lock jack, spider jack, vt?

[Will Ayers]

I have been climbing on a vt for years and love it:001_cool:

 

But i am a gear fiend and i use camming devices with rock climbing and like the idea more and more with all these video's and discussions. So.... what i mean to ask is, is all the fuss and hype justified? Has anyone given it a good go and not liked it/been converted? How often do cams need replacing? Can you glaze a line easily? I'm seriously thinking about getting one but want to be well informed first! pros and cons from believers and non please!

[ben lightfoot]

not had mine long enough to go through cams but im converted to my spiderjack, had the vt out the other day just for a reminder and it felt like a pain in the ass for tending to slack and maybe making adjustments to the hitch (might be my naff tying). With the spiderjack everything is with one hand. love it (and cheers for your advice regarding dartmoor (didn't want to derail))

[swinny]

:thumbup1:I'm only just thinking of trying the hitchclimber and v.t, its only been sat in a bag for the last 5-6 months lol

 

spiderjack looks good!

 

I'll be interested in answers from this thread

 

They do lock jacks that start at 70.00 don't they in jonsies, not sure what theyre like.... spider jack looks good i'll say again lol

[Will Ayers]

no worries Ben, an excuse to dream of the moors is all good!

 

the one thing that worries me is, can you put the lockjack/spiderjack on midline? if not does this ever bother anyone?

[RobArb]

lockjack yes, spiderjack no

[RobArb]

and does anyone have a second hand spiderjack they don't want/use anymore:blush:??

[swinny]

lockjack yes, spiderjack no

 

ahhh, but there's a few different ones, whats the difference?

 

And a lock jack isn't it just a cord you lift up to let line through? what sort of braking is there?

[RobArb]

The lockjack sport has a (easily) removable cam that you can then slip on your rope midline and put the cam back.

 

As far as i'm aware you can ONLY put the spiderjack on your line from the end of your rope and there is no facility to do this midline

[Joe Loggs]

ahhh, but there's a few different ones, whats the difference?

 

And a lock jack isn't it just a cord you lift up to let line through? what sort of braking is there?

 

On the lock jack there is no brake but you can hold the toggle whilst having a couple of fingers around your line to help control descent. The spider jack is much easier to control on descent. They are both as good as each other. I used to climb on hc but ever since I got my sj I would never look back. Had mine a year and not done a cam yet.

[ben lightfoot]

i leave mine on the one line all the time, you have to take the cam out and still thread it all the way through. you cant (i dont think) squeeze a splice through it so means running it through bout 50m of rope