Which Knee Ascender in 2022?

castanea said:
It looks like the SAKA is out of stock indefinitely....
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I'm sorry but it has been very frustrating with the delays delays followed by more delays. Being a small company and not having huge order volume, I probably fall to the bottom of the stack.
I know I've said it several times before but I do believe, I'll have them out in a month.
 
castanea said:
I totally agree I just think he is intimdated by everything else there is to learn, I think homebrew gear even more so. I didnt see the foldable anywhere, and didnt expect to find the reg saka anywhere, Mumford said he has been waiting on new stock for a year, supply chain issue. I just emailed Maple Leaf to make sure its really in stock.
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So when I do get my ascenders, both the regular SAKA and Foldable SAKA will be available as well as the Mini. (Now not so 'Mini' compared to the Foldable) The difference between the regular and the foldable is that the bungee can be pulled from directly above the ascender allowing it to be connected directly below your multiscender. The Mini and most other knee ascenders must have a length of bungee above to get the recoil.
I am adamant about keeping the area around and above my multisender clear and that includes bungee.
 
Richard has taken a tool concept that's been around in the caving world since the mid-60's and made a tool that has wrung out every last bit of inefficiency. By having materials manufactured to his exacting specs then combining them in a very efficient mode he's made one super fine tool.

As you know he SAKA is great! The cost is sure reasonable too. But if it can't be bought, what then?

You can settle for a less than the highest efficiency by using off the shelf parts to mimic the SAKA. This is going to take time to gather the parts then assemble them. This might be beyond your capabilities. Since many components of the SAKA line of tools are bespoke you'll have a loss of efficiency.

It the @ClimbingInnovations tool hits the 100% mark how far off that mark can you hit and still feel a good value?

I cobbled together a couple of knee ascenders over the years. They were clunky but they worked...sorta. Better than nothing. When Richard came out with his version I could tell that my build skills would never equal what I could buy from him. Worth every dollar to buy!

Go cheap now. Get in the trees and get to work. Put your order in for a SAKA now and wait.
 
Tom Dunlap said:
Richard has taken a tool concept that's been around in the caving world since the mid-60's and made a tool that has wrung out every last bit of inefficiency. By having materials manufactured to his exacting specs then combining them in a very efficient mode he's made one super fine tool.

As you know he SAKA is great! The cost is sure reasonable too. But if it can't be bought, what then?

You can settle for a less than the highest efficiency by using off the shelf parts to mimic the SAKA. This is going to take time to gather the parts then assemble them. This might be beyond your capabilities. Since many components of the SAKA line of tools are bespoke you'll have a loss of efficiency.

It the @ClimbingInnovations tool hits the 100% mark how far off that mark can you hit and still feel a good value?

I cobbled together a couple of knee ascenders over the years. They were clunky but they worked...sorta. Better than nothing. When Richard came out with his version I could tell that my build skills would never equal what I could buy from him. Worth every dollar to buy!

Go cheap now. Get in the trees and get to work. Put your order in for a SAKA now and wait.
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Great advice. Thank you. I know what you mean about worth every dollar. I wouldn't be able to build up to his specs. And if I'm going to use it I want it to be 100% efficient.
 
I love my SAKA's and FOOTIES!! Notice I said plural. I hook the SAKA bungee to my left side bridge paw and almost never take it off while climbing. It just doesn't seem to get no my way all that much and I forget about it. Both Footie versions are great, but the V-2 is the bomb with the shortened catch handle. That little tweak makes unhooking it from the rope almost effortless.
 
Christrees said:
so about $250.00 $300.00 for the saka and foot ascender
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So about 7 years of having a good time developing climbing concepts and starting a business that was never intentional, getting 2 patents issued and related expenses and insurance, buying breaktesting equipment and sewing machines and other related equipment, being able to sponsor some events and participate in Expo and climbing competitions and such, member of TCIA and ISA and to this date, not a dime in personal profit but hoping to break even soon, yes a SAKA and footie will be around 230.00 USD.
 
i thread some bungee trough the lower d's (could be the upper d's, but got in the way of my becket bend) and attach it somewhere on the back of my harness, spliced some 4mm dyneema onto the petzl basic ascender, xsre carabiner on the other end (of dyneema rope) clips into footloop. it raises the ascender as fast as i can move my feet. when i don't need it i stuff the dyneema into the ascender. its always there for me but never in the way.

i know a guy who uses a 60 cm tapesling as a footloop and an old 22kn carabiner as a tending point on his neck-loop-bungee, in a pinch he would use those two things for a speedline, rigging redirect.
 
Richard Mumford-yoyoman said:
So about 7 years of having a good time developing climbing concepts and starting a business that was never intentional, getting 2 patents issued and related expenses and insurance, buying breaktesting equipment and sewing machines and other related equipment, being able to sponsor some events and participate in Expo and climbing competitions and such, member of TCIA and ISA and to this date, not a dime in personal profit but hoping to break even soon, yes a SAKA and footie will be around 230.00 USD.
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Shit man I could only imagine..but with all that work does come with good things. I hope you break even soon as well start making profit. And continue to advance our field. You've done great work I appreciate it. And I know there are so many other members do as well. Keep up the good work. All that struggle will pay off for you. I know it will.
 
Christrees said:
.... All that struggle will pay off for you. I know it will.
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Thank you! It already has greatly enriched my life in very meaningful ways, in friendships and participation in what I and others love.
I'm just sensitive to how hard so many have to work, to pay for the things that they need to work with. I know I'm not alone in that nor in the contributions made by a great community
 
Shit I get that too. I have had to work my ass off my whole life. Just for the little bit I have to show for it. It's not right. In this world you have to have connections or your no one. But I don't let anything stop me. I have gotten most of the things I've ever wanted. I don't give up til I reach my goal.
 
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