Hitch Hiker X

[brynarw]

Anyone tried the Hitch Hiker X? From YouTube reviews, seems interesting product. And if anyone has one in UK, where did you get it from? Seems like only available through Climbing Innovations webshop in the US, and I have no experience of what additional costs would be for import duty, tax, etc. Thanks

[Brocky]

Don’t wait too long to decide, a lot that he carries is out of stock, and with a legal battle ahead he seems to be not making any more.  I’ve got the HH2 and it works great, Richard’s version eliminates some of it’s problems.  He puts a lot of effort in the cord ends you get for easier threading.

The HH2 isn’t available until sometime  next year.

Edited October 16, 2019 by Brocky

[Bing!]

I have the X,

It can only be ordered via Richard and there is an import tax to pay. Can't remember exactly how much but around £30-£60.

I tried the HH1 and liked it, decided on the 2 but saw the X while researching. I went for the quickie link model and it is a faff, the carabiner version would have been easier but not sure if it would work any better. The X body is aluminium and is anodised, this is a hard coating but the constant moving of the slick pin has taken the coating off, doesn't affect it but perhaps the steel bodied 2 would have been better, but not lighter.

It is good at SRT and is also good drt, though the carabiner version would have  been less fiddly.

SRT into the tree, drt around if desired then tie off mid crown and SRT a bit if needed, then back to drt.

Bing. 

[brynarw]

Thanks very much for your replies. Very helpful. Do you mean you find slick pin tricky to open? I’ve seen on a video some solutions for a keeper string to stop the pin being dropped.

[Bing!]

If you wear gloves then it's nearly impossible. Lol.

It is a fiddle and should you wish to remove the pin up the tree then it's a risk, you may retain the pin but the "quickie" body frame can also be dropped as it is only looped through a ring, or in  my case a Cali swivel ; ) . The carabiner version would have been much easier I believe.