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Rappelling rope

I'm kind of a cheapass but when it comes to climbing I don't trust my life to anything that isn't from a major, reputable manufacturer. Saving $20 isn't worth it.

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That eBay rope might be fine but why take a chance with your life just to save a couple bucks. The rope along with your saddle is the most important part of the system. I use 9mm UltraTech. It's a little more expensive but has an average strength of 10,000 lbs. peace of mind to me is worth the extra money.
 
Thanks for the replies I ended up going with 11mm sterling htp


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Sterling htp 9mm is a great rope for rappeling.

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Mike K said:

Here's the Lifeguard on 9mm ultra tech.
Click to expand...
I really like this setup whether I choose the grigri or the lifeguard.

With this setup, how do you attach your rope around the tree? And how to retrieve it after descent?
Also, I am fairly new to rope gear, what is that white and grey cord?

Thanks
 
I got a Sterling 9mm HTP and love it, did a few climbs in my yard today, wish I found this thread before I pulled the trigger on the Grigri 2, that Lifeguard looks awesome, gonna have to swap it out.
 
redsquirrel said:
X2. I have found nothing on the inter web talking about rappelling with it. I try to stick as close as possible to the manufacturers recommendations.

My concern is that things work great until they stop working.
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Its made to be used as a friction hitch most likely, thats why it is high heat resistance and such a small diameter. The specs are very similar to ocean and bee line.

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I wasn't saying I had a problem with the Grigri, just that the Lifeguard looks a little better, it's cheaper, lighter, and all metal, I'm still in the window to swap it out on Amazon so I figured I'd jump now instead of being stuck with the Grigri, which isn't really that bad.....but what the heck!
 
donnieballgame said:
I wasn't saying I had a problem with the Grigri, just that the Lifeguard looks a little better, it's cheaper, lighter, and all metal, I'm still in the window to swap it out on Amazon so I figured I'd jump now instead of being stuck with the Grigri, which isn't really that bad.....but what the heck!
Click to expand...
Okay that makes sense, Of course you paid alot you bought it on amazon. I paid 65 for mine brand new. Being all metal does not make it a better product, thats something a lot of new climbers tend to believe. Whatever you buy as a new climber you'd be wise to choose a device with a anti panic feature but thats totally your call. Go to campsaver.com and type in promo code GETCAMPING, You can get the lifeguard for 66 bucks with free shipping!
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TheTracker said:
Okay that makes sense, Of course you paid alot you bought it on amazon. I paid 65 for mine brand new. Being all metal does not make it a better product, thats something a lot of new climbers tend to believe. Whatever you buy as a new climber you'd be wise to choose a device with a anti panic feature but thats totally your call. Go to campsaver.com and type in promo code GETCAMPING, You can get the lifeguard for 66 bucks with free shipping!
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Click to expand...
Well that was the push I needed. It's hard to deny that price. I'm going to order today

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Photobucket needs to be taken into the back of a dark ally.
I'd love to see Mike's pics.
Anyway you could do a video Mike?
 
Alright got my Lifeguard today and did a little climb/rappel and I think I like the Grigri better, the Lifeguard doesn't do very well rappelling, they both work great at taking up slack, but after 3 attempts at a very short climb, I was still unable to get a smooth descent with the Lifeguard, I did swap back to the Grigri just to make sure I haven't lost my mind and it was a smooth descent all the way, easy to control.

Also, I did a little poking around, I don't think either device has a true "auto-panic" feature, if anyone has more info please let me know.
http://store.madrockclimbing.com/lifeguard.aspx
https://www.petzl.com/US/en/Sport/Belaying-with-the-GRIGRI?ActivityName=Rock-climbing

https://www.climbing.com/news/unbelayvable-how-not-to-use-a-grigri-edition/
The foremost error shared by all of these submissions is that the belayer is not keeping a hand on the brake strand. In Petzl's own instructions, they lay it out in no uncertain terms, "Always hold the brake side of the rope!" And you should. The grigri is an assisted braking device. It's not an automatic braking device. There are at least four situations where the grigri's camming device will not engage on its own:

1. With super-skinny ropes.2. With an extremely light climber.3. On routes with bulges or significant rope drag that reduce the forces of a fall.4. Hanging on the rope (versus falling) mid-route. To help the cam engage, the belayer sometimes may need to step back or sit down as he locks off with his brake hand.
 
donnieballgame said:
Alright got my Lifeguard today and did a little climb/rappel and I think I like the Grigri better, the Lifeguard doesn't do very well rappelling, they both work great at taking up slack, but after 3 attempts at a very short climb, I was still unable to get a smooth descent with the Lifeguard, I did swap back to the Grigri just to make sure I haven't lost my mind and it was a smooth descent all the way, easy to control.

Also, I did a little poking around, I don't think either device has a true "auto-panic" feature, if anyone has more info please let me know.
http://store.madrockclimbing.com/lifeguard.aspx
https://www.petzl.com/US/en/Sport/Belaying-with-the-GRIGRI?ActivityName=Rock-climbing

https://www.climbing.com/news/unbelayvable-how-not-to-use-a-grigri-edition/
The foremost error shared by all of these submissions is that the belayer is not keeping a hand on the brake strand. In Petzl's own instructions, they lay it out in no uncertain terms, "Always hold the brake side of the rope!" And you should. The grigri is an assisted braking device. It's not an automatic braking device. There are at least four situations where the grigri's camming device will not engage on its own:

1. With super-skinny ropes.2. With an extremely light climber.3. On routes with bulges or significant rope drag that reduce the forces of a fall.4. Hanging on the rope (versus falling) mid-route. To help the cam engage, the belayer sometimes may need to step back or sit down as he locks off with his brake hand.
Click to expand...
You are correct, they are intended to be tended to at all times. If you want something you can lock off you want to look at a petzl rig, which is also much bigger.
 
At low height and experimenting for our purposes, i have been able to make the grigri 2 fail to catch using both KM-MAXIII (7/16") and edelrid 10.5mm static. Usually it's with a gradual load on the device without tending the brake strand (the way we use it, the free hanging strand).

I say this only to reinforce that the grigri is a great device but it can't be used like the ropeman. Any time your hand is off the free end of rope, you're at risk to free fall without it catching. I use it still.

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boone0 said:
At low height and experimenting for our purposes, i have been able to make the grigri 2 fail to catch using both KM-MAXIII (7/16") and edelrid 10.5mm static. Usually it's with a gradual load on the device without tending the brake strand (the way we use it, the free hanging strand).

I say this only to reinforce that the grigri is a great device but it can't be used like the ropeman. Any time your hand is off the free end of rope, you're at risk to free fall without it catching. I use it still.

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Sure it can, Once at your desired location take the slack end of the rope and tie a figure 8 on a small bight and clip it i to your harness. It also acts as a stopper knot to keep the grigri in place. Even with your hand off the slack end of the rope if you were to freefall the grigri2 would catch the rope very quickly.
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boone0 said:
At low height and experimenting for our purposes, i have been able to make the grigri 2 fail to catch using both KM-MAXIII (7/16") and edelrid 10.5mm static. Usually it's with a gradual load on the device without tending the brake strand (the way we use it, the free hanging strand).

I say this only to reinforce that the grigri is a great device but it can't be used like the ropeman. Any time your hand is off the free end of rope, you're at risk to free fall without it catching. I use it still.

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Click to expand...

I think once the grigri has caught/bit the rope it isn't going to move without first releasing it, in that siutation, I think it is ok to take your hand off of the brake line, although I think TheTracker has a great point, just tie it off! When using with a RADS setup, I leave my hand ascender on the rope above my grigri with a sling to my harness that way I've got a "backup" and make sure my hand is on the brake line once that hand ascender comes off.
 
TheTracker said:
Sure it can, Once at your desired location take the slack end of the rope and tie a figure 8 on a small bight and clip it i to your harness. It also acts as a stopper knot to keep the grigri in place. Even with your hand off the slack end of the rope if you were to freefall the grigri2 would catch the rope very quickly.
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Click to expand...
This is true, what i was trying to say was that the grigri2 needs the slack end tended, which your solution definitely does.
donnieballgame said:
I think once the grigri has caught/bit the rope it isn't going to move without first releasing it, in that siutation, I think it is ok to take your hand off of the brake line, although I think TheTracker has a great point, just tie it off! When using with a RADS setup, I leave my hand ascender on the rope above my grigri with a sling to my harness that way I've got a "backup" and make sure my hand is on the brake line once that hand ascender comes off.
Click to expand...
Most of the time yes, you're right. But if you put weight on a platform, for example, and let some weight off the grigri it is possible for it to slip without you intentionally pulling the release lever. This isn't just theoretical, I've made it happen. But with the backup you describe you should be fine.

I don't want to beat this point to death, as the grigri is pretty good for what we do. I know I've posted about this before, but I'd hate for someone to assume you're good once the grigri is engaged and the rope isn't moving. You can still slip.

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