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Mad Rock Safeguard and Petzl Grigri + question

DOMMA

DOMMA

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2019
Messages
280
I just ordered my 1-stick climbing gear. From my research, it appears most use their Rappel rope as their climbing rope and tether. Three questions:

1. Do you use your Mad Rock Safeguard at hunting height as your primary connection to your tether
2. Do you back up this connection, if so, with what
3. Do you think the Petzl Grigri + will work as well as the Mad Rock Safeguard, is it a good alternative

I purchased the Petzl GriGri+, it arrived today. It has a top rope mode which varies the spring pressure which should make it lock up quicker. Some claim it is a fine alternative, others say that it is not. If you have experience with both, what do you think?
 
I Climb up on my rappel rope because its my bow/gun hoist as well, i use a madrock safeguard the whole time and dont feel the need to back it up. I find a double michocoan hitch and munter is ALOT smoother but i like the convenience of the safeguard to be able to remove it from the rope quickly when i pull my rope down after the hunt. Cant speak on the gri gri + but seems that people like them when they cant find a safeguard.
 
DOMMA said:
I just ordered my 1-stick climbing gear. From my research, it appears most use their Rappel rope as their climbing rope and tether. Three questions:

1. Do you use your Mad Rock Safeguard at hunting height as your primary connection to your tether
2. Do you back up this connection, if so, with what
3. Do you think the Petzl Grigri + will work as well as the Mad Rock Safeguard, is it a good alternative

I purchased the Petzl GriGri+, it arrived today. It has a top rope mode which varies the spring pressure which should make it lock up quicker. Some claim it is a fine alternative, others say that it is not. If you have experience with both, what do you think?
Click to expand...
1. Yes
2. Yes. Hollow block in prusik configuration 2ft below my SG clipped to a loop on my saddle. I should note I have xp rappelling and am able to move my prusik down the rope when ascending. YMMV.
**NOTE!! A knot of the brake side of the device is NOT recommended because if you fall there is a chance the knot may break the device. The instructions state this.
3. I’ve read many folks that use the + and like it better, I like the smart 2.0 as a non mechanical ascender myself.
 
Bigterp said:
Gotcha got an EWO 18” stick with backwoods mobile 3 step aider & flat monarch
Click to expand...

Similar to my incoming set up. What device do you use to ascend; Mad Rock, Ropeman, prussik...?
 
DOMMA said:
I just ordered my 1-stick climbing gear. From my research, it appears most use their Rappel rope as their climbing rope and tether. Three questions:

1. Do you use your Mad Rock Safeguard at hunting height as your primary connection to your tether
2. Do you back up this connection, if so, with what
3. Do you think the Petzl Grigri + will work as well as the Mad Rock Safeguard, is it a good alternative

I purchased the Petzl GriGri+, it arrived today. It has a top rope mode which varies the spring pressure which should make it lock up quicker. Some claim it is a fine alternative, others say that it is not. If you have experience with both, what do you think?
Click to expand...
I use the Grigri+. I have used the Madrock Safeguard, and it works fine too. It is my opinion that the Grigri+ is a smoother device, and having a panic feature, it's an added piece of security when using for rappel. I have found the Safeguard to be more "on/off" when using it for rappel.

I do use my Grigri+ as my primary connection to my rappel rope at hunting height. I do not back it up. It believe that is unnecessary. If you look at the size of the camming pins on the device, and consider that they are steel and how the device is built and functions, it is just as reliable if not more so than your rope, quick link, carabineers, or accessory cords. This is my opinion. You should do what makes you feel most safe and secure.

I use the Grigri+ to ascend as well, and to keep the slack out, I use a change of direction above the Grigri+ and pull down on the tag end of the rope, as I'm going up the stick/tree.

021f2a189b21cf76f4a96473fab86b45.jpg

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I use my Grigri+ to SRT up the tree, and to rappel down. Love it, love the variable speed release and the panic feature. But once I'm up the tree, I stow the SRT line and Grigri+. I don't like the long rope dangling and potentially tangling around my feet or platform, don't like the scent and movement of the rope being at ground height. The Grigri+ is also kinda large, flashy, and noisy compared to the prusik or Ropeman 1 that I use on my tether.
 
ShooterMike said:
I use the Grigri+. I have used the Madrock Safeguard, and it works fine too. It is my opinion that the Grigri+ is a smoother device, and having a panic feature, it's an added piece of security when using for rappel. I have found the Safeguard to be more "on/off" when using it for rappel.

I do use my Grigri+ as my primary connection to my rappel rope at hunting height. I do not back it up. It believe that is unnecessary. If you look at the size of the camming pins on the device, and consider that they are steel and how the device is built and functions, it is just as reliable if not more so than your rope, quick link, carabineers, or accessory cords. This is my opinion. You should do what makes you feel most safe and secure.
Click to expand...

Hi Mike - You are correct, the GriGri + is easier to rappel smoothly. I do think the Safeguard grabbed the rope under light load a bit quicker, even with GriGri + in the top rope position. The GriGri is considerably bigger, maybe 30% bigger.
 
I use a simple prussic+tender to climb up. I dont see a need to adjust the rope often climbing up. The GriGri+carabiner is attached to the rope but stay inside the pouch.

Hang whole time on my rappel rope with the same prussic. Once it is time to come down, I just slide the GriGri out of pouch and connect it to bridge.
 
Hey Mike, sorry to change the subject but can you give me more info on your one stick in the picture. It looks like a Hawk Helium mod, what is the platform you have mounted on it.
 
Oh-Henry said:
Hey Mike, sorry to change the subject but can you give me more info on your one stick in the picture. It looks like a Hawk Helium mod, what is the platform you have mounted on it.
Click to expand...

That stick is a hawk helium that was cut down to 20” with an OOAL Flat Scout. I also have two EWO featherlite sticks with UP’s on them.


Semper Fi,
Mike
 
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