Hitch Hiker thread.

[Old Mill Tree Care]

So my Hitch Hiker arrived from Ropetek today. Hooray!

First climb on it was three hours in a big wet Ash tree. It looks and feels like a quality product.

It's as simple as a Prussik loop to set up and nothing else but a Pantin is needed. Ascending on it is extremely simple and for the first outing I used the sit stand method with my left hand on the HH, sliding it up the rope.

 

I found that the HH advances the hitch automatically and there is about 1cm of sitback. Descent is predictable and smooth and change from descent-ascent-descent is perfect and as easy as a Lockjack.

It also appears that the steel Karab and dog bone contribute to friction which means the hitch cord will last longer. I also found that this made the hitch sensitive, in a good way though.

 

It's easier to set up than a RW and inspires more confidence, but that may just be a personal feel.

 

I've also been following the 'Ropetek Hitch Hiker' thread and the 'Hitch Hiker Reviews' thread on The Treehouse Forum.

I'd recommend reading these as there is some quality info.

[Joe Loggs]

Thanks for your review old mill! I'm thinking of getting one in the new year I just don't want to make the mistake of buying it and a new version coming out lol like what happened tome with the rw.

[Tommy_B]

Pictures please!!

[caorann]

excuse background clutter! Tail of rope should be the other side of steel krab sorry

Edited November 23, 2012 by caorann
error

[Old Mill Tree Care]

Caorann, you use a different knot and not the one that's recommended.

What's the difference between the two.

How long have you had your HH and how are you getting on?

[Pete Mctree]

I found that it ran better with the french prussic & beeline. Did you try it? You have to keep the hitch very short

[Old Mill Tree Care]

http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr111/DMcglide/HHwithstrap-1.jpg

 

I used this hitch as this is what Paul Cox (Ropetek guru) recommends. This is a photo of DMc's HH.

[caorann]

Yeah would recommend starting out with 5/1 vt as recommended ( though mine would normally slipped into 4/2 ). Once I got orientated a bit better with HH thought I'd try the sooper cooper hitch, been using (and tweaking) this for about a week and a half. Only been using HH for about 3 and a bit weeks.

Great tool, well built, heavy in hand but not noticable on harness, smooth in ascent/ descent srt/drt ( dependant on hitch of course). Control easier than uni, uni/rw, sj/rw, taking in slack maybe not quite as smooth as mechanical devices but getting hitch right goes a long way obviously. Difficult to compare with rw/hitch setup as I only used this briefly when zk1 first came out...zk2 great and sure stiff tether makes a big difference ( use a 'stiff tether' krab with my zk2/ uni) but no pin to lose, no removal for drt, no concerns about rw engaging and sticking out infront of you. HH generallly much neater package imo tho there is more of a clutter at bridge for drt but not a big deal for me.The little 6mm e2e with the butterfly knot ( clip to my chest harness) works v well for ascent and with the rubber krab band helps keep the steel krab oriented correctly. I think those trying out srt work pos for the first time should seriously consider the HH.

Ken

[Old Mill Tree Care]

Yeah would recommend starting out with 5/1 vt as recommended ( though mine would normally slipped into 4/2 ). Once I got orientated a bit better with HH thought I'd try the sooper cooper hitch, been using (and tweaking) this for about a week and a half. Only been using HH for about 3 and a bit weeks.

Great tool, well built, heavy in hand but not noticable on harness, smooth in ascent/ descent srt/drt ( dependant on hitch of course). Control easier than uni, uni/rw, sj/rw, taking in slack maybe not quite as smooth as mechanical devices but getting hitch right goes a long way obviously. Difficult to compare with rw/hitch setup as I only used this briefly when zk1 first came out...zk2 great and sure stiff tether makes a big difference ( use a 'stiff tether' krab with my zk2/ uni) but no pin to lose, no removal for drt, no concerns about rw engaging and sticking out infront of you. HH generallly much neater package imo tho there is more of a clutter at bridge for drt but not a big deal for me.The little 6mm e2e with the butterfly knot ( clip to my chest harness) works v well for ascent and with the rubber krab band helps keep the steel krab oriented correctly. I think those trying out srt work pos for the first time should seriously consider the HH.

Ken

 

I can't quite picture that. Do you have a photo?

[DrewB]

um, its in the photo above...