VT tresse - over or under

Marden

Marden

Location
Long Island, New York
Okay, here is my 'first' post on TreeBuzz. BTW, this site is awesome !!!

I have seen many, many examples of how to tie this hitch. However, one thing which does not appear to be clear or consistent are the braids at the end. What 'seems' to work best [for me] after wrapping the 3 loops at the top, is to alternate the braids over/under. IOW, after wrapping the 3 loops at the top:

1) The top strand wraps down and over the 3 loops and bottom strand, then continues around to the back.
2) Next, the bottom strand wraps around to the back and over the top strand, then continues around to the front.
3) For the final crossover at the front, the top strand wraps around to the front and over the bottom strand.
4) And last, both strands continue around and clip into the pulley/carabiner

Using this "alternating braid" allows the hitch to release and slide up well, yet helps the hitch to stay properly dressed.

Does this make sense ?
 
Marden, welcome to the site.

I may be wrong here so anyone speak up if you disagree. The reason you don't find the VT braids listed in more detail, may be because so many climbers have their own version, and tie it differently. They're looking for the perfect marriage between the knot releasing with little effort, yet grabbing consistently when loaded. With the different reactions between hitch cords and climbing lines available today, no single method of tying it will work perfectly with each combination. Not to mention, wear and tear on the hitch cord, or climb line, might demand an extra wrap from time to time.

Once the knot is dressed and set, if you retain your number of upper wraps, and it grabs/releases properly, you're good to go.
 
I have recently been wondering about the vt as well. When I tie it alternating the two legs/ over then under, it just blows apart when weighted. When I tie it with the top leg always wrapping over the bottom leg, it always grips, releases well and I have no problems with it. I recently became concerned with the possibility that I might be creating too much wear/heat on one end of the hitch cord, and could this cause failure? The hitch cord seems ok, but I'm glad this topic was brought up. (I am generally using the vt for SRT)
 
Scrat,
I am located on Long Island. Can't you tell from the accent ?

Also, I tried the XT, but in practice, I found every so often, it would fail miserably. That makes me nervous. The VT tresse is far more consistent. And yes, I tried adjusting the cord length.

BTW, my SRT setup is ZK-2, HitchClimber, Oceans 10mm and 8mm, on The Fly 11mm rope. Did not like BeeLine as it is too stiff for my liking.

thanks for all the responses so far.
 
A lot of SRT climbers are using the Cooper's Hitch these days, as with all of these hitches number of coils and wraps and/or twists vary per cordage length/diameter/type and condition of the hitch cord and climbing line.

I'm tying it with 10mm OP, 4 or 5 coils and a few twists depending on the day and conditions. 5 or 6 coils seems to be best for 8mm cordage. The cord in the photo is around 30", 32" is more optimal for the 10mm cord, I do 5 or 6 coils with 32" cord.

Number of twists below the coils varies to get the right overall tension on the hitch, meaning reliable grab and good performance (slack tending, smooth release etc.)

9256515786_ffd8a5cb3c_b.jpg


-AJ
 
If you are having issues with the VT not catching or blowing apart on your SRT set-up...try an extra coil at the top. I love the 4 coil VT with 2 braids @ the bottom. 10mm Beeline on Lava rope. I never have an issue with it catching, and releases nicely.
 
John,

So far, on The Fly rope I have, I like both the 10mm OP with 3 wraps and 3 braids, or the 8mm OP with 4 wraps and 3 braids where the third braid is an X. Both seem to hold nicely and release well.

Thanks for the suggestion.

-Michael
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think there may have been another thread about my question but I missed it and was wondering if anyone could help me out...

I heard there was a hitch that doesn't twist the rope as it goes through (which leads to hockles eventually)

Found a thread about hockles but not the hitch I had heard is hockleless. anyone?

thread with good tips...

http://www.treebuzz.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=88196&page=62&fpart=1&vc=1

[/ QUOTE ]

Pred, sometimes you can influence the twist of the rope created by the hitch by your hand twisting the hitch one way or the other while it is being released. Try some REAL SLOW descents and watch closely to see if your hitch is influencing a twist in the rope. If it does, stop, and try twisting the hitch in the opposite direction that the rope is twisting as you begin to descend again and see if that counteracts the hockle.

I learned this from Taylor, and found that it works. I also stopped using a VT and went to the Michoacan which I can't stop raving about. Love that hitch!

Or, just climb SRT and leave your hockles behind!
grin.gif


Let me know what you find, bud.
 
[ QUOTE ]
oh i'm SRT all day. It's my lanyard tail that's good and twisted after a few climbs.

Thanks o ima try that!

[/ QUOTE ]

Right on, right on. I get that with my lanyard tail as well. In that case I just sorta deal with it. I run a short lanyard (12') with a carabiner in each end. I daisy the last few feet and lock it off on the back 'biner. If I get a hockle, I can either twist the working end and pass it through the prusik, or take the back 'biner off the caritool and give it a spin or two.

I'm not sure what I'd do if I used a longer lanyard. Maybe the same thing...?
 
Ya, I have whittled my lanyard down to a nice compact 17 feet : ) That's three loops hanging down, caribs on both ends with a accessory two-way prusik in the middle (not including my working prusik of course). It's actually quite a hassle to get the twists out of that set-up! Truth is though it's only after a few climbs and it's probably a good thing to be inspecting, re-tying etc. anyways, it's just so tempting to try to be that man whose rope never hockles... tah-dah!
 
Tah daaahhh! And now for my next trick...watch how my throw line NEVER tangles!
 
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