Please allow me to introduce you to the McGovern Hitch...

[Lupin_IV]

Glad to hear you are playing around with it Lupin_IV. Using raw cordage like Brocky showed finished on the inside of the legs and you on the outside is an interesting variation. Do you both feel like that is providing another grab point? Especially interested in yours Lupin_IV with the pulley combo. Does the pulley keep the extra cordage from grabbing the climbing line? Seems like Brocky’s version would add a lot more grab, which could be a real benefit or drawback to the hitch’s action.

The overhand stopper to the back doesn’t add too much more friction in the way of a grabbing point believe it or not, with pulley or without. I like it because you have 100% control of adjustability. The pictured hitch was ever so slightly too slippery. Tightened the overhand by another millimeter or two leaving perfect tending and reliability the rest of the climb.

I’ve experimented with the sticht hitch extensively which has made me realize to some extent most climbers have drank the pulley kool aid. It’s easier to create a shorter system that tends maybe just a little less well than a pulley. The key is adjustability. To me, the only advantage of a pulley lies in the fact that it pushes the hitch straight upward from below.

 

[Brocky]

I also noticed just a slight improvement in releasing the hitch with the stopper in back, compared to in front.
A bushing helped just a little with the hand tending.

 

[WoodpeckerArborist]

Really like the idea of making the length adjustable to dial in the friction exactly to your needs. The bushing finish just looks clean & if it helps, all the better. Brocky, it is hard to tell from the pic, but is the lower part of the hitch tied the same way or did you make an adjustment there as well? BTW- your pics are clean, well done.

 

[Brocky]

Not an adjustment, I tied it wrong! After the bottom wrap crossed the part coming from the top wrap, I went directly to the twist, instead of taking it around the rope first. With this hitch rope combo I didn’t notice much difference. I did they same thing where there was a bigger difference in diameters of the hitch cord and rope and the regular version released easier.
Found out the bushing didn’t help any, the stopper by itself worked easier.

 

[WoodpeckerArborist]

Good info Brocky, thanks.

 

[bobs yeruncle]

Tried it out on break in the barn today, set up my positioning lanyard as a static rope and mucked around for a little while over lunch. After setting and fiddling with it a bit while weighted it seemed to move up and down without too much difficulty. Fun! Sterling 9mm RIT on 11mm Yale kernmaster.

I'm just a rec climber so when I'll next have time for a full-fledged climb I don't know, but when I do I'll want to play around with this a lot more.

I noticed it warmed the rope fast which makes sense considering how much potential energy it has to turn into heat with a big guy like me. But having a small FLIR camera on my phone I was curious, so I got a video of it. Descending at that speed got the rope up past 60C/140F, which was quickly dissipated. Sterling RIT is pretty heat resistant so it didn't really warm noticeably. I spin around at the end when I starfish flat on my back haha.

This isn't science, just for fun. I've never looked at any hitch in action with a thermal camera before.

 

[COtreerat]

Looove anything hitch related!!!! Very cool thermal vid!