Prussik loops/devices and length

[kram]

What do you use?

 

For me there are two situations, ascending a tree I want a long loop to make quicker progress in each movement, I use the treehog 120cm eye to eye and tie a 4 wrap knut hitch. its about the same length as a standard 60/70cm loop. I am very happy with this, always good friction and easily moves, reliable.

 

Treehog TH1153 Eye To Eye Sling - Radmore & Tucker

WWW.RADMORETUCKER.CO.UK

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The Treehog eye to eye sling is a 10mm diamter hitch which is both grippy and heat resistant which are ideal for prussik cords and friction hitches...

 

That puts me a way from the anchor when I'm working at the top or when blocking down a trunk, is the only annoyance, but I often swap to a 70cm eye to eye for that. Its not ideal, its length means I can just about tie a 2 or 3 wrap knut. Its awful to ascend using it as the throw is tiny. It tends to either lock up tight or slip, rarely giving an ideal amount of friction.

 

Other climber uses Zigzags but I find them bulky in the way, also far from anchor and I havent got used to them, still I am tempted to get one, just a pain that its not attachable and has to be fed through.

 

I also hate rope graps for a flip line, I use a knut hitch for that, and happy with it.

[Mick Dempsey]

I use a Blake’s on my climb line, and a rope grab on my wire cored flip line.

 

Could not get used to the self tending on the ZZ for everyday stuff, though I still use it on the biggest trees.

Edited August 2, 2024 by Mick Dempsey

[maybelateron]

Having gone over to zigzag and art positioner 2, I could never go back to prussic loop or blakes hitch. Do you use a slack tender pulley? I completely agree about not using rope grab on a (steel cored) flip line though.

[kram]

Nope I bought a pulley for this but never got around to it. However its still more bulk in the way and wouldnt help much with the short prusik situation.

 

I did see a video showing a blakes hitch, can have the tail tied high on the other line to make it tending. Theres no reason the same cant be done without a pulley with a prussik just with an extra cord and accessory biner around the body of the hitch.

 

 

I found a pic that shows my normal setup.

Ignore the cheap white bridge rope, I have swapped it to the proper one.

Edited August 2, 2024 by kram

[stewmo]

Could you just buy some hitch cord and make it however long you want with fisherman's on the end instead of sewn eyes. Much cheaper also than sewn eyes.

 

Personally zigzag is more or less perfect for moving rope, just tend to wear out and then you have another useless lump of metal sitting around.....

[manco]

never had a problem with the length of my device, just saying.

[kram]

I suppose most experienced climbers will trust using the flip line more. I dont often get to spike up a tree so my confidence in it is a bit low.

[kram]

I have been trying this recently, a small loop of cord to tend the hitch. It works well, it needs to be unclipped for changing anchors. The cord is small enough it doesnt get in the way when throwing the rope.