Suggestions for ropewalking gear?

Scratch

Scratch

Participating member
Location
Hudson, WI
I've been recreational tree climbing for just a short while now. I come from a rock climbing background, and have a good bit of gear for that. I started tree climbing with the gear I already had which was a RADS setup, and am now more than ready to step up into a SRS ropewalking setup, and am looking for advice.

I'm a firm believer in the "buy once, cry once" phrase, and am not afraid to spend some cash, but also don't want to go crazy on a Ferrari budget, when all I really need is a Chevrolet. So right now, I'm in research mode. At first I was thinking about getting the Hitch Hiker climbing system, because it looks very simple, but should I be looking at the Rope Wrench instead? It seems to be more popular than the HH, but it also "looks" ( to my un experienced self) kind of goofy with that wrench sticking out. I've also heard the term Hitch Hiker X, but am unsure if the HH2 is the same as the HHX or what the differences are between them.

At first, I really liked the Unicender, but according to WesSpur, it seems like that's not a good device for beginner climbers. It seems like the Akimbo is the hot ticket these days and I'm willing to wait for one if it's a good choice for me, but like I said, I'm still new to tree climbing so maybe I shouldn't...

Once I figure out the above, which... correct me if I'm wrong here, but the above is considered your "climbing system" correct? Then my plan is to get a foot ascender, (I was considering a Petzl Pantin, or the CMI, but am open to suggestions...) along with a chest harness, (was planning on making one since I have lots of spare webbing, please feel free to convince me otherwise) and a SAKA Mini. Or should I be considering a HAAS system?

I know alot of this is personal preference, but if you have any input, suggestions, or advice, I'm willing to hear it. I know if it was summer, I could probably find a get together in my area and could go get some hands on experience with some different options, but figured I could start researching those options now.
 
Rope Wrench or Hitch Hiker. Both are wonderful tools that a fella could climb on for a very long time.

I personally climb on a mini Saka, but the Haas is also killer. Take your choice.

As far as foot ascenders go, you just can’t go wrong with the CT. That being said I will be purchasing the new Notch foot ascender as a few folks who’s opinion I value have stated that it is really nice.
 
Hi I Scratch. I am new to the tree climbing world and am training to be an arborist. I am a long time rock climber and have found a Rope Wrench to be fairly intuitive to use. I got a Weaver Chest harness from Treestuff for 16.00 or so. Don’t forget a mini biner, I like the ones from Rock Exotica. I am using a Stein knee ascender and ISC foot ascender. I like them both. I’ve never used a SAKA mini but would trust @rico when he gives advice on gear. He knows what he’s talking about and gives it to you straight.
 
@rico is spot on.

Here is my list:
Wrench
Saka mini
CT footie
Chest harness

You will be blazin dem trees. Also get some 9.3 epicord. Thank me later. Also get a phlotich pulley by ISC. As for tethers I am using a shorty. I will never go back to a 12"er. @height makes a double leg 9.5" shorty. Wesspur can special order it. Or ShelterTree stocks them. Enjoy bruv....
 
rico said:
What?
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Ha ha....it was free rope. Used to use it before but the stretch always annoyed me. Seems to not anymore. Seems less somehow. But the runner runs so sweet on it. Was going to buy KM3 max and xstatic. But will kill these 2 hanks first. Money seems tight these days. Runner is it till it starts slipping Eric. Lol.
 
rico said:
Never try the Runner, but I would love to give one a go someday. .
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You would love it after it is broken in. Think it loves HTP 11mm too. I have 2 of the first Kevin ever made in Detroit. Seen a fair amount of action. Great tool. I put them down and pick them back up for a change.... Treestuff has some new ones I see in a cool color combo. Though I doubt color means shit to you.
 
swingdude said:
@rico is spot on.

Here is my list:
Wrench
Saka mini
CT footie
Chest harness

You will be blazin dem trees. Also get some 9.3 epicord. Thank me later. Also get a phlotich pulley by ISC. As for tethers I am using a shorty. I will never go back to a 12"er. @height makes a double leg 9.5" shorty. Wesspur can special order it. Or ShelterTree stocks them. Enjoy bruv....
Click to expand...
X2. Don't be afraid to check Gap Arborist Supply for gear also.
 
I would personally avoid a mechanical until your used to a rope Walker system, once you begin descent on a mechanical it can get pretty fast very quickly.

Currently I use:
A couple of options on foot ascender but i tend to grab my cmi most often
Original SAKA (no longer available, I hear good things about the SAKA mini)
HH2 or recently acquired rope runner
And either your lanyard over the shoulder to tend the system or a webbing loop slung over my shoulder into a chest harmess

As for the HH2/HHX they are similar tools, the 2 is made of steel and comes with the carabiner and hitch cord, the X is a fairly new product that is a copy (with Paul Cox's permission) of the 2 but made of aluminum and fitted with a quickie shackle instead of a carabiner. I am not sure if it comes with the hitch cord or not.


Don't be too concerned about buying a second multicender later on, often times a tool wont fit your style and you wont know that until you try it. You may also enjoy a change in pace by switching devices periodically or run two systems at once for certain climbs.
 
In my opinion, and I haven't used a wrench, the wrench is cheaper if your already using an eye to eye and micro pulley for MRS so it's a cheap intro into SRT, if you are on a Blake's or Rads it's cheaper to go the HH2 route as everything is included.

The HH2 is more compact which is nice for spar work, but I believe the wrench is easier to get dialed in for performance due to the set length of hitch cord. Either one can be made to tend very smooth and both are very safe options. It, like many things when climbing, probably comes down to a personal preference.
 
The OP states Scratch is rec climbing on a RADS set up. So no spar work, and new to rope on rope friction management. Start learning now with different knots, hitch cordages, and climbing lines, doubled up or srs, to understand the quirks.
Both wrenches and hitch hikers rely on friction hitches tied onto the climb line, which is complicated by how many variables this introduces.
I have climbed a lot on both, and find i prefer the HH2 because it tolerates more situational diversity. It performs equally well on SrS or doubled over MRS. It doesnt blink if you start climbing way out laterally, dragging your tail thru a tangled mess, it stays really smooth and consistent. And its the toughest thing out there to climb on. And you get the whole package when you buy it. The wrench needs a tether, eye2eye, pulley and biner. The wrench applys the same friction all the time, when it engages you get what you get for that rope. So letting slack out to move laterally from plumb, it can get to be too much drag and you have to pull the wrench down into your hitch to get the release you need. The HH can adjust to the load, so it releases the same even when you are only leaning back with 20% of your body weight.
As for the HHx, it is great too. Even smoother than the HH2, but the shackle attachment is a little different (specific to my personal harness set up), and the aluminum is a bit more sensitive to the abuses of pro work climbers.
The ascenders dont really matter too much, a foot and knee plus something to drag your device up the line is all you need.
Good luck!
 
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Many good points have been covered already. There really is no best tool, but there will be one that will work best for you and what you are using it for. The tools that are available today, compared to just a few years ago, are amazing. They all work well and are safe when used with understanding, but they have layers within that framework. There is also a difference between working safely and working at the highest performance potential each tool has to offer.

Keeping in mind that I have extensive rope-on-rope friction experience and have used all the tools in the multicender category, my go-to muticender for ruff-and-tumble tree work is the hitch-based HH2. It is magnificent in its simplicity and strength. Combined with a knee-and-foot ascender below (take your pick on those) it will glide up a rope like magic.

Many climbers will have an easier time working with a fully mechanical multicender if perfecting rope-on-rope friction is still elusive to them.
 
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I would love to hear from all those who has ridden both the HH2 and the HHX. The HH2 has shown itself to be a damn near perfect tool for the work I do, and am curious if the HHX is actually better, or just different. Thoughts would be appreciated.
 
I haven't touched a HHX, but from looking at it on here I agree with @DSMc. One of the prototypes looked very promising to me, with the on demand variable friction (the bolt in the spine that could be threaded in to increase friction) Richard must have seen some concern in that idea as it does not look like he continued down that path.
 
I think that the HHx is less sloppy than the hh2. I occasionally get my hh2 bound up with a stopper knot end poking into the biner or some biner rotation, but i use HTP a lot, which is pretty thin for it.
The shackle on Mumford's version fits perfectly, so it doesnt have those problems. The connection to the harness is a little more involved, I use the little smc ring or just a rockO with a wire keeper clipped straight to the bridge. Over all i think its a pretty even trade-off. Version 2 is simple and indestructable, but can jam and drag. Version x is light, more precise, but dings up and isnt as convenient for on/off unless you add a biner like he sells it with.
 
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