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Longhorn Agile Hitch vs. Michoacan Hitch

BowhunterXC

BowhunterXC

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2021
Messages
1,094
Location
N.W. Ohio
I like learning new hitches and knots. :)
I've been climbing with the Longhorn Agile Hitch and like how easy it is to tie and use. However, it's a bit long in its' finished configuration. So, I've been looking for a hitch that would be shorter, when it's finished and usable.

I ran across a JRB video about the Michoacan Hitch, which is super easy to tie and is definitely shorter in its' finished configuration. I've been using approximately 38" of 6mm cord on 9.5mm rope and it appears to bite the rope for a good hold and tends easily too. I have yet to climb on it, but all of my early tests look good. :cool:

Has anyone else used the Michoacan Hitch for ascending?
 
The Michoacan is a classic hitch and works quite well. It won’t release under full pressure unless you’re dsrt climbing but is a trustworthy hitch. For some cordage and rope diameter I have had to add a wrap or two.
 
For me, the Michoacan just isn’t as easy to adjust as the LAH. I’ll put up with the length, for ease of use. YMMV.
 
I've used the Michoacan, Agile, Longhorn Agile, Stict, Soft Sticht, and WLR.

LHA and Agile are easier to tie at the tree. I like them for SRT for that reason. I also really like that it's tied with a loop (of sorts) and the load balances between the two legs for that reason. I really like that feature.

Soft sticht tends relatively easily and is relatively easy to tie, but more involved than I want to deal with at the tree. I like it for tether and LB. Sticht tends easier but requires the hardware, and is better on a LB or 1-sticking rope or tether. Michoacan is easy to tie, and if you tie the ends into a loop with a hunter's bend or flat overhand instead of a split-tail the load balances evenly between both legs of the hitch.
 
Well, I found another one that I like. :) This one is the Knut Hitch and it's usually ties with an eye to eye prusik cord, but I'm using a 6mm cord that's 36" long. After tying the Knut Hitch, I tie the ends of the cord with a Hunter's Bend. Pretty simple combination and it holds good too. :cool:
 
I use the double Mich on my repel rope. I back it up with an ATC. Works great, breaks easily under pressure.

Sent from my Pixel 6a using Tapatalk
 
I ditched Ropeman 1's during the '24 off-season and also watched a bunch of hitch variations. I tied a Longhorn Agile on one tether and a Soft Sticht on the other.....then tested both at low heights a few times before going up to hunting height. I had Brocky make me a new 11mm Predator tether and another soft ring early this fall......and he kindly included a wrapped rigid ring to try on the Sticht. I put that on the new Predator tether and have used it most of the season with my ACO Pioneer saddle. I like both hitches for hold, release and adjustment.....but agree they are a bit long. I used a 28" eye-to-eye on my newest iteration and that seems to be about as short as one could go without laying on the sewn areas of the eye-to-eye. Always open to new ideas, but have seen the Mich before and wasn't entirely sold.
 
I tied another Knut Hitch with 7mm cord that's 42" long, before being tied. I use an Alpha Loop at both ends, so it works like an eye to eye pursik cord. The inside measurement from eye to eye is 21". This is a very compact hitch, when it is on the rope. :) It holds great and releases when not under load, much like the LHA Hitch.
JRB 27 Knut.jpg
JRB 26 Knut.jpg
 
BowhunterXC said:
I tied another Knut Hitch with 7mm cord that's 42" long, before being tied. I use an Alpha Loop at both ends, so it works like an eye to eye pursik cord. The inside measurement from eye to eye is 21". This is a very compact hitch, when it is on the rope. :) It holds great and releases when not under load, much like the LHA Hitch.
View attachment 112221
View attachment 112222
Click to expand...
I will have to look into this once season is done. Only a few weeks left and I don't want to change anything at this point.
 
I just watched three online videos showing different methods of tying the Knut. They have a 4 o 5 wrap and finish a bit differently. Have you tried this on a tether with body weight leaning against it? Hold rock solid but break free pretty easily?
 
Alaska at Heart said:
I just watched three online videos showing different methods of tying the Knut. They have a 4 o 5 wrap and finish a bit differently. Have you tried this on a tether with body weight leaning against it? Hold rock solid but break free pretty easily?
Click to expand...
I've only tested it on the ground, but I will be climbing on it this weekend. My first opinion of it is that it holds good with a little weight on it and will release as it should. The weather has taken a turn for the worse with high winds and teens, but only for a couple of days. :rolleyes: A warming trend is on the way by Saturday and I'll be back out climbing. I'll post my findings. :)
 
BowhunterXC said:
I tied another Knut Hitch with 7mm cord that's 42" long, before being tied. I use an Alpha Loop at both ends, so it works like an eye to eye pursik cord. The inside measurement from eye to eye is 21". This is a very compact hitch, when it is on the rope. :) It holds great and releases when not under load, much like the LHA Hitch.
View attachment 112221
View attachment 112222
Click to expand...
I had not seen the Alpha loop before. Intriguing. Thanks!

ETA: what rope and 7mm Hitch cord are you using?
 
BowhunterXC said:
I tied another Knut Hitch with 7mm cord that's 42" long, before being tied. I use an Alpha Loop at both ends, so it works like an eye to eye pursik cord. The inside measurement from eye to eye is 21". This is a very compact hitch, when it is on the rope. :) It holds great and releases when not under load, much like the LHA Hitch.
View attachment 112221
View attachment 112222
Click to expand...

Those tag ends are pretty short.
 
Iron_llama said:
I had not seen the Alpha loop before. Intriguing. Thanks!

ETA: what rope and 7mm Hitch cord are you using?
Click to expand...
The rope is Sterling C-IV 9.5mm and the cordage is 7mm GM Climbing Cord.
I like this Alpha Loop for its' smaller size when finished and holding strength. :)

@raisins and @Alec
I know what you mean about the short tag ends and I may lengthen them on the next cord that I build, but I check everything every time that I climb. Even so, rather than wait, I lengthened the tag ends, which made the loops smaller and that's a good thing. :cool:
When I put this Knut Hitch on the rope, I use 5 wraps, but start with 4 wraps. I set it, put some weight on it to stretch it out, then untie it and put the 5th wrap in it. It's very tight when tying it, but it works. I'll have to see how much fuss this is in the woods, as I may end up making another one a couple of inches longer.
 
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BowhunterXC said:
The rope is Sterling C-IV 9.5mm and the cordage is 7mm GM Climbing Cord.
I like this Alpha Loop for its' smaller size when finished and holding strength. :)

@raisins and @Alec
I know what you mean about the short tag ends and I may lengthen them on the next cord that I build, but I check everything every time that I climb. Even so, rather than wait, I lengthened the tag ends, which made the loops smaller and that's a good thing. :cool:
When I put this Knut Hitch on the rope, I use 5 wraps, but start with 4 wraps. I set it, put some weight on it to stretch it out, then untie it and put the 5th wrap in it. It's very tight when tying it, but it works. I'll have to see how much fuss this is in the woods, as I may end up making another one a couple of inches longer.
Click to expand...

Sounds good. My concern is if something happened (platform kickout?) and you took a hard fall on that. Some knots want to "eat" the tag end more than others under a hard pull. I thought there was a little formula that (like splice bury length) gave you a tag end recommendation based upon rope diameter (?).

I was just messing around with the Michoacan, distel, and now the Arbsession hitch last night.

I have new tether and linemans I haven't hung on yet, both with distel hitches. Before the hitch cord is "worked in", I can get the hitch to loosen and not grab at all. I know with use that this improves with age of the setup, but I don't like it.
 
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