Petzl OK and chicane

[Khriss]

2 hours ago, Rupe said:

Never tried one, but yes, probably a better option.

Akimbo maybe if it ever gets released.

Appart from cost - well impressed with mine, but choice of rope decides how well it flows thru device. Well made n simple. K

[Blah]

Having had a couple of solid days on the Chicane, I really like it. It's very easy to switch between srt and ddrt, there's hardly any sitback e.g. when foot ascending up, and it doesn't have a friction hitch that needs tending. 

 

It would be nice if the ZZ was midline attachable, but I can live with that. I imagine I'll be using this over the RW.

 

 

[Rupe]

The next thing to try would be the chicane with a hitch and HC. If petzl (or anybody) made a pulley with holes that only accept the new OK karabiner then that would make a rigid system on a midline attachable system.

[Rupe]

Tries the chicane with a hitch, today. Didnt really mean to, but was exiting the tree for tea break and so I converted my Ddrt Hitch set up to SRT to descend and happened to have the chicane with me ( I was using zig zag  on another tree earlier). 

 

It works really well but the hitch gets too close to the chicane really. I use a short knut hitch and it worked just about. A VT (they are usually longer) would hit the chicane and that would be risky! 

[Rupe]

First proper trial yesterday. Worked the top of the tree Ddrt and then attached my line to a stem for srt. Worked the tree abit thenback up to retrieve the end for Ddrt. Worked really well.

The chicane ascends well. The zig zag needs to be attached (via its 2nd hole) to a chest harness, I use a Chester, but then that attachment doesn't need to be removed like a neck tether would. So you can fairly seamlessly go up and down.

I was on spikes so I just walked back up the tree when ready. Tip roping lombardies so lots of up down up down!

[Gerbutt]

I’ve been loving mine. I only use my chest harness when I’m walking up a stem on spikes, the rest of the time I use the handle on the chicane and just slide it up the rope, it works really smoothly and seems to make the process feel quicker.  I think there’s rope out now where the splice does fit through a zigzag? Would be handy! I have a BGB which is great but not CE’d, so it’s nice now not having to worry about insurance and whatnot. The only thing I think would be nice would be a smaller version of the Petzl OK, it would make the whole system more compact, better for those with short reaches. 

[Gerbutt]