whats the difference?

My understanding is that the rapide comes in handy when actually being used as a pulley, as is spins much more efficiently than the standard HC. I don't think it makes much of a difference with slack tending. I could be wrong though.
 
Mac is right. Rolling efficiency is the only difference other than the color options. The regular version has a bushing with 70% rolling efficiency while the rapide has a bearing with a 95% efficiency. I think these numbers are right. In a climbing system application you won't notice the difference.
 
I find the rapide does not shackle out ( bearing as opposed to bushing ) as badly as the regular version....after one year of climbing on the regular version, I found a lot of play and the sideplates had a fair bit of separation...prob not a big deal TBH but I changed to the rapide and have not encountered this.....plus as has been said the rapide is way smoother with less friction....it's just my preference though, a few might disagree....
 
The one with bearings is a better pulley. Period.
Obviously it will work better and more efficiently in whatever way you use it, if you tend slack with it, it will tend slack better than the non bearing model, that is just simple logic.
When I 'tend slack' sometimes Im pulling ,my entire body weight up as I unweight the rope and hop up the tree, dont even try to tell me a bearing sheave is not going to make this easier, in whatever small way it does.
Tree climbing is a game of inches, we do all these things to be the most efficient and productive and then when we go to buy pulleys a lot of us, me included at one time, just say 'ahh it bearings are useless, or certianly not worth the 8 or 10 dollars more the bearing pulley will cost',
this makes me laugh.
Ballbearings are good, dont let anyone tell you different.
 
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.after one year of climbing on the regular version, I found a lot of play and the sideplates had a fair bit of separation...prob not a big deal TBH but I changed to the rapide and have not encountered this.....

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Good point. I have one of each and have noticed the same. The regular has enough play in it that I wouldn't use it as a pulley that my life counted on anymore. The rapide hasn't been in use as long but is still in the same condition as when I first got it.
 
Paul and Adam,

A certain amount of play is acceptable and normal in the cheek plate/axle interface in Hitch Climbers. A bit of play is necessary for assembly and functionality. Machining tolerances also play a role here. The amount of play may increase slightly with use. This is not as noticeable in the Rapide, as the assembly process is slightly different.

If you are having doubts about your Hitch Climber, please contact DMM directly. I would be happy to view a photo and give you my opinion based on my experience with the product. However, this will only be my opinion, not a proper thorough inspection :)
 
Taylor that HC has long moved on, along with a couple other bushing one's that were knocking aroung in the gear bag...don't ask why I had so many, it's a long story....anyway I would have climbed on them for many more years but I found the rapide and never looked back, I have a bad colour fetish I am ashamed to say and not a cheap gene in my body so I have since gotten rid of two ice blue rapides and settled on the sand and black tactical ones ( hate bright shiny stuff, except rope ) which I have had for about a year now...These ones are as tight and sweet as the day I got them after some good use so I am pleased with them....I love DMM products point blank, they are well thought out and very well made period.....
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I've noticed the pulley sheave on the Rapide seems to feel more difficult to spin than the normal model, unless it's loaded. I think this is the nature of any sealed bearing vs. bushing...the bearing will feel like glass when it's loaded, and the bushing will have a bit more resistance when loaded.

That being said, I would sooner hang my life from the sheave of a Pinto Rig than I would from a Rapide. I say this since I feel more comfortable with the becket of the Rig as a sort of 'back-up'. Sure, I could put an oval 'biner through an empty eye of the HC pulley and let it hang down between the two legs of climbing line as a false becket, but I'd just sooner reach for a Rig.

I employ both models of HC Pulleys (bushing & bearing), and I like them both. If I'm planning an SRT climb with Horse Knot traverses, then I'll run the Rapide for sure. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDjjFksC1Zg
 
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That being said, I would sooner hang my life from the sheave of a Pinto Rig than I would from a Rapide. I say this since I feel more comfortable with the becket of the Rig as a sort of 'back-up'. Sure, I could put an oval 'biner through an empty eye of the HC pulley and let it hang down between the two legs of climbing line as a false becket, but I'd just sooner reach for a Rig.

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I have to agree with Eric, I would not hang my life off a rapide or regular Hc...pinto RIG all the way...

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Guys. Please. You're gonna drive me crazy. What on Earth are you talking about? There are probably MILLIONS of pulleys around the world that are supporting lives or loads or whatever... this very instant. DMM, Petzl, ISC, CMI, CT, single-sheave, double-sheave, becket, no becket, hot-forged, cold-forged, stamped, machined, etc.

Why would you not hang your life on a Hitch Climber? That is part of what it is designed to do... lift people and things above the ground.
 
Taylor I just mean say replacing my pulley saver with say a HC setup friction saver....I use a HC in my climbing system everyday climbing DRT or SRT with wrench....hope this explains things....
 
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That being said, I would sooner hang my life from the sheave of a Pinto Rig than I would from a Rapide. I say this since I feel more comfortable with the becket of the Rig as a sort of 'back-up'. Sure, I could put an oval 'biner through an empty eye of the HC pulley and let it hang down between the two legs of climbing line as a false becket, but I'd just sooner reach for a Rig.

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I have to agree with Eric, I would not hang my life off a rapide or regular Hc...pinto RIG all the way...

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Guys. Please. You're gonna drive me crazy. What on Earth are you talking about? There are probably MILLIONS of pulleys around the world that are supporting lives or loads or whatever... this very instant. DMM, Petzl, ISC, CMI, CT, single-sheave, double-sheave, becket, no becket, hot-forged, cold-forged, stamped, machined, etc.

Why would you not hang your life on a Hitch Climber? That is part of what it is designed to do... lift people and things above the ground.

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Really sorry to make you crazy, Taylor. I mean no offense to you, or to DMM products...It's just a personal thing. I use more DMM products DAILY than one could shake a stick at. I love these products!

During my daily gear inspection, when I see the slight bit of slop between the two side plates, It gets me wondering how well the pressed fit is holding up. I hope that makes sense. Especially if the unit becomes looser over time, how does one gauge when it's unsafe? Could it ever have enough slop to be considered unsafe?

If I could see an engineers drawing of the HC Pulley, I might have a better understanding of how it stays together, and how to determine it's reliability during inspection. If I could visualize the inside of the axle assembly, it would create more clarity for me to judge what's acceptable or not. But for now, I'd actually feel more at ease climbing on a pulley with a becket, or a pulley with a through bolt.

Again, Taylor, props to you (because you're a bad-a$$), and DMM...It's just a personal thing. I'm happy to be persuaded otherwise!
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I hope I did not come across as being heated. I am just frustrated at the amount of misinformation that spreads around about these products (or any product for that matter).

If you are unsure of your Hitch Climber, you should have it inspected by a qualified person. That is most likely someone at DMM. They will be very helpful to you in getting an inspection done. Maybe they'll look at it and send it right back to you (with a sticker!). Perhaps they will break it and send you a new one? They may break it and charge you for a new one! Who knows?

Eric, don't hold on to a piece of gear you are not comfortable with. If I were you, I'd contact DMM via the Professional website and explain what you've got. They will get back to you.
 
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why do people climb on the hitchclimber rapide? is it smoother slack tending? i climb on the regular version and its awesome but why a rapide? fill me in. thanks!

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Hey CLIMBERJunkieee,

Sorry for the slight derail... As to your original question:
The Hitch Climber has an efficiency rating of 71% and the HC Rapide is 95% efficient. Whether hauling loads, lifting a victim in a rescue, running your climbing line through it, or simply tending slack in your climbing system, the increase in efficiency yields less friction. This is particularly noticeable in multi-pulley mechanical advantage systems, but you will still notice it while tending slack in your climbing system as well.

Also, as you are moving about with the tail of your climbing line draped over a branch above you or off to the side, the reduced friction of the Rapide is quite noticeable and beneficial.
 
Taylor, I'll send you a pic tomorrow. I'm not super worried about it. You'll see by the pic that I've gotten my money's worth out of it.

Everything in Eric's last post is pretty much how it is for me too.
 
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