Amazon climbing gear

[Drifter2406]

I have just been asked but a neighbour if this is any good,Tsudoku Steel Wire Core Flip Line Kit, he has seen it on Amazon for about £45, I said to him if it is being sold there don't get it, get it from a dedicated Arborist shop but he seems to think it's a good buy.perhaps I'm being over sceptical, what are your thoughts?

[Dan Maynard]

Never cheap out on tyres or brakes.

 

Or climbing gear.

[manco]

regardless of price i wouldnt buy climbing gear off amazon

trusted suppliers only for stuff like that

[kram]

18 minutes ago, manco said:

regardless of price i wouldnt buy climbing gear off amazon

trusted suppliers only for stuff like that

I've no problem buying proper branded gear off Amazon in two situations - it either has to be sold directly by Amazon, or by a known, real shop who use Amazon, of which there are quite a few. Got quite a few bits of decent gear like that, 100% genuine.

 

Then theres the unknown branded chinese stuff. Much of it looks identical and made in the same factory as the branded ones (rope grabs, pulleys, some carabiners). I have a fair number of the cheap carabiners for accessory use, they make perfect saw clips on side of harness. I use an ascender - no risk if it fails as I'll always have another connection to rope .. no problems with any of it so far. Generally wouldnt use for PPE use.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tsudoku-Adjustable-Climbing-Positioning-Arborists/dp/B0CZ6JRDC7

The flip line, the carabiner/snap hook look rubbish and wouldnt use them but I imagine with wire core is ok.  However at £44 its not really any cheaper than a branded wire core.

I dont like rope grabs so that would be replaced with a knut hitch but its likely adequate.

[kram]

After a careless mistake and chopping my new Marlow flipline I have ordered one of these to try for £23. Ordered another Marlow one.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CR9ZXF1G

 

https://www.radmoretucker.co.uk/shop/tree-climbing-arborist-equipment/tree-climbing-equipment/lanyards-fliplines/marlow-wire-core-flip-line-3m-no-snap-hook/

 

I was reaching down one handed to cut an irritating branch below me and didnt notice the bright colours!

 

I will stop using a wire core when its not required, most of the time a plain rope lanyard would be better.

[sime42]

1 hour ago, kram said:

After a careless mistake and chopping my new Marlow flipline I have ordered one of these to try for £23. Ordered another Marlow one.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CR9ZXF1G

 

https://www.radmoretucker.co.uk/shop/tree-climbing-arborist-equipment/tree-climbing-equipment/lanyards-fliplines/marlow-wire-core-flip-line-3m-no-snap-hook/

 

I was reaching down one handed to cut an irritating branch below me and didnt notice the bright colours!

 

I will stop using a wire core when its not required, most of the time a plain rope lanyard would be better.

 

Been there, done that! Annoying.

[Dan Maynard]

I reckon I've nicked or cut two ropes reaching down, both times annoyed by epi or hairy conifer on hot days. I now try to give myself a stern talking to whenever the idea to reach down and cut occurs.

[kram]

 It has arrived! My opinion the quality is good and  would happily use it. I cut the heatshrink off one end to check the crimp and visually it looks good. The outer cover is resin bonded to the wire and covered with a generous amount of thick heatshrink. Carabiner is a decent weight of alu but is a twist lock rather tham triple locker.

Swivel snap hook seems good but heavy, again its two action rather than three. I'd likely cut this off as I prefer carabiners.

 

 

 

There is no overall ID/ ratings label for the wire core although the hook, grab and carabiner are marked.

Edited September 17 by kram

[Will C]

If the flip line has no ce mark or id how are you going to get to loler tested? I wouldn’t test it, to me this says it’s junk. It may well be fit for purpose but if it can’t be tested expect your insurance company to walk away if anything goes wrong!

[Mark Bolam]

Buy cheap, never buy again!