Rope Runner

Man after looking at those pics and knowing what the runner can achieve it makes it so difficult to part with them.....hmmm...SWING you are crazy dude....these things are priceless...:p
 
I am not selling Tom, I think I was having a " MESSING AROUND " moment...the RR has it's place in my bag...use it way more than I let on...I feel folks should know that the wrench is still a really beautiful thing....lol, they seem to think the RR is a miracle cure, guess it is because they are so limited.....
 
swingdude said:
I am not selling Tom, I think I was having a " MESSING AROUND " moment...the RR has it's place in my bag...use it way more than I let on...I feel folks should know that the wrench is still a really beautiful thing....lol, they seem to think the RR is a miracle cure, guess it is because they are so limited.....
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So why do you prefer the wrench Paul ? No riddles please....somebody might learn something.
 
Hey Reg, it's the way one can TWEAK a hitch to be very smooth....that's because of different ropes and prussic types...nothing can beat a fine tuned hitch...the runner can be finicky, it loves poison ivy runs very smooth with it....switch to Tachyon and I find it jerky ( cause of the stretch )...it creeps on aztec when new too...basically Reg I can't really say why I like the wrench more as I have had great success with both...I just think if the wrench was to fail, the hitch will hold ya...if the bird fails ( not likely except it got jammed on something ) a free fall could happen....just something to be aware of...hope this makes sense....
 
swingdude said:
Hey Reg, it's the way one can TWEAK a hitch to be very smooth....that's because of different ropes and prussic types...nothing can beat a fine tuned hitch...the runner can be finicky, it loves poison ivy runs very smooth with it....switch to Tachyon and I find it jerky ( cause of the stretch )...it creeps on aztec when new too...basically Reg I can't really say why I like the wrench more as I have had great success with both...I just think if the wrench was to fail, the hitch will hold ya...if the bird fails ( not likely except it got jammed on something ) a free fall could happen....just something to be aware of...hope this makes sense....
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Yeah I understand that, thanks. I elbowed my spiderjack while manhandling a severed branch, and went into free fall. Only for a second or two but wasn't laughing about it. I wouldn't sell and dont use it any less, but am mindful of how unforgiving it can be in the event of user error. Have yet to start an awakenings thread, hope to keep it that way.
 
So I've been reading all of this hype about this new gadget called the ROPE RUNNER :eek: Maybe it's justified--maybe not. I'm strictly a Ddrt guy. That sort of makes me an unbiased observer. I respect the opinions of many of you who like it. Tomthetreeman says, "it's the future of tree climbing." Some are happy they got one :) others sad they did not :( Some do not like the way it is coming to the marketplace :mad: (or should I say--not coming to the marketplace?) some think the "user/research" strategy a capital idea ;)

Tons of video out there now of guys using this gadget. Lots of pictures as well--including the current page of this thread. It's only a few plates of metal held together with bolts, nuts, washers and bushings. Now I'm NOT saying that I could replicate the fabrication of this device. I don't have the tools or the design flair necessary. BUT, would it be too much of a stretch to predict that right now someone is putting together one of these in his basement? Monkeylove gave us a peek (maybe no one picked up on it) in the previous page when he said "Nice vid Rich. Interesting mod, I have experiment with the hitch hiker under the Zig for the same friction concept. Obviously a little big but the concept worked as I expected. Still designing something smaller but I think it has possibility". Or maybe many of them are being assembled and tested in many different parts of the US and all over the world. Even adaptations and upgrades--since the initial RR hit the www in vids & pics. Even Petzl, Rock Exotica, CMI, etc. have all had a good look at this do-dad; & they have the money to throw at it for certain. Possibly, by the time the "creator" of the RR finally completes his research, pricing, packaging, marketing, distributing, etc.--SRT climbers will be flying high on a mechanical friction hitch with all the characteristics of a RR, but they'll be Petzl yellow, or Rock Exotica matte black.

Now it's possible that the developer has patented his design. I don't know much about such things, but it seems that there would be an easy way around that--for those that know the patent office well, and patent law even better. Subtle changes can circumvent the tightest of restrictions. Tell me I'm crazy--but if I were this developer, the longer this drags on, the smaller my chances of ending up with a pot of gold, & the greater the chances that somebody's beat me to it.
 
Won't sell these RR's they are a great tool....when I climb with a runner I am so aware of the bird's position....that is really it's only downfall for me, except the rope selection thing....the wrench works most ropes equally well....glad that free fall didn't get ya Reg, keep safe man....you would like the runner Reg I think....with all those conifers out in BC.....you do scale some tall ones.....
 
BRT said:
So I've been reading all of this hype about this new gadget called the ROPE RUNNER :eek: Maybe it's justified--maybe not. I'm strictly a Ddrt guy. That sort of makes me an unbiased observer. I respect the opinions of many of you who like it. Tomthetreeman says, "it's the future of tree climbing." Some are happy they got one :) others sad they did not :( Some do not like the way it is coming to the marketplace :mad: (or should I say--not coming to the marketplace?) some think the "user/research" strategy a capital idea ;)

Tons of video out there now of guys using this gadget. Lots of pictures as well--including the current page of this thread. It's only a few plates of metal held together with bolts, nuts, washers and bushings. Now I'm NOT saying that I could replicate the fabrication of this device. I don't have the tools or the design flair necessary. BUT, would it be too much of a stretch to predict that right now someone is putting together one of these in his basement? Monkeylove gave us a peek (maybe no one picked up on it) in the previous page when he said "Nice vid Rich. Interesting mod, I have experiment with the hitch hiker under the Zig for the same friction concept. Obviously a little big but the concept worked as I expected. Still designing something smaller but I think it has possibility". Or maybe many of them are being assembled and tested in many different parts of the US and all over the world. Even adaptations and upgrades--since the initial RR hit the www in vids & pics. Even Petzl, Rock Exotica, CMI, etc. have all had a good look at this do-dad; & they have the money to throw at it for certain. Possibly, by the time the "creator" of the RR finally completes his research, pricing, packaging, marketing, distributing, etc.--SRT climbers will be flying high on a mechanical friction hitch with all the characteristics of a RR, but they'll be Petzl yellow, or Rock Exotica matte black.

Now it's possible that the developer has patented his design. I don't know much about such things, but it seems that there would be an easy way around that--for those that know the patent office well, and patent law even better. Subtle changes can circumvent the tightest of restrictions. Tell me I'm crazy--but if I were this developer, the longer this drags on, the smaller my chances of ending up with a pot of gold, & the greater the chances that somebody's beat me to it.
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I dont see it getting ripped off any time soon, IPR or not. There's so much liability involved and its still a 'wait and see' situation on many levels. A rival company would already be way behind on the R&D to join the race at this stage.....irregardless of its simplicity. I'll be honest though, as slick as it looks, Im wary as hell about the mechanics of it. Maybe when I get a closer look I'll feel different. I'll be waiting at least a year to see how it works out for others before making a purchase, all being well. On a very reassuring note, we know its designed by a climber, for climbers. Thats huge. Who else are you gonna trust with your life ? and it is literally your life. Petzl ? They had lots of money to throw at the zigzag, both times. If copying is your thing, theres a lot safer game to shoot for than the RR at this early stage. The unicender never got ripped off, a similar concept. Rather, Rock Exotica came on board to help.....thus enhancing its own reputation and that of the product itself. Only a fool would purchase and use an imitation RR.
 
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Well said comments above. Just to clarify my comments to Rich and repeated above...I am just tinkering. I have no plans of coming out with a product. I am just trying to come up with something that would be adjustable (set by user) to add extra friction on descent. While it is the nature of mechanical to work better on some ropes, wouldn't it be nice if you could dial in a friction adder to work with any rope you own or just bought. Swingdude's comments above drive that point exactly with the beauty of rope on rope hitches and how they can be tweaked to perfection. When the RR is available again I will buy one from the inventor because he belongs here, he invented it, he has taught me things through this site, and his last product is great. Yes I just sold it, but it is still a great product. I may not like the RR once I get one and that is okay, I can always sell it here or use it for non-life support stuff. I applaud all the inventors out there willing to take a product to market but that is not for me. If McDonalds can get sued because their coffee is to hot, and a guy that invents Pet Rocks can make millions why anyone would want to invent something that a human life depends on and then take it to market is amazing. All I can say is thank you and I will continue to support all of you are trying to make a living in the trees.
 
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Reg very well said, any company wanting to copy the RR would be quite foolish.....this is a serious piece of equipment and not for the beginner climber or novice tree worker....hence Kevin making us sign a waiver to help ease his mind....mechanicals are tricky little devices ( uni, lockjack, spiderjack, and the dreaded Ziggady Zaggady )....they are all very cool tools but have nuances...the RR is being put on the market slowly for a reason, Kevin wanted to get the kinks out by getting positive and negative feedback from climbers who could be trusted to be able to do so.....it will come to be mass produced like the Wrench when the kinks have been worked out I am sure ( don't quote me on this please, it's an assumption as it's not my product )....everything I am saying here is my thoughts and is not written in stone...just my 2 cents, just adding to the discussion....RR's are definitely a nice tool to have in the work bag...
 
monkeylove said:
Well said comments above. Just to clarify my comments to Rich and repeated above...I am just tinkering. I have no plans of coming out with a product. I am just trying to come up with something that would be adjustable (set by user) to add extra friction on descent. While it is the nature of mechanical to work better on some ropes, wouldn't it be nice if you could dial in a friction adder to work with any rope you own or just bought. Swingdude's comments above drive that point exactly with the beauty of rope on rope hitches and how they can be tweaked to perfection. When the RR is available again I will buy one from the inventor because he belongs here, he invented it, he has taught me things through this site, and his last product is great. Yes I just sold it, but it is still a great product. I may not like the RR once I get one and that is okay, I can always sell it here or use it for non-life support stuff. I applaud all the inventors out there willing to take a product to market but that is not for me. If McDonalds can get sued because their coffee is to hot, and a guy that invents Pet Rocks can make millions why anyone would want to invent something that a human life depends on and then take it to market is amazing. All I can say is thank you and I will continue to support all of you are trying to make a living in the trees.
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Nothing in my post was aimed at you mate. Homemade/personal use stuff is cool and done at ones own risk.
 
Can somebody correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Kevin say that the Rope Runner should not be used alone in SRT, but in conjunction with a backup safety rope?

Believe me, I’m not trying to rehash the whole SPRAT versus Tree Care climbing scenario, just curious as to what the instructions are going say when the second batch comes out.
 
None taken Reg, I was not even a bit offended. I was just clarifying and trying to show some love for the inventors and all the contributors on this forum. With out all of you guys I would still be relatively safe with both feet on the ground. lol.
 
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