Why don't yall 2TC?

[casts_by_fly]

So I’ve read through most of this thread and some other 2TC threads. I’ve watched the videos. I think I want to try it when the weather breaks to see if I want to add it to my options. To keep my initial investment low, I’d like to use what I have first and if I like it add from there. I have the basic tethrd starter pack- menace saddle, 11mm tether and linesman with loop ends, a pair of ropeman 1s, and a predator XL.

I think a foot loop and a pair of delta links are all I need (And the deltas are for convenience more than anything). Is that right? Delta to the existing rope loops for a girth hitch, rope man stays on my caribeaners which hook to my bridge and to the foot loop, and a new foot loop which I don’t have.

I have some 1” webbing. Is a figure 8 in the webbing strong enough to make a foot loop? I’d put a figure 8 on each end, one for a foot loop and one for the caribeaner. I know this isn’t optimal or even convenient for long term use, but is it safe for trial use?

if this works with my existing gear, it means entirely cutting my sticks out and saving 14 lb or so, but more importantly a big bulky item I don’t have to carry (if it was a 15lb bag of sugar in a backpack I wouldn’t care). If I like it and it works for me, I’ll upgrade to a repel rope in the future, but that’s a $100-150 change right now between rope and safeguard. A pair of delta links is about $30 tops.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

So I’ve read through most of this thread and some other 2TC threads. I’ve watched the videos. I think I want to try it when the weather breaks to see if I want to add it to my options. To keep my initial investment low, I’d like to use what I have first and if I like it add from there. I have the basic tethrd starter pack- menace saddle, 11mm tether and linesman with loop ends, a pair of ropeman 1s, and a predator XL.

I think a foot loop and a pair of delta links are all I need (And the deltas are for convenience more than anything). Is that right? Delta to the existing rope loops for a girth hitch, rope man stays on my caribeaners which hook to my bridge and to the foot loop, and a new foot loop which I don’t have.

I have some 1” webbing. Is a figure 8 in the webbing strong enough to make a foot loop? I’d put a figure 8 on each end, one for a foot loop and one for the caribeaner. I know this isn’t optimal or even convenient for long term use, but is it safe for trial use?

if this works with my existing gear, it means entirely cutting my sticks out and saving 14 lb or so, but more importantly a big bulky item I don’t have to carry (if it was a 15lb bag of sugar in a backpack I wouldn’t care). If I like it and it works for me, I’ll upgrade to a repel rope in the future, but that’s a $100-150 change right now between rope and safeguard. A pair of delta links is about $30 tops.

It sounds like you are on the right track. I would omit the delta links in the beginning and just use a loop on the end of your tethers. The delta link is something I played around with in the beginning and there is a lot of additional fiddle factor to it. To start out and get the hang of 2TC you want everything to be as simple as possible.

You need a top tether with an adjustment on it., like a ropeman. You need a foot tether with some sort of loop that is adjustable. That is really all you need. Remember, you are just trying baby steps here. Once you master this you can add other things later. At this point keep it simple. Also, choose a straight limbless tree about basketball diameter. There is no need to try to pass limbs, etc. That is for when you can climb 20 feet in 5 to 6 minutes without thinking about it. Master climbing up and down, then worry about limbs.

For starters. keep the 2TC set up as basic as possible. Climb about two moves up and two moves down. Learn the mechanics of the moves before you try to go high up. Just try it out low and slow and then later try going a bit higher.

From the materials you have on hand, a simple loop of tubular webbing tied with a water knot clipped onto a carabiner on a ropeman would serve well as a foot loop for now on your foot tether.

Here is a picture of a simple 2TC setup I use. It is a tether made of 11.4mm Bluewater assault line with a ropeman 1 on it, the foot tether is Samson Predator 11.4mm with a Blakes hitch for adjustment.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

This basic set up above with a few refinements has been my go to climbing method all season. I added a short section of rubber tubing to the Blake's hitch and put reflective tape on the ends. This was done mostly to help keep the loop open and so that I could easily see where to put my foot while climbing down at night in the dark.

I also added a wire gate carabiner on the foot loop and this serves two functions. It is the method I use to pass limbs (rarely needed) and primarily as the clip in point for my backpack.

This set up allowed me to ditch 4 lone wolf climbing sticks with an aider. It saves me about 14 pounds, allows me to climb in half the time, and I am not limited by how high I can go. It has been a great addition. Here are some pics from this season.

 

[FrankNess14]

[mention]casts_by_fly [/mention], [mention]NMSbowhunter [/mention] is absolutely right. For testing/learning purposes, just about anything can be used for the foot loop, as long as it has a good knot and you stay very close to the ground. To stay with what you have, order some 6-7mm Sterling accessory cord off Amazon for $25 or less and tie a foot loop that you girth hitch onto your carabiner/ropeman combo. This can be a simple as a big circle or loops on both ends or even adjustable loops on both ends. 1” webbing will work well for a loop also. However, I’m warning you don’t try it very much….once you go 2TC long enough to figure it out, you’ll be selling those sticks!!! Good luck and be safe.

 

[phatkaw]

Yea, keep things simple to start out with.

Just your normal tether and a basic foot tether.
Then eventually you will become good at it and start trying all kinds of different attachments and doo-hickeys...

Then you will go back to "simple".


^^^ Those are a few of my favorite foot tethers...

 

[casts_by_fly]

It sounds like you are on the right track. I would omit the delta links in the beginning and just use a loop on the end of your tethers. The delta link is something I played around with in the beginning and there is a lot of additional fiddle factor to it. To start out and get the hang of 2TC you want everything to be as simple as possible.

You need a top tether with an adjustment on it., like a ropeman. You need a foot tether with some sort of loop that is adjustable. That is really all you need. Remember, you are just trying baby steps here. Once you master this you can add other things later. At this point keep it simple. Also, choose a straight limbless tree about basketball diameter. There is no need to try to pass limbs, etc. That is for when you can climb 20 feet in 5 to 6 minutes without thinking about it. Master climbing up and down, then worry about limbs.

For starters. keep the 2TC set up as basic as possible. Climb about two moves up and two moves down. Learn the mechanics of the moves before you try to go high up. Just try it out low and slow and then later try going a bit higher.

From the materials you have on hand, a simple loop of tubular webbing tied with a water knot clipped onto a carabiner on a ropeman would serve well as a foot loop for now on your foot tether.

Here is a picture of a simple 2TC setup I use. It is a tether made of 11.4mm Bluewater assault line with a ropeman 1 on it, the foot tether is Samson Predator 11.4mm with a Blakes hitch for adjustment.

thanks. That’s super helpful. I already have a pair of ropeman 1s and beaners. So if I ignore the deltas for now I just need to make a webbing loop to clip into the lower beaner and I’m there. I’ve got plenty of straight, branchless trees to practice on so I might as well start there and make sure I like it before spending anything then. I will have to get into some type of delta or quick clip solution later though because every tree I’ve sat in the past two years has multiple branches or more.

thanks
rick

 

[casts_by_fly]

[mention]casts_by_fly [/mention], [mention]NMSbowhunter [/mention] is absolutely right. For testing/learning purposes, just about anything can be used for the foot loop, as long as it has a good knot and you stay very close to the ground. To stay with what you have, order some 6-7mm Sterling accessory cord off Amazon for $25 or less and tie a foot loop that you girth hitch onto your carabiner/ropeman combo. This can be a simple as a big circle or loops on both ends or even adjustable loops on both ends. 1” webbing will work well for a loop also. However, I’m warning you don’t try it very much….once you go 2TC long enough to figure it out, you’ll be selling those sticks!!! Good luck and be safe.

that’s kinda where I am hoping to get with it. I like my sticks for a lot of things. They are super stable to climb and if you’re leaving them out for more than a sit it’s great. More than a few times I’ll sit an evening where I set them up and come back in the morning to already set sticks and tether. Just climb on a linesman’s and clip into the tether. I doubt I sell them since I have some trees here by the house that I sit a few times a season. But for hiking into the public land around and exploring new areas, it would be nice to just wear my saddle like I do and everything to climb is on the belt.

 

[MNFarmHunter]

I finally got my lungs sorted out so now it’s a matter of getting in cardio shape for 2TC. It’s pretty sad to admit how much effort it takes for me to climb. I ended up using sticks last year for that reason.

What I may end up doing is a hybrid setup. I made a 3-step aider that puts my feet just over 8’. Put a ROS 2’ above that and I’m sitting good with a background or use 2TC to finish the climb.

To get to next years spot, I have to get through a snaggy, swampy mess so I want to streamline as much as possible.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[casts_by_fly]

I finally got my lungs sorted out so now it’s a matter of getting in cardio shape for 2TC. It’s pretty sad to admit how much effort it takes for me to climb. I ended up using sticks last year for that reason.

What I may end up doing is a hybrid setup. I made a 3-step aider that puts my feet just over 8’. Put a ROS 2’ above that and I’m sitting good with a background or use 2TC to finish the climb.

To get to next years spot, I have to get through a snaggy, swampy mess so I want to streamline as much as possible.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

snaggy messes is my MO also. Thick, low branches, briars, you name it. My full length sticks catch on something on almost every walk in. It makes me hesitate some times to walk into new areas I haven’t scouted. I just made up a foot loop and if all goes well I am going to like this.

 

[Samcirrus]

So I’ve read through most of this thread and some other 2TC threads. I’ve watched the videos. I think I want to try it when the weather breaks to see if I want to add it to my options. To keep my initial investment low, I’d like to use what I have first and if I like it add from there. I have the basic tethrd starter pack- menace saddle, 11mm tether and linesman with loop ends, a pair of ropeman 1s, and a predator XL.

I think a foot loop and a pair of delta links are all I need (And the deltas are for convenience more than anything). Is that right? Delta to the existing rope loops for a girth hitch, rope man stays on my caribeaners which hook to my bridge and to the foot loop, and a new foot loop which I don’t have.

I have some 1” webbing. Is a figure 8 in the webbing strong enough to make a foot loop? I’d put a figure 8 on each end, one for a foot loop and one for the caribeaner. I know this isn’t optimal or even convenient for long term use, but is it safe for trial use?

if this works with my existing gear, it means entirely cutting my sticks out and saving 14 lb or so, but more importantly a big bulky item I don’t have to carry (if it was a 15lb bag of sugar in a backpack I wouldn’t care). If I like it and it works for me, I’ll upgrade to a repel rope in the future, but that’s a $100-150 change right now between rope and safeguard. A pair of delta links is about $30 tops.

I've got a brand new CGM footloop I'd give you a discount on. I somehow ordered 3 when I only wanted 2. But CGM also has a great double footloop you might want to check out!

 

[Samcirrus]

snaggy messes is my MO also. Thick, low branches, briars, you name it. My full length sticks catch on something on almost every walk in. It makes me hesitate some times to walk into new areas I haven’t scouted. I just made up a foot loop and if all goes well I am going to like this.

Ah, no worries then!

 

[Samcirrus]

thanks. That’s super helpful. I already have a pair of ropeman 1s and beaners. So if I ignore the deltas for now I just need to make a webbing loop to clip into the lower beaner and I’m there. I’ve got plenty of straight, branchless trees to practice on so I might as well start there and make sure I like it before spending anything then. I will have to get into some type of delta or quick clip solution later though because every tree I’ve sat in the past two years has multiple branches or more.

thanks
rick

I would highly recommend getting rid of the ropeman1's and learning one of Brockys or JRB s self tending friction hitches.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

The foot tether as I use it now.

 

[Bigfoot522]

I went and made several climbs today.
I will continue working with 2TC in the summer
BUT until further notice I am a one stik aficionado.

I'll check back in someday..

 

[gcr0003]

I’ve climbed every tree but 2 with 2TC this season and I lack many reasons to leave 2TC. After climbing probably the easiest telephone pole of the year I had a few thoughts that I’ve probably already shared but don’t mind repeating. This has been the most streamlined, light and compact my set-up has ever been. The only thing stopping me from climbing any tree I want is the same thing that always stops me from climbing any tree I want and that’s poison ivy. I don’t get sweaty or out of breath 2TC, but it is a process. On larger trees, trees with hard leans, or limby trees you’ll take a little longer. I haven’t noticed the time to 2TC be much more than any other climbing method when faced with the same obstacles. I do think being a healthy weight, strength and age is a factor in making this climbing method not only doable, but efficient and enjoyable. The way you 2TC should reflect those attributes. You may need to make smaller moves. This might make 2TC slower for you than you’d like but then you need to ask yourself if the extra time to climb the tree worth the reeducation in weight, bulk and simplicity. It may, and it may not. For me, even the 3ft diameter tree I climbed in the dark was worth the benefits of 2TC.

 

[MNFarmHunter]

snaggy messes is my MO also. Thick, low branches, briars, you name it. My full length sticks catch on something on almost every walk in. It makes me hesitate some times to walk into new areas I haven’t scouted. I just made up a foot loop and if all goes well I am going to like this.

I’ll have to invest in some hip boots in the offseason. I was able to explore a new area because everything was frozen but that won’t be the case next fall.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[phatkaw]

I’ll have to invest in some hip boots in the offseason. I was able to explore a new area because everything was frozen but that won’t be the case next fall.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I need some hip boots too after reading post #1,795!


Hahaha

 

[ketch22]

My problem with 2TC is I sweat like a banshee. But I’ve always been that way, I wrestled for 10 years and I’d always be sweating just stretching out. Although I do like the method, I keep it in my back pocket for emergency use.

sticks seem to keep me from sweating but the setup/cleanup time has me annoyed by it. I just ordered an RDA one stick. If that doesn’t work I’ll be sticking with sticks and posting it in the classifieds haha.

but I’m hoping I like it, in my case I’ll be one sticking up, setting my platform, and then taking the stick off the tree and it’ll be packed up so when I’m done I can just slide down a few inches, take off my platform, and away I go.

 

[MNFarmHunter]

My problem with 2TC is I sweat like a banshee. But I’ve always been that way, I wrestled for 10 years and I’d always be sweating just stretching out. Although I do like the method, I keep it in my back pocket for emergency use.

sticks seem to keep me from sweating but the setup/cleanup time has me annoyed by it. I just ordered an RDA one stick. If that doesn’t work I’ll be sticking with sticks and posting it in the classifieds haha.

but I’m hoping I like it, in my case I’ll be one sticking up, setting my platform, and then taking the stick off the tree and it’ll be packed up so when I’m done I can just slide down a few inches, take off my platform, and away I go.

With 2 TC, slow and steady wins. If you try to climb quickly to height, you’re doing it wrong. Instead, go in with the mindset that there’s no hurry to climb and it’s just a lazy screw-off.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ketch22]

With 2 TC, slow and steady wins. If you try to climb quickly to height, you’re doing it wrong. Instead, go in with the mindset that there’s no hurry to climb and it’s just a lazy screw-off.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I get that mindset, but even taking my time, I’m still a sweat pile, it’s just the way I’m wired lol