Rappel Rope Usages

[K.D.P]

I’m looking to upgrade the way I carry/use my rappel rope. I’m currently running a drop out bag and it is nice. However, I find it a little hard at times to roll up my rappel rope and get it back it the openings. I’ve used a roll up pouch as well. Loved the design just a little hard at times as well.

I’ve been looking at how big the TX5 Pouches are. I see they offer the ability to clip them onto your saddle or pack using the Quick Draw Clips. I’m interested in seeing how many if any carry their rappel rope in a pouch attached to your backpack. Then how do you get to and use that rappel rope.

Option 1: At the bottom of the tree pull out your rappel rope and just let it hang, (just let it hang down as you climb). Then pull it up once you are setup and store it back in the pouch for the duration of the hunt. (You could also use it as some type of pull up rope)
Option 2: At the bottom of the do you detach the pouch and reattach it to your saddle, while maintaining all the rope in the pouch as you climb.

 

[GreginPA]

Option 2: At the bottom of the do you detach the pouch and reattach it to your saddle, while maintaining all the rope in the pouch as you climb.

I tried this option before, with a TX5 pouch even. I decided I didn't like stopping at the bottom to move the pouch from my pack to my saddle. I've moved towards a system that I don't have to take my pack off before starting to climb. I also didn't like that the TX5 external pocket was so small and didn't cinch/button/zip/or do anything to prevent something from falling out.

Currently I use a lockdown saddle so I just use that pouch. However - roll pouch was my preferred method before that. One trick I would suggest for the roll pouch is to use a large rubber band or compression strap on your rope before putting it in the pouch. Leave enough out of the strap to secure around the tree for next time. but having the rope "tied up" before putting it in the roll pouch helped me secure it in the pouch easier and prevented it from becoming unwieldy.

 

[Black Titan]

I used the drop out bag all last season. I liked it, but found I wasn't using it as intended. This year I swapped to the CGM large side pouch, and it holds everything perfectly and stays attached to my saddle on the walk in.

On the climb, the only thing that comes out of the pouch is enough of my rappel rope to go around the tree and hook to my bridge. I don't like things dangling while I climb. I'm working towards a way to eliminate anything hanging while climbing, but I've got some work to do. I figure I'm already fighting gravity enough on my way up, I don't need to fight a bunch of ropes and strings as well, which, using a bow pull up rope and also a pull up for my pack, has happened a couple of times.

Now I'm not sure if this is completely safe or not, so do your research, but it worked great with my drop out bag but I haven't tried it yet with the side pouch. When I rappel I don't pull out all my rope. Before packing it in the pouch, I roll it up in a figure 8 pattern to where it just feeds out of the pouch as I need more length. So I just leave it all rolled up in the pouch and rappel down, while fresh rope feeds out of the top of the pouch. Once at the bottom, I roll it back up and stuff it back into the pouch.

The large side pouch holds my rappel rope in the main pocket, my back band in the little elastic compartment in the main pocket, and in the outside pocket I have my madrock and main carabiner.

The other side pouch is divided and has my linemans, gear hanger, extra biners, secondary amsteel bridge, and extra hitches.






BT

 

[Bstrong]

I used a cruzer pouch off my saddle and it worked but I don’t like having stuff hang off my saddle so I went with a Sitka tool belt couple years ago partly for this reason. I can get 35ft of rope in the “water bottle holder” pack says on my back while I climb. For me this was the best fit as all of my winter clothes and gear.


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[CharlieTN]

I used the drop out bag all last season. I liked it, but found I wasn't using it as intended. This year I swapped to the CGM large side pouch, and it holds everything perfectly and stays attached to my saddle on the walk in.

On the climb, the only thing that comes out of the pouch is enough of my rappel rope to go around the tree and hook to my bridge. I don't like things dangling while I climb. I'm working towards a way to eliminate anything hanging while climbing, but I've got some work to do. I figure I'm already fighting gravity enough on my way up, I don't need to fight a bunch of ropes and strings as well, which, using a bow pull up rope and also a pull up for my pack, has happened a couple of times.

Now I'm not sure if this is completely safe or not, so do your research, but it worked great with my drop out bag but I haven't tried it yet with the side pouch. When I rappel I don't pull out all my rope. Before packing it in the pouch, I roll it up in a figure 8 pattern to where it just feeds out of the pouch as I need more length. So I just leave it all rolled up in the pouch and rappel down, while fresh rope feeds out of the top of the pouch. Once at the bottom, I roll it back up and stuff it back into the pouch.

The large side pouch holds my rappel rope in the main pocket, my back band in the little elastic compartment in the main pocket, and in the outside pocket I have my madrock and main carabiner.

The other side pouch is divided and has my linemans, gear hanger, extra biners, secondary amsteel bridge, and extra hitches.

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BT

I don’t usually drop my rappel rope out fully either. When I put it up what I do is bunch up small sections then cram those in the drop out bag, then bunch up another small section, then another until I have it all packed. That seems to allow me to pull out just what I need for each small bit of the rappel down without getting tangled or having to pull it all out.