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Ropeman vs Prusik (is it necessary?)

ICU outdoors said:
I know if I just went ahead and bought a ropeman I would never go back to the prusik like @kelly.jayp mentioned, but this being the first year I thought to just try the knot. The adjustments was a big concern. I was thinking like you said make an adjustment at ground level then not having to worry about till coming back down. If you need to adjust the length 5-10 times every time you climb then I will definitely buy the ropeman but if it's just one adjustment at the tree and climb I think that should be fine. All input is appreciated.
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I have been using a prusik this season. I adjust VERY often! When actually climbing I like it loose to allow room for my knees. Then I tighten it to hold me close to get the next stick attached as high as I can reach. I’m using Unmoded HH with waiter / knaider. I can grab the lineman rope with my fingers just below prusik and push with knot with thumb. If it’s too tight then I use thumb to roll the part of prusik that runs parallel to lineman to free it. Only takes one hand this way. Making lineman longer is knot an issue. Just pull down on prusik...
 
kelly.jayp said:
it's the best money you will spend on saddle setup. The prusik works - but it tightens down once under load and takes two hands to move it. You will adjust the length of your tether and linemans belt frequently and the ropeman gives you one handed functionality - try it with prusik first, then try the ropeman and you'll never go back
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Totally agree, best money you'll ever spend. The Ropeman is a must for the tree tether and lineman's rope.
 
After my first trip up my climbing sticks using a Prusik knot I got on amazon and spent the $45 to get a rope man 1 shipped to my house. It arrived today by far some of the best money spent the Prusik was a PIA having to use both hands to make adjustments. I am waiting on my mantis to show up I will probably pick another one for the tether once the saddle shows up. Kinda stinks to wait 6 weeks for the saddle to show up but it gives me all of the off season to work out systems and practice so when I hunt with the saddle it is not a foreign experience to me. I have done a good bit of rock climbing and always thought the rock harness would be a lethal way to hunt. Now I just need to figure out a platform system. Having a size 13 wide I’m thinking the predator is not big enough I think I will have a platform welded in aluminum.
 
Prusik is not the only friction hitch. I changed to distel friction hitch and a DIY tender. I’ll say it, “game changer” for me. I had used the ropeman 1 for two seasons. But never was happy with it’s safety ratings. If you do not go DIY, you can get a shizll rope slider for a tender.

If the ropeman is such a game changer, why is it not being used by arborists, who climb trees 40+ hours a week? A couple bucks and a different friction hitch, and you have the benefits of the ropeman without the negatives of the lower weight ratings.

Not trying to be difficult, or cantankerous, or a curmudgeon, but this seems like a no-brainer. I am just not understanding the ropeman love.
 
sojourner said:
Prusik is not the only friction hitch. I changed to distel friction hitch and a DIY tender. I’ll say it, “game changer” for me. I had used the ropeman 1 for two seasons. But never was happy with it’s safety ratings. If you do not go DIY, you can get a shizll rope slider for a tender.

If the ropeman is such a game changer, why is it not being used by arborists, who climb trees 40+ hours a week? A couple bucks and a different friction hitch, and you have the benefits of the ropeman without the negatives of the lower weight ratings.

Not trying to be difficult, or cantankerous, or a curmudgeon, but this seems like a no-brainer. I am just not understanding the ropeman love.
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Do you have one? The Prusik is awesome but it locks up tight on the tether. I find it difficult to release even with two hands. With the ropeman it is so nice just to use one hand to release.
 
rutjr said:
Do you have one? The Prusik is awesome but it locks up tight on the tether. I find it difficult to release even with two hands. With the ropeman it is so nice just to use one hand to release.
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I have owned ropeman 1’s, used them for two seasons, and sold them after converting to distel hitch and tender. Prior to that, I used prusik (with the pain of adjusting a prusik). I still use prusik on pre-set trees with sticks and life lines. I do not own a shizzle, but I think another member uses one. My $3 tender does what a shizzle does and is much cheaper.

Just my opinion ...
If one only knows how to tie the prusik friction hitch and sees the ropeman to replace the prusik, one would be all over the ropeman as a solution.

If you search my posts, a long time ago I was the one to bring up the low, to me, rating of the ropeman. I was uncomfortable with the low rating of the ropeman and the possibility it could sever the core of the rope with a fall (ropeman may not fail, but it might cause failure in tether). Then add onto that, people backing up the ropeman with a prusik above the ropeman was just too much for me.

Arborists use tenders, but some of them (pulleys) can be noisy. The DIY simplicity of a silent tender solves the problem a ropeman solves. It does this without lowering the weight ratings a ropeman does.

TonyGreenway, on the forum, was my inspiration to change. After back and forth with him, and copious Internet sleuthing, I came to the conclusion that using a tried and true, purpose built slack tender was a better fit for me than using an ascender for the purpose of slack tending and holding me on a tether.

I think everyone should investigate the pros/cons of each option and choose based on their risk calculations.

Just my 0.02
 
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