Dual purpose linemans belt and tether

[Navigator]

Vtbow,

Can you post some pictures which show what you were describing about your tether and linesman belt? Not quite sure what an 8 double on a bite knot is (I am familiar with a figure 8 on a bite which essentially is two figure 8s).

 

[Vtbow]

Vtbow,

Can you post some pictures which show what you were describing about your tether and linesman belt? Not quite sure what an 8 double on a bite knot is (I am familiar with a figure 8 on a bite which essentially is two figure 8s).

Sure, can tonight. It's a figure 8 on a bite that halfway through girth hitches itself in order to have two independent loops on the sharp end of the rope.

@redsquirrel makes some good points to keep in mind. Like I said, I always have a double legth spectra sling accessible(even when I use independent lm and tree tethers) big thing is be comfortable with your gear and setup and to develop a systen that works for you where you hunt. I'm using this single lm/tether method on prepped trees on my own property. I prefer to be overly prepared when I "freelance" as John E would call it.

 

[noxninja]

I pack two tethers so when I encounter limbs I take the extra tether and go around the limb, then connect to rock climbing harness and disconnect initial tether and remove it from the tree (repeat process on descent). Never ever disconnect from the tree unless you are on the ground!

 

[EricS]

@Jgetch not being argumentative but could you post a picture showing the carabiner to prussik tether hookup that doesn’t side load the carabiner. I don’t think our side loads are that great. Nothing like a carabiner on a rock ledge but still worth considering.

 

[Vtbow]

@Jgetch not being argumentative but could you post a picture showing the carabiner to prussik tether hookup that doesn’t side load the carabiner. I don’t think our side loads are that great. Nothing like a carabiner on a rock ledge but still worth considering.

I'm sure he's referring to a tensionless anchor or hitch. If you wrap the tree at least one full wrap then clip back to the rope,m the pressure is all on the tree, not on the biner. IT is commoon practice in the climbing and mountaineering world. This is just an example:

 

[Jgetch]

@Jgetch not being argumentative but could you post a picture showing the carabiner to prussik tether hookup that doesn’t side load the carabiner. I don’t think our side loads are that great. Nothing like a carabiner on a rock ledge but still worth considering.

No problem! I’d rather be safe and if I’m doing something wrong I’d want to know about it! Technically speaking with my method there may be an edge load as the biner is against the tree however, If you consider that the ropes hold the biner off of the tree then actually there won’t be any edge load unless on a very small circumference tree or there is a knot or something sticking out of a tree.

Hopefully the gap between the tree and biner is visible there. What I really wanted to get away from with this was potential cross loading (which is what I assumed we were talking about when we say side loading) which is an issue if your just using the carabiner as your lock in without the prusik.

I really don’t believe that the previous picture is much of an issue though either. In that configuration the biner is still rated for at least 8kn which is more then sufficient for a static hang or even a short fall of 3-5 ft is still well within the safety rating of a 25kn rated biner.

Hope this helps and if I’m missing something I really would like to know about it. I have two little girls at home and my goal at the end of every hunt is to walk home smiling.


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[Country]

Yesterday afternooon, I had a situation that made me really happy I had two ropes. Put two sticks with aiders up on the tree. Got to the top of the second stick and realized I wanted to be in the tree just next to the one I was in. I loosened my linemans belt a bit so I could reach the other tree to attach my third stick. Transitioned to other tree, climbed up and installed my platform. I got tethered in and accidentally dropped my linemans belt to the ground. If I had dropped the linemans belt and didn't have a backup rope, I would've had to climb down and transition over to the other tree with no ropes. It was doable, but not really safe. Honestly, having one linemans belt wasn't really safe either, but it was better than nothing.

 

[Jgetch]

I don't see a huge advantage to the split tail system. I'm not putting it down, it's very functional, but you are carrying 1 rope that is double length so it is not much of a reduction over my 2 ropes.

As far as why do we use a dedicated one for each? Safety. I could never imagine hooking my tether in on some of the trees I hunt without being hooked in with a lineman's belt. Each piece of gear in my saddle has a dedicated purpose. I could probably climb some of the trees I hunt with my eyes closed and know where everything is and what to do with it.

Even though I use it, I agree 100%. If I cut my system in half I have the two separate tools. There is no weight advantage or safety advantage. In fact I’m in the hole for weight because I still carry my dedicated linesman looped on my backpack “just in case”. Haven’t found a scenario where I’ve need it and I probably won’t. I think if someone wants to use this method it’s available. I wouldn’t say it has any obvious advantages of a two piece system and there may be a disadvantage in learning to manage the long length of rope that isn’t being used but then again with a two piece system you have an extra rope to manage. This one probably comes down to preference.


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[EricS]

Thanks for posting the pic. I think I will just keep girth hitching. Nothing wrong with how you have that setup on that tree but I can see possible problems on small diameter trees as you mentioned or at least careful placement away from high spots on the trunk near limbs etc. I was hoping someone had come up with a simple way that removed the risk of side loading all together.

 

[smcchevy]

You could girth hitch with a dual purpose rope, just tie figure 8 after passing line around tree. Not ideal if you aren't familiar with knot without access to other end of rope, but would work, then you would be girth hitched. I think I'm going to try it next time up.

 

[mattsteg]

I don't see a huge advantage to the split tail system. I'm not putting it down, it's very functional, but you are carrying 1 rope that is double length so it is not much of a reduction over my 2 ropes.

As far as why do we use a dedicated one for each? Safety. I could never imagine hooking my tether in on some of the trees I hunt without being hooked in with a lineman's belt. Each piece of gear in my saddle has a dedicated purpose. I could probably climb some of the trees I hunt with my eyes closed and know where everything is and what to do with it.

I don't see that a split tail necessarily prevents tethering while lineman-belted in. I can see it as potentially a bit more convenient for staying clipped in around branches, vs a dedicated secondary belt (third rope) or hooking up your tether as a second belt when needed. Alternate management of the similar amount of rope. Your second belt always at the ready means less temptation to get lazy. I'm not currently using one, but the rope management improvement holds some appeal to me.

clip in second tail, then detach first to go around branches. At height, loop loose tail around tree, hitch with a screw link, add ropeman/hitch and clip to bridge, then detach lineman end. Theres extra junk hanging off of your tether at this point, but otherwise seems pretty seamless and safe, at least in my head. Benefits either way - but it's more rope management workflow and ease of use tradeoffs than safety imo. If the bulk is manageable you could maybe make the rope long enough to rappel down as well (but then have even more junk hanging off).

 

[hickstick]

As others have said, you really aren't gaining enough advantage to make it worth the trouble IMHO. Carrying the same weight in rope for all intents and purposes.

I have two entrenching tool pouches on my saddle, one contains tether/ropeman1/locking biner, other flipline/ropeman1/locking biner. Totally interchangeable. Bridge is permanently affixed to saddle and tucked inside the belt when walking.

 

[Marc W]

I use the same rope for everything. I have a LoneWolf strap girth hitched to my saddle that I use for passing branches and to keep me connected while converting my rope from linesman’s to tether. The strap takes up a lot less room than another rope and ropeman.

 

[Backstrap Assassin]

No problem! I’d rather be safe and if I’m doing something wrong I’d want to know about it! Technically speaking with my method there may be an edge load as the biner is against the tree however, If you consider that the ropes hold the biner off of the tree then actually there won’t be any edge load unless on a very small circumference tree or there is a knot or something sticking out of a tree.

Hopefully the gap between the tree and biner is visible there. What I really wanted to get away from with this was potential cross loading (which is what I assumed we were talking about when we say side loading) which is an issue if your just using the carabiner as your lock in without the prusik.

I really don’t believe that the previous picture is much of an issue though either. In that configuration the biner is still rated for at least 8kn which is more then sufficient for a static hang or even a short fall of 3-5 ft is still well within the safety rating of a 25kn rated biner.

Hope this helps and if I’m missing something I really would like to know about it. I have two little girls at home and my goal at the end of every hunt is to walk home smiling.


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I'm thinking about switching to this exact setup. I like the fact that the tether would be cinched tight to the tree by tightening the prusik knot...so if I ever stand up fully on my platform the tether won't slip down when my weight comes off it.

Are you still doing it this way? Issues?

 

[Jgetch]

I'm thinking about switching to this exact setup. I like the fact that the tether would be cinched tight to the tree by tightening the prusik knot...so if I ever stand up fully on my platform the tether won't slip down when my weight comes off it.

Are you still doing it this way? Issues?

Still doing it this way. I still really like it.

 

[bj139]

You could use a steel quick link to connect the tether. Side loading is much less of a problem with these.

 

[smcchevy]

poof

 

[1MObowhunter]

I use the same rope for everything. I have a LoneWolf strap girth hitched to my saddle that I use for passing branches and to keep me connected while converting my rope from linesman’s to tether. The strap takes up a lot less room than another rope and ropeman.

This is exactly the setup I’m planning to run. This will be my first year in a saddle but have been practicing with this method. Are you still doing it this way or is anyone else doing this? Was going to start a post asking about this exact thing.