New device-ART Blackbird

[peds]

On 07/05/2025 at 17:10, Treetom15 said:

, my ZZ doesn’t tend to get much beyond 2/3 years before they slip a lot. 

 

I keep meaning to switch to a munter hitch on a carabiner to descend at the end of the job, holding the zigzag open on full throttle... to minimise wear and tear on it and extend the lifespan... but I never do.

[gand]

I've been told today that it was going to be July for this over here. I like the look of it. Just hope it has a better lifespan on the metal work as 7 years isn't enough. I'm liking the look of the Buckingham Throttle which is getting put through it's CE testing. Hopefully getting to borrow a non CE one in the next few weeks. 

[Joe Newton]

On 07/05/2025 at 17:10, Treetom15 said:

I didn’t realise it had such a hefty price tag! I would assume all the wearing parts would be replaceable similar to the rest of ART products? Wouldn’t be bad value if you get 10 years out of one, my ZZ doesn’t tend to get much beyond 2/3 years before they slip a lot. 

Pretty much all ART devices these days have 10 year lifespan for hardwear and replaceable wear parts. I'd expect the same from this. 

2 hours ago, peds said:

 

I keep meaning to switch to a munter hitch on a carabiner to descend at the end of the job, holding the zigzag open on full throttle... to minimise wear and tear on it and extend the lifespan... but I never do.

When I was climbing mostly MRT, I'd get 12-18 months from a ZZ before it was worn to the point of slippage.

 

That was climbing daily with a thin rope and pulley friction saver, so the ZZ links took pretty much all of the weight.

 

I thought that was pretty decent value. 

[kram]

On 08/05/2025 at 18:25, peds said:

 

I keep meaning to switch to a munter hitch on a carabiner to descend at the end of the job, holding the zigzag open on full throttle... to minimise wear and tear on it and extend the lifespan... but I never do.

That will just ruin the rope putting twists in it and wearing it faster. You could swap to a rock climbing 8 decender or belay device but thats extra kit to carry about.

[flyingjoiner]

On occasion that I remember to stick the fig8 in the caritool, I do decent on it but not often tbh, been climbing a decent bit of srt a fair chunk recently and the chicane seems to do a fair job of doing what a fig 8 would do

[Darrin Turnbull]

It would be nice to show these devices in real world working conditions, instead of open canopy park trees.

 

[flyingjoiner]

Can't film them anywhere else, you have to get the sexy marketing shots some how

[Mr. Squirrel]

On 08/05/2025 at 21:49, gand said:

I'm liking the look of the Buckingham Throttle which is getting put through it's CE testing. Hopefully getting to borrow a non CE one in the next few weeks. 

I had a look at one of these last week and it appears to be a bit like a bigger, worse akimbo. Looks like would make an effective anchor or such though. 

[gand]

12 hours ago, Mr. Squirrel said:

I had a look at one of these last week and it appears to be a bit like a bigger, worse akimbo. Looks like would make an effective anchor or such though. 

Definitely bigger than the Akimbo. I'm not a fan of that if I'm honest, let's see what the Mk2 Akimbo brings. As for the Throttle I've been told it's better than the Akimbo by my American friends who've be lucky enough to have a good climb on it

[Szrp]

I tried both the Buckingham throttle and the ART blackbird at the treecare show in Germany last week. Not real climbing of course, just a few meters up and down the rope, some lateral movement etc.

 

Throttle seems to hold on the rope super hard and it took a lot of effort to disengage. Not smooth at all. I've been told that it gets better once it's a bit worn-in, but out of the box it didn't feel very good.

 

The blackbird is relatively chunky, but it felt super nice to work. Smooth ascent and descent, easy on and off the rope, easy switch between SRT and DRT. Was quite fun to use. No idea of course how well it handles things like sap, wet ropes, etc. The tending pulley also looks rather small, so I don't know if it tends as easily as a RRP or a Zig Zag.