DXD
Member
I use 7/16” static kernmantle rope as my tether. I like the rope as a tether because it’s easily replaceable and strong.The frustration has always been that the tether likes to slide down the tree. In the past, I have solved this problem one of two ways: First, If I’m hunting land that allows me to screw into a tree I screw a Cranford folding tree step as high up as I can reach and place my tether over the step. The step keeps the rope from slipping down the tree and also doubles as my bow hook. Second, If I’m hunting public land I run the tag end of my tether through the loop twice. The second pass through the loop does an okay job at minimizing the hassle of the rope sliding down but if I need to get over a branch it's a bit of a pain.
I’ve always wondered though whether the second pass through the loop acts like a knot? That is, does the second pass through minimize the ropes strength much like a knot does? I don’t know the answer but I suspect it does while under load. I’ve also wondered if draping the rope over the Cranford tree step/bow hook also minimizes the strength.
I like things that are over engineered, especially when my life depends on it. The logic part of my brain tells me that a double looped 7/16” static kernmantle rope tether that’s also hung over a climbing step in all likelihood still has plenty of strength in reserve. But the survival part of my brain kept me thinking for a third alternative that would solve the problem of rope slippage without sacrificing any of the strength inherent in the rope (over and above the strength loss from the figure 8 on a bite that forms the loop).
That third alternative is calf castration bands. Castration bands are strong little rubber bands the size of a cheerio. They are very durable. A bag of 100 costs less than $2.00 at Farm and Fleet. I place a castration band on the tether loop and roll it back until it abuts the figure 8 knot. Than when the tether is on the tree I roll the band forward until it abuts the end of the loop...this takes the slack out of the loop and works nicely to keep the rope in place.
I have a spare band on my bridge carabiner and another spare on the loop of the tether. The band(s) on the loop stay in place because the looping end of the loop has a wider diameter than the end of the loop at the figure 8 knot.
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