Petzl Pantin catch doesn't fit

[Phil]

I have a petzl Pantin...an older green one with no latch. Probably bought it back around 2007. I bought the retro fit latch from petzl and it doesn't seem to work with this design. There is clearly a spot for a catch to attach, but the shape of the plastic catch by the little bolt hole won't allow the catch to open. I'll be calling petzl tomorrow but does anyone know if they have redesigned the cam shape in the last 10 years? Is there a different catch to fit my older pantin? I want to be able to lock the cam but I don't want to buy a whole new foot ascender. Maybe I can just grind down the little lip on the cam to the right of the thumb detent.

 

[Jehinten]

I have a petzl Pantin...an older green one with no latch. Probably bought it back around 2007. I bought the retro fit latch from petzl and it doesn't seem to work with this design. There is clearly a spot for a catch to attach, but the shape of the plastic catch by the little bolt hole won't allow the catch to open. I'll be calling petzl tomorrow but does anyone know if they have redesigned the cam shape in the last 10 years? Is there a different catch to fit my older pantin? I want to be able to lock the cam but I don't want to buy a whole new foot ascender. Maybe I can just grind down the little lip on the cam to the right of the thumb detent.

Interesting, I bought my pantin second hand (not sure how old it is) and just bought a catch for it. Curious to see if it will fit once the shipment comes in.

 

[Phil]

Interesting, I bought my pantin second hand (not sure how old it is) and just bought a catch for it. Curious to see if it will fit once the shipment comes in.

I'm currently researching this and it appears there was a redesign. So far I have found nothing about a catch latch being available for the older green model. I'm really surprised there isn't a "fits newer models" disclaimer on this catch.

 

[Tuebor]

I'll buy it if you don't want it.

 

[Crimsonking]

The catch was made for the updated (ruined) version because it has no other way to lock. An effective lock for the old version is Kong’s microbiner. It’s wide enough to prevent kick out, but small enough for manual rope removal without removing the biner. Black Diamond micro biners are about the same size.

 

[Reach]

Unfortunately, you have the original Pantin like I do. There is no catch for it, although it was designed for a catch, no catch was ever designed to fit it. I Also bought the catch I thought would fit it, and spent far too much time trying to modify it to work. Unfortunately, it won’t work. Probably you could have one made up and printed by someone with a 3-D printer, I have thought about that, but never bothered to actually do it. I just use a cheap Home Depot carabiner, that seems to work well enough.

 

[evo]

Unfortunately, you have the original Pantin like I do. There is no catch for it, although it was designed for a catch, no catch was ever designed to fit it. I Also bought the catch I thought would fit it, and spent far too much time trying to modify it to work. Unfortunately, it won’t work. Probably you could have one made up and printed by someone with a 3-D printer, I have thought about that, but never bothered to actually do it. I just use a cheap Home Depot carabiner, that seems to work well enough.

Unfortunately? Crap v-1 and v-2 are the bomb once you learn how to dial in your body movements. V-3 and V-4 are the ones for the catch, and both suck.
I will happily buy any v1-2

 

[Phil]

I may be wrong but I think the "unfortunate" comment was referring to the fact that I bought a catch that doesn't fit. I really do like the one I have. I've been working on something and the change has led me to have more kick outs so I was hoping to solve it with a catch until I can get a better technique down pat. I'll just go to a crab in the hole for now.

 

[Reach]

Unfortunately? Crap v-1 and v-2 are the bomb once you learn how to dial in your body movements. V-3 and V-4 are the ones for the catch, and both suck.
I will happily buy any v1-2

The “unfortunately” refers to the lack of an available catch. I love my v-1, it just kicks off the rope when I’m climbing SRT more than I would like, so I would prefer it had a catch. I’ve not climbed on the latest versions, so I can’t speak to those. I’ll keep my old one as long as I can though, hopefully it lasts as long as I do.

 

[Benjo75]

I had several of the v1. Got tired of them always kicking out mid climb. Used a biner for a while and got tired of having to do that. Sold them and bought a few CT. Never looked back.

 

[Cereal_Killer]

Try running a "cam jammer" a la Moss?

Hey look at that, I remembered the post, found it and lo and behold the ascender he made it for is an old pantin!

 

[evo]

The “unfortunately” refers to the lack of an available catch. I love my v-1, it just kicks off the rope when I’m climbing SRT more than I would like, so I would prefer it had a catch. I’ve not climbed on the latest versions, so I can’t speak to those. I’ll keep my old one as long as I can though, hopefully it lasts as long as I do.

With practice I found that I don’t need to lock the cam at all. Not saying I’m perfect and it doesn’t pop out unexpectedly, but it happens less and less. With practice I’ve found that I can step out of the rope on will, for a while I even practiced stepping into the rope (which worked a bit).
I bet if you give yourself six months of focused attention of toe down or toe up you’ll get it.

 

[Tony]

With practice I found that I don’t need to lock the cam at all. Not saying I’m perfect and it doesn’t pop out unexpectedly, but it happens less and less. With practice I’ve found that I can step out of the rope on will, for a while I even practiced stepping into the rope (which worked a bit).
I bet if you give yourself six months of focused attention of toe down or toe up you’ll get it.

Think of peddling a tiny bicycle backwards. Your foot motion should “scoop“the rope into the cam.

For the ability to intentionality kick out I will gladly trade for a occasional unintentional one.

Evo, if you “rough up” the exposed edge of the cam, with enough rope weight the “step in” to the rope works more reliably. Jerry B tip, not mine.

Tony

 

[DSMc]

... I bet if you give yourself six months of focused attention of toe down or toe up you’ll get it.

It is more than just perfecting technique. Climbing style plays a major roll in whether a non-locker works. Maintaining engagement is dependent on many things beyond toe up and toe down, such as the changing rope angles below the ascender in relation to body position and direction of travel.

 

[Phil]

For the ability to intentionality kick out I will gladly trade for a occasional unintentional one.

The more I think about it the more I feel this way as well. I always have an extra bend gate accessory crab or two on me and it takes almost the same effort to work that as it would to work a catch latch. If the petzl plastic retro fit catch was more than $5, I prolly wouldn't have even bought it.

 

[Tony]

It is more than just perfecting technique. Climbing style plays a major roll in whether a non-locker works. Maintaining engagement is dependent on many things beyond toe up and toe down, such as the changing rope angles below the ascender in relation to body position and direction of travel.

Good point. Here in the East / Northeast, after ascent, I find myself just foot-locking the fall of my line as often as using the foot ascender. So many times in big spread out canopies my rope under the hitch is poorly positioned for the efficient use of the pantin.

Tony

 

[Brocky]

I believe it is also the preferred ascender for a diy knee ascender for its weaker camming action.

 

[Jonny]

I’d trade you a CT foot ascender if you wanted. Got a right in good condition or a left that’s like new.

 

[Phil]

I’d trade you a CT foot ascender if you wanted. Got a right in good condition or a left that’s like new.

That's a nice offer but my pantin is near and dear to my heart. Got a lot of blood sweat and tears in it. I won't part with it. After all the research I've been doing about this latch and alternative foot ascenders, I'm going to wait for a sale and then pick up a notch jet step. I was going to avoid it due to the reports of the webbing going out on it but apparently notch products have a lifetime warranty so I think that's my future move. The CT is at the top of the list though.

 

[Jonny]

No doubt, hang onto it. I still got my green OG Pantin I bought in 2005. Probably gotta make a new strap and chafe sleeve soon, but still working just fine.