lockjacks

[andy goddard]

anybody out there using this system ? ive been using this system for straight access for about a year now any feedback off any of you guys out there how you find them.

[Marc]

Tried one for a month and did'nt like it, much prefer a knot which is easier to tailor to my climbing style and replace when worn.

[skyhuck]

Tried one for a month and did'nt like it, much prefer a knot which is easier to tailor to my climbing style and replace when worn.

 

[D Mc]

anybody out there using this system ? ive been using this system for straight access for about a year now any feedback off any of you guys out there how you find them.

 

Andy, I have been using the Lockjack for over a year now and love it. I'm not a new climber and am not "gizmo" oriented but can certainly recognise a labor-saving device. When your body is all worn out from 40 years of climbing trees you will notice small reductions in friction and things like the weight of your chain saw, even the weight of your rope a lot more than you used to.

 

My only regret is that I can't use it all the time. Some jobs it is just inappropriate (too wet, too dirty, seriously bad weather, etc.) then I will go back to the friction hitch of choice.

 

The pictures I am posting show how I have it attached to the micro-mouse pulley with a tether so for work positioning it is close to the saddle but for trunk walking I can keep both hands on the rope as I am walking up the trunk.

 

What the pictures don't show is that I run my climbing line through a pulley in a floating false crotch setup. Using a pulley in combination to the Lockjack brings out its full abilities. It also makes it incredibly consistent in its grab and release functions. There is just no variance. It never changes. Day-in, day-out, great tool.

 

D Mc

[bob]

what sling do you use

[Pete Mctree]

Looks like a length of beeline with a splice at both ends to me

[D Mc]

Looks like a length of beeline with a splice at both ends to me

 

That's it.

 

D Mc

[Marc]

There is just no variance. It never changes. Day-in, day-out, great tool.

 

D Mc

 

That was my biggest grievance, its not really changable, it is what it is, like it loathe it.

I see your point though it is consitent and reliable.

 

I love the ART rope guide, but not the rope guide itself so I made my own version using an ART pulley great device.

We are all different as climbers, as I found using a pulley worse for bodythrusting/trunk walking, because there is little friction to aid holding my weight. In fact I find body thrusting knackering full stop, so avoid doing to much of it.

 

What a rope guide excels at for me is smooth running of my ropes as I move out, up and in from limbs, thats its main benfit for me.

 

We are all different and have our own preferences and stratergies for moving about the crown of a tree, some ideas work great for others and some not.

[Jay]

i have tried a lockjack a few times and cannot get the control of it. its all or nothing for me i either go nowhere or so quick its like freefalling. but it wasn't set up as technical as that.

[MattyF]

i tried the lock jack sport didnt get on with it found it hard to use controled ie kick off and desend one handed and get out on a limb with out going in to free fall mode unlike a friction hitch asending its awesome would not mind trying the spider and seeing what the differance is