TRANGO Cinch

J

Jim

Location
Baltimore, MD.
I was wondering if anyone has tried the TRANGO Cinch and, if so, how it compares to the Petzl I'D. I read a thread about SRT where the I'D was mentioned by several posters. Just curious if the Cinch could also be used.

Thanks,
Jim
 
Jim,

I looked at the Cinch at a rock shop. It is a nice, compact tool.

Go here:

http://www.rockclimbing.com/forums/

and go into the "Gearhead" forum. The Cinch has been talked about a LOT. In one of the threads one of the techs from Trango gives his input.

From what I've read it seems to have some features that the Gri Gri is missing.

The nice thing about the I'd is that if the handle is pulled too far or released, it locks off. I don't know if the Cinch does that.

How do you plan on using the tool?
 
Tom, thanks for replying so quickly. I read your posts in the thread 'Working on SRT System'. I was very interested in what both you and Paul_P had to say.

I've been using a Tenex Eye & Eye Prusik Cord with a French Prusik connected to my saddle with a carabiner, both in SRT and DRT. A micro-pulley is inserted between the eyelets of the cord and all of that is threaded onto the carabiner which is then then attached to my saddle. I like this knot a lot because it moves so easily up the rope; also because it so close to my saddle. Finally, I use a Petzl pantin.

What I'm looking for is a back-up device. Something that would move up or down the rope but hold if I wanted to stop. I'm hoping the cinch will fit the bill. If I'm correct it's a little less than half the weight of the I'D. I'm just not sure if it will move up thr rope on its own when I'm ascending.

I saw a picture of a RADS setup in a tree. It looked like a grigri with a microcender. but don't really like so much hardware up in front of me. I'm not sure how to do it, but I'd like the cinch or I'D to be close also.

Hope that makes sense.
Thanks,
Jim
 
Jim, you might consider the Ushba Basic for your backup rope grab. It'll run up rope with you very easily, and grab well if you need to load it. Beautiful piece of gear, made of burnished titanium. Tom will have his advice, too...I think he uses the ISC Rocker, which would be my choice after the Ushba...both are equally good. The Petzl Microcender and the Wild Country Ropeman II would do pretty well, too, I expect.
 
[ QUOTE ]
What I'm looking for is a back-up device. Something that would move up or down the rope but hold if I wanted to stop. I'm hoping the cinch will fit the bill. If I'm correct it's a little less than half the weight of the I'D. I'm just not sure if it will move up thr rope on its own when I'm ascending.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually the Cinch (170g) is about 1/3 the weight of the I'D (530g) and a lot smaller. It will work on 9.4-11mm ropes.

From the comments I've read about the Cinch, it might work as you suggest. It does seem like an elegant and multi-functional little device.
cinch.jpg


You might also consider the Petzl Shunt:
Produit_Image_116.jpg

It's the world's most popular rope access back-up device, also very light (188g), moves up the rope with you and will follow you down if you lift the eye (or pull on a small release cord attached to the backside of the cam). Unlike the I'D, the GriGri, or the Cinch, the Shunt will work on single (10-11mm)or double (8-11mm) ropes.

- Robert
 
The Petxl ASAP is another new tool that has promise.

http://tinyurl.com/5o9t4

If I was going to buy a tool to use as a fall protector now, I'm not sure what I would buy. Trango is a blank in my mooch sources :) Paying retail for gear that I want to demo hurts /forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif

The Rocker works well for me. But in certain applications some slack can develop in the line. If the climber were to fall there might be a bit of a drop. It seems like the ASAP solves this problem. If I remember correctly, the ASAP has a clutch mechanism that will activate on inertia. Along the lines of the chainbrake systems on saws.

If either of these tools came from lesser companies I'd be a bit more concerned. Petzl rarely misses the mark. I've followed the development skuttle butt about the Cinch for months now on the rock climbing forums. Trango has re-engineered the piece to hit the mark. I wonder how it would look in pink /forum/images/graemlins/applaudit.gif
 
I want to thank everyone for their help. Tom, after I went over to rockclimbing.com as you suggested and read the posts (There's a lot of them), I was satisified that the Cinch was worth a try. The ASAP looks good also. I just don't know about pink /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif !!! Might start attracting bees... /forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Jim
 
I recently tested ascending with the Trango cinch attached to my climbing line to see if it were feasible. The idea was hopefully to not have to attach it once up in the tree, but rather while still on the ground.

I tested with both 1/2” ArborMaster and 11mm KM III/MAX, climbing SRT with a Pantin. I attached the cinch via a carabiner to my saddle using three different configurations: cinch attached above my hitch, below my hitch, and without a hitch.

Unfortunately, it’s creates too much drag/resistance. I’m guessing that the curvature of the line as it passes through the cinch creates excessive friction due to the line being taut because of body weight on the Pantin.

In a case where the climbing line was not tensioned (DdRT body-thrusting) it would probably work because one could grab the line below the cinch and pull the slack through. I don’t think it would work with someone trying to belay the climber from below, though, for the same reason that it didn’t work in SRT.

I still like/use it for descent because it saves a lot of wear and tear on my hitch cord. Plus, I can add an extra wrap to my hitch for extra security during ascent, but yet not have to worry about the hitch seizing up on me on the way down.

Jim
 
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