like how these things clean up with pitch everywhere too. I use a wire eye biner on them so everything stays put (RE Pirate WireEye). I found the tat supplied with the Captain kit to be too small diameter to work all the time for me with prussiks/ RW I'd tried and mainly cuz of sap just went to the Zillion. Little heavier cord, but working peachy . . . The rope snap is a hand sewn splice done according to the method of Moss - see the rather lengthy hand sewn splice thread elsewhere on Buzz.
The Zillon is way less"loose" than say the ART Positioner (which I kinda find sometimes I have to look if it's still there . .)
I do like it's tending though and it works really well with the Captain and a pulley 2:1 setup. And strangely it seems to actually "be" a climbing rope (still can't get used to the 8mm or less even, dynamic lines used now for modern alpine climbing).
Cheers

 

[Bart_]

I've had a Grillon lanyard for many years, Find the body gets in the way sometimes. At first I loaded it any which way and encountered hard releases just like you described. It's a self wedging rope pinch design internally so the harder you load it the harder it wedges itself down. My solution is to use it exclusively on my side D's which you almost never hang off of, overload scenario averted

Dig the mini hockey puck handle? I like the zero sitback and slide/release under moderate load. It's sensitive to old/new rope and sap contamination. The rope changes diameter with age/use and fresh clean rope really helps. Someone somewhere ID'd the rope but just buy the Petzl oem to get the biner holder eye gizmo.

 

[ghostice]

Someone somewhere ID'd the rope but just buy the Petzl oem to get the biner holder eye gizmo.

I took the old red thingy off my old lanyard, slid it onto the new tachyon and then did a sewn splice, slide the red bit back to the end and did up the black threaded thingy - Bob's yer uncle.

 

[Bart_]

I've recycled those biner holder shells onto other lanyards too. I'm chicken to invest in the learning curve to sew my own eyes, but I have spliced some.