- Location
- Canon City ,CO
Here,FWIW are my results of a head to head comparison of Sherrill's new Retreever and the Arbor Exotica Sidekick which predates it.
Sidekick ------------ Retreever
Length
collapsed 26.5inches -------- 24.5
(Arbor exotica lists the sidekichk as 27inches. Sherrill lists their product as 19 inches but that doesn't include the hook-with the hook straightened as they recommend for carry it is 24.5 inches)
Length
extended 9 feet -------- 10 feet
Weight 15 oz -----------14 oz
(By my scale they are both lighter than advertized but are in fact about an oz apart)
Material Aluminum and plastic ---- Stainless steel and plastic
Bulk-The Sidekick is larger
Cost $45 shipped -------- $40 plus shipping
Okay-There are the things you could have looked up in the catalog (and not got the exact details on) Now, my findings in preliminary tests actualy setting a line in an actual tree.
Speed of deployment: The Sidekick locks and unlocks each section with a twist(about 1/16 of a turn) the Retreever just slides out in sections. The Retreever is faster-but both deploy in mere seconds.-If the retreever is carried with the hook straitned out then it actually takes a tad longer due to reshaping the flexible hook.-Pretty close to a wash.
Feel in the hand: This one is somewhat subjective but what is NOT subjective is that the Retreever is more flexible and sags more under its own weight- Advantage-- Sidekick
Pushing a rope through an overhead crotch: The Sidekick has a very small hook with a little reverse bend in the tip covered by a large bead and a spot of velcro-Surprisingly this worked quite well to lift a Bowline up and drop it through a crotch. The Retreever has a large Flexible tip that can be shaped to suit. With a reverse bend in the tip it worked okay to raise and drop the rope. It was slightly more difficult to control the rope with the Retreever.-Slight advantage-Sidekick
Pushing a loop of rope horizontally: The Retreever tip tends to rotate from lateral forces and drop the rope.After playing with it briefly I found a tip shape and method that worked. The Sidekick worked smoothly.-Advantage-- Sidekick
Pulling a stuck bowline out of an overhead crotch:This was an inadvertant test-I dropped the rope with a Bowline on the end into a narrow crotch with the Retreever and got it stuck-trying to pull it out straightened the hook-trying to push spun the head and started to collapse the pole so I stopped and switched tools. I unhooked it with the Sidekick without incident-Advantage- Sidekick
Reaching out to pull in a line: I expected the Retreever's large hook to be an advantage but the stiffer pole of the Sidekick made it easy to grab with its smaller hook. Both seemed equal-Perhaps in other conditions the Advantage would go to the Retreever.
Using partially extended: Both tools were usable at part extension-The Sidekick allows one to keep the tip section (which is smallest and most flexible/weakest retracted and deploy the base sections. The Retreever needs to have the tipmost section extended or it will spin so easily that control is very difficult. Advantage-Sidekick.
Either one of these tools would be useful for setting and retrieving lines in the tree and tip tying branches for removal rigging, but the Sidekick is more versatile and user friendly. Time will tell about further impressions and durability-I'll post a follow-up report after I climb with each for a while.
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Sidekick ------------ Retreever
Length
collapsed 26.5inches -------- 24.5
(Arbor exotica lists the sidekichk as 27inches. Sherrill lists their product as 19 inches but that doesn't include the hook-with the hook straightened as they recommend for carry it is 24.5 inches)
Length
extended 9 feet -------- 10 feet
Weight 15 oz -----------14 oz
(By my scale they are both lighter than advertized but are in fact about an oz apart)
Material Aluminum and plastic ---- Stainless steel and plastic
Bulk-The Sidekick is larger
Cost $45 shipped -------- $40 plus shipping
Okay-There are the things you could have looked up in the catalog (and not got the exact details on) Now, my findings in preliminary tests actualy setting a line in an actual tree.
Speed of deployment: The Sidekick locks and unlocks each section with a twist(about 1/16 of a turn) the Retreever just slides out in sections. The Retreever is faster-but both deploy in mere seconds.-If the retreever is carried with the hook straitned out then it actually takes a tad longer due to reshaping the flexible hook.-Pretty close to a wash.
Feel in the hand: This one is somewhat subjective but what is NOT subjective is that the Retreever is more flexible and sags more under its own weight- Advantage-- Sidekick
Pushing a rope through an overhead crotch: The Sidekick has a very small hook with a little reverse bend in the tip covered by a large bead and a spot of velcro-Surprisingly this worked quite well to lift a Bowline up and drop it through a crotch. The Retreever has a large Flexible tip that can be shaped to suit. With a reverse bend in the tip it worked okay to raise and drop the rope. It was slightly more difficult to control the rope with the Retreever.-Slight advantage-Sidekick
Pushing a loop of rope horizontally: The Retreever tip tends to rotate from lateral forces and drop the rope.After playing with it briefly I found a tip shape and method that worked. The Sidekick worked smoothly.-Advantage-- Sidekick
Pulling a stuck bowline out of an overhead crotch:This was an inadvertant test-I dropped the rope with a Bowline on the end into a narrow crotch with the Retreever and got it stuck-trying to pull it out straightened the hook-trying to push spun the head and started to collapse the pole so I stopped and switched tools. I unhooked it with the Sidekick without incident-Advantage- Sidekick
Reaching out to pull in a line: I expected the Retreever's large hook to be an advantage but the stiffer pole of the Sidekick made it easy to grab with its smaller hook. Both seemed equal-Perhaps in other conditions the Advantage would go to the Retreever.
Using partially extended: Both tools were usable at part extension-The Sidekick allows one to keep the tip section (which is smallest and most flexible/weakest retracted and deploy the base sections. The Retreever needs to have the tipmost section extended or it will spin so easily that control is very difficult. Advantage-Sidekick.
Either one of these tools would be useful for setting and retrieving lines in the tree and tip tying branches for removal rigging, but the Sidekick is more versatile and user friendly. Time will tell about further impressions and durability-I'll post a follow-up report after I climb with each for a while.
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