Petzl ZigZag Mechanical Prusik

[Ewan Murray]

nope pinched it off FB

[scotspine1]

the zig zag looks like a step backwards from a rope/cord hitch

 

for me, using a rope/cord friction hitch is more intuitive and instinctive....you dont need a reason why a rope hitch feels right, you dont need technical drawings to show why it works, you can see and feel that it works, with mechanical devices there's always doubt

 

so matter how many mechanical devices/gadgets are thrown at us these so called innovations will never feel as safe as a good old fashioned bit of rope, even when your hitch is covered in sawdust, sap, dirt and soaked right through you know it's still going to be fine.

 

Can the zig zag do this and you'd still feel 100% safe? doubt it

[High Scale]

I read that the Petzl device operates like the smoothest functioning VT ALL of the time, but I also agree with your point SP, although different stokes for different folks.

[onelab]

Can the zig zag do this and you'd still feel 100% safe? doubt it

 

I don't see any issue in using a mechanical device and standing up that tree.

[scotspine1]

I read that the Petzl device operates like the smoothest functioning VT ALL of the time

 

what about when it gets wet or covered in sap in the middle of a big Sitka removal?

 

Carl, you know as well as I do that when it comes down to it, these mechanical devices aren't as good as rope/cord

[Mick Stockbridge]

That's just about the crappiest bit of hitchcord that money can buy and yet it still works no matter what. Stuff yer mechanical devices.

[scotspine1]

I don't see any issue in using a mechanical device and standing up that tree.

 

the way the hitch is round the back of stem, will the zig zag still function as normal when it's cams are contacting the stem under load?

[scotspine1]

That's just about the crappiest bit of hitchcord that money can buy and yet it still works no matter what. Stuff yer mechanical devices.

 

ha ha, thanks Mick

[onelab]

what about when it gets wet or covered in sap in the middle of a big Sitka removal?

 

Carl, you know as well as I do that when it comes down to it, these mechanical devices aren't as good as rope/cord

 

Yea good point mate. I've never tried out a mechanical device on a really shite tree.

 

I still climb on a vt because I've not found a mechanical device that works with my climbing style.

 

Having said that, this looks like it's the closest so far.

[scotspine1]

I still climb on a vt because I've not found a mechanical device that works with my climbing style.

 

if the zig zag was re-incarnated a 1000 times, each time evolving into a more refined device it'll still be a 1000000 generations behind the vt in evolutionary terms