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Figure of 8 progress capture???

phatkaw

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Ha ha
I have a ton of shiny stuff i never use after the first couple times.
I even Stealth Strip some of it before it gets tossed in a drawer...
 

Fl Canopy Stalker

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Maybe this time?
Good video man. I like how easy it is to hold. I can definitely see the ease of rappelling with a soft wrap, as long as you keep your weight centered. If you had to stop, pull up your bow for a shot half way down your descent, would the rope still stay pinched and hold while side pressured? Other than that one concern I believe I may try this next time I’m stuck SRT-ing these tall pines we have.
 
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phatkaw

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If you had to stop, pull up your bow for a shot half way down your descent, would the rope still stay pinched and hold while side pressured?

I would think so. With two wraps around the 8 and each wrap you kinda gotta snap in or out once the rope is weighted...
I've been using it for over a month and have been doing it A LOT and soo far - soo good.
 
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gcr0003

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Great video, especially from a phone attached to the brim of your hat. It looks like unlocking it isn’t bad, like you don’t get a large drop, so long as you are quick popping it out and holding the tension (which you demonstrated doesn’t take much). The only thing I’d be nervous about would be that there is no back up to your system and going hands free. Like @Treehopper2 said, backing this up with a hitch above your your figure 8 might be the ticket. Not saying I wouldn’t use it as you showed; however, if I did I would have my hand on the rope at all times just in case. Even the locking method that @Brocky shows I don’t use free handed without a back up. Some of the true safety gurus would probably recommend always using a back up friction hitch of some kind no matter what.
 

phatkaw

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A backup is most definitely the safest way to go. (other than living in a protective bubble)
I tried it for a while, both above and below the 8.
Below sucked because of when I had the auto-block hooked to a Linesman loop id be hanging crooked while getting my stick on the way down.
Above sucked because I'm short and couldn't reach up high enough to undress my auto-block after I had it weighted for stick removal.
All of the time I spent fooling around with those different methods I never once felt like I even needed it. Soo, I ditched the back-up !
 
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Treehopper2

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A backup is most definitely the safest way to go.
I tried it for a while, both above and below the 8.
Below sucked because of when I had the auto-block hooked to a Linesman loop id be hanging crooked while getting my stick on the way down.
Above sucked because I'm short and couldn't reach up high enough to undress my auto-block after I had it weighted for stick removal.
All of the time I spent fooling around with those different methods I never once felt like I even needed it. Soo, I ditched them...

I haven’t tried it yet but I feel that with a shorter bridge I should be able to tend the backup knot.
I don’t plan to load the backup that’s where I hope your system comes in the backup is just in case.
But like I said for me at this point it’s just theory until I try it.
I do hope you or someone finds a workable backup to this system because that’s it’s only short coming I see.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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phatkaw

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I put a D-ring on one of my Kestrel's waist belt and was planning on backing the 8 up from that so I wasn't hanging crooked for stick removal but I'm satisfied without it...
 

MNFarmHunter

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On my Merlin, I've got a 3rd loop (leg strap loop) smaller and slightly below my bridge loop that I connect the klemheist to. That way, my control hand is where it would normally be for a rappel.
 

Treehopper2

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I got out and did some testing and your system works to hold you but I felt much better having the backup above the figure 8 but it was never loaded while using your method.
I tended the prusik knot with my left hand and used my right hand for the brake on the way down without any problems .
 

phatkaw

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Did you descend with the one wrap?
Some times it takes a second or two for the rope to start feeding. Did you get that?
 

Treehopper2

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I actually was more focused on the lockup feature to remove my stick.
Once I have my stick and I’m on rapell I don’t see a need for the one wrap personally but maybe I’m missing something.


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phatkaw

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I gotcha.
I like the friction of the one wrap. That and it's only one move i need to make to go back to or out of 'capture mode'.