Hand ascenders and their application?

[Daythe trees]

A friend of mine sent me through the post two brand new hand ascenders which he had bought and never used, this is in exchange for two 60m 8mm dynamic sport climbing ropes which now that I don't go near rock anymore were doing nothing in my airing cupboard.

 

I usually just use a Prusik and have never experimented with anything else. So am trying to figure out how to use them. Think I have figured out SRT using them. Not sure if they can be used for DRT.

 

Any ideas folks? Other than sling them both of the harness bridge and use them one in each hand, pull down on both raise the upper, raise the lower and repeat. Should be better for long ascents to the first anchor than my prusik.

[Mr. Squirrel]

Do a search for srt access, you can't use them in place of a prussik obviously but they certainly have a place. Will be worth while investing in a chest ascender if you go down the srt access route though.

[JLA Arborists]

I have used and want to get a hand accender.

Used with a loop to ones left foot and a pantin on the right you should fly up the rope.

I'm on double rope using zigzag once a few meters up / decent groundy to hold some tension in it'll all self feed

[agrimog]

have a look at what this guy does with them, then decide, everybody seems to think its not safe ?????

[Arbtech Tree Services]

I'm on drt (ddrt) with a Spiderjack and always have a hand ascender on my harness. Use it when I feel lazy or with a long strop to my foot for free ascents to save my hands (climbing on Tachyon).

I do have some reservations as to what the spikes do to the integrity of the rope however.

 

Regards,

 

Steve.

[JLA Arborists]

The spikes should find their way into the lay of the braid and not actually cut or damage the rope