Self-tending Hitches

ChrisOTS

ChrisOTS

Location
Goderich, Ontario
So I am in the middle of a bit of a debate on the matter of Self-tending hitches, and when it comes down to it, there is a lot more to friction hitches than just the normal knots.

I mean aside from self tending, there is the basic setup, forced advancement and that is even before we get into footlocking, never mind static and dynamic.

Anyways, I am curious, would you consider self-tending and forced advancement the same thing? I mean self tending uses the weight of the rope, forced advancement uses a micro-pulley or other device under the hitch, to move your knot up, at the same time as pulling. Both methods save energy, so you don't have to hold your weight with one arm, while pulling slack with the other.

Just curious, what is everyone's thoughts? Whats your config? New ideas?
 
I have yet to have one that does this for me fully. The one I posted on here before does this. But it takes quite a bit of rope underneath to do it.
 
The easiest way, and most efficient energy wise I find, is to have a piece of throwline 6 coil prusic'd about 3 feet above your termination knot, and have it run down through your friction hitch, usually a distel or swabish, and have a dogtag attached to a micropulley below the hitch. No need for counterweight, and it forces the hitch up.

Any pics of your set up Tr33?
 
The problem with all of the self tending hitches that I have tried is that they need to be manually dressed in order to set especially after a long ascent.That doesn't make for a very safe climbing system. A micro pulley is nice but if someone came up with a reliable self tending hitch that would be way better.
 
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