Will the friction hitch become extinct?

[Treespotter]

Zigzag is good Wolter, but if you break it, can you knock up another from the stuff lying around your vehicle/kit bag/end of another rope? And be back on the job in under 5 minutes??

 

When you ask a question like that what do you think. Is it something like "I am the only arb in the trade that can fix it all!"???

My guess is that you have more in your van than just one small prussic hitch cord and a climbing line. Why would you assume I have to stop working when one of my pieces of gear fails.

There still is enough hitch cord in my van to come up with whatever to go one.

This is a bit of the same discussion we have when talking about battery powered chainsaws.

What do you do when both of your batteries are dead and you left your charger home. Wellllllllllll, what do you think about the obvious. I pull my freaking petrol saw out of the van.

My point is. Working with any piece of gear doesn't mean you have to dismiss all the rest.

Depending on one and not being able to think any further is in this trade the receipt for poor customer service.

[holdatcharlie]

Wolter. So your answer to my original question is: the friction hitch will not become extinct, it will always be there as a back-up, but it will not be your first choice. Not extinct but part of evolution.

[john k]

In the same way that the three knot system isn't extinct. We all know it exists, but who would actually use it?

 

Generally speaking if most people here have a problem with a chainsaw they'll get another one out rather than resorting to the trusty felling axe and broad saw. I suspect that climbing will go the same way before too many years go by.

Edited February 1, 2013 by john k

[Treespotter]

You know what guys. I still am able to crawl. In fact, sometimes during ground work it's my favourite means of transport.

 

That said, generally speaking. Yes! The climbing hitch will become obsolete during the day to day work. However, one thing doesn't exclude the other and as using an ax to take down small trees and crawling as means of transport we still use hitches.

[ClimbMIT]

regarding the zigzag video, It would be great to see used on an ivy covered difficult climb, instead of a sprawling old oak with flat limbs you can bounce off like circus act.

 

only time will tell:confused1:

 

Lol! I know advertising always seems to show ideal scenarios for the product to be sold! Don't get me wrong though I still think it is a good start along with many other innovations. Only time will tell. as far as the hitch cord extinct? No even if just used as a back up. It's here to stay for many years. IMO!

[finky]

having always climbed using a traditional hitch(prusik working my way to a vt) i never seen the point until now,the petzl zigzag looks a real sweet bit of kit..

is it out yet and if so has anyone had a go

[WorcsWuss]

I reckon that over the next couple of days a ZigZag thread will go stratospheric.....