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Oplux rope and a mechanical rappel

I don’t get all the references to backing up the safeguard or grigri with an auto block. They hold very tight when you aren’t letting out line. You keep your free hand on the tail end as you rappel and then they are very smooth. They are jumpy if you just let the line out without holding the tail as the device is seeing your full weight but that is also bad technique. Easy to rappel right off the end of your rope and the fall. Always good to tie a stopper knot 6 feet from the end of your rope.
 
Adamcincy said:
I don’t get all the references to backing up the safeguard or grigri with an auto block. They hold very tight when you aren’t letting out line. You keep your free hand on the tail end as you rappel and then they are very smooth. They are jumpy if you just let the line out without holding the tail as the device is seeing your full weight but that is also bad technique. Easy to rappel right off the end of your rope and the fall. Always good to tie a stopper knot 6 feet from the end of your rope.
Click to expand...

The autoblock is added safety plus I can rip the handle of my Safeguard wide open and it doesn’t move till I put a little pressure on the top of my autoblock. Makes for much smoother operation. Plus if my Safeguard breaks or malfunctions I won’t fall to the ground.
 
Adamcincy said:
I don’t get all the references to backing up the safeguard or grigri with an auto block. They hold very tight when you aren’t letting out line. You keep your free hand on the tail end as you rappel and then they are very smooth. They are jumpy if you just let the line out without holding the tail as the device is seeing your full weight but that is also bad technique. Easy to rappel right off the end of your rope and the fall. Always good to tie a stopper knot 6 feet from the end of your rope.
Click to expand...
From a "wearing hunting gloves or no gloves" perspective smoothly releasing an autoblock is easier than grabbing and smoothly releasing a rope.
 
Squirrels said:
The autoblock is added safety plus I can rip the handle of my Safeguard wide open and it doesn’t move till I put a little pressure on the top of my autoblock. Makes for much smoother operation. Plus if my Safeguard breaks or malfunctions I won’t fall to the ground.
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I would never rip the handle of my Safeguard wide open. @boyne bowhunter had one break off. Be gentle on your gear.
 
So I got the safeguard in today...I was nervous when I put the oplux in but as soon as I put weight in it it captured my progress and kept me elevated. I like the fact that I can rappel so easily. Plus I can back it up with an friction hitch on my right side linemans loop.
 
Newhunter1 said:
So I got the safeguard in today...I was nervous when I put the oplux in but as soon as I put weight in it it captured my progress and kept me elevated. I like the fact that I can rappel so easily. Plus I can back it up with an friction hitch on my right side linemans loop.
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I agree with the easy rappel. I don't understand all the negative comments about it. I am not sure if people have tried it or not.
 
Do any of you just use the safeguard the entire time for your tether connection or are you using the distel while you’re hunting? I know the safeguard is not rated for the oplux, but it works great.

I’ve been practicing rappelling with the safeguard and autoblock and it works great.
No issues.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
tider said:
Do any of you just use the safeguard the entire time for your tether connection or are you using the distel while you’re hunting? I know the safeguard is not rated for the oplux, but it works great.

I’ve been practicing rappelling with the safeguard and autoblock and it works great.
No issues.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I do. I only carry one rope into the woods with me these days.
 
bj139 said:
I agree with the easy rappel. I don't understand all the negative comments about it. I am not sure if people have tried it or not.
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MOST people confused or sceptical about one sticking and rappeling either don't have the right setup or haven't given it a honest effort.
 
Squirrels said:
I do. I only carry one rope into the woods with me these days.
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So do you never climb trees with limbs in them or do you have a technique for crossing them?

I use a LWHC and have been reading about the rappelling option. Currently I carry my tether with a ropeman 1 on it for the actual climb (Same as 1 sticking basically) but also carry a 1/4" amsteel daisy chain to use as a secondary tether in the event I need to cross a limb or jump rigging for any reason. I have been contemplating carrying a full length rope to use as my tether and rappel down but I'm having a hard time in my mind justifying carrying the extra rope and figure 8 plus the autoblock just to save me 1-2 min climbing down. I typically hunt at around 30' according to my range finder and can make the descent in about the same time as the ascent. I'm just trying to justify the gain for rappelling (Besides the cool factor) vs just continuing to climb down. I actually already bought (saddlehunter affect) 40' of oplux, the Kong chuy tactical and the beal Jammy plus I got a figure 8 to compare so I will atleast give it a try.
 
Dylan9862003 said:
So do you never climb trees with limbs in them or do you have a technique for crossing them?

I use a LWHC and have been reading about the rappelling option. Currently I carry my tether with a ropeman 1 on it for the actual climb (Same as 1 sticking basically) but also carry a 1/4" amsteel daisy chain to use as a secondary tether in the event I need to cross a limb or jump rigging for any reason. I have been contemplating carrying a full length rope to use as my tether and rappel down but I'm having a hard time in my mind justifying carrying the extra rope and figure 8 plus the autoblock just to save me 1-2 min climbing down. I typically hunt at around 30' according to my range finder and can make the descent in about the same time as the ascent. I'm just trying to justify the gain for rappelling (Besides the cool factor) vs just continuing to climb down. I actually already bought (saddlehunter affect) 40' of oplux, the Kong chuy tactical and the beal Jammy plus I got a figure 8 to compare so I will atleast give it a try.
Click to expand...
I keep a versa strap girth hitched to my left linemans loop to combat getting around limbs. I keep finding ways to carry less and/or more compact stuff in with me more and more. Not all the ideas were of my own though, picked up good ideas from others here and there. I weighed my complete hunting setup, which included everything but my weapon and clothes. I'm talking binos, rangerfinder, kill kit, pooping kit, gloves, hat, handwarmers, coffee thermos, platform, gear hanger, climbing system, rappel setup, seriously everything I take in on a hunt minus my clothes and weapon and I was spot on at 17lbs.
 
Squirrels said:
Yeah man. Little TP and wet wipes. Little travel bottle of hand sanitizer in case a have a tare through.
Click to expand...

So when you guys poop from the saddle do you catch and toss like a gentleman or just mash it through the grate of your platform like a Neanderthal?
 
Squirrels said:
Yeah man. Little TP and wet wipes. Little travel bottle of hand sanitizer in case a have a tare through.
Click to expand...
Yup perfect in the bush. Light weight sealed sanitized and ready
Saddlehunter perfect
9e89059d3b0d6cd16f638f87d927de30.jpg




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tider said:
Do any of you just use the safeguard the entire time for your tether connection or are you using the distel while you’re hunting? I know the safeguard is not rated for the oplux, but it works great.

I’ve been practicing rappelling with the safeguard and autoblock and it works great.
No issues.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...


See my post #25. Update on safeguard. I went on my shotgun hunt yesterday and used my oplux with the safeguard. I did back it up with an autoblock on my right. So, I hung from the safeguard from 7:00 till 1:30 pm. After I decided to get down and exit from the tree I used my safeguard to slowly lower myself to the ground. Once I took down my platform it was fun rappelling down to the ground. I actually thought I was back in the Corps coming out of the rappel tower or jumping off of a room into a window...it was that fun. The safeguard and the oplux pair well together...and the autoblock is just an extra precaution but I could do without. Oh, and I was 27 feet up to my feet...34' to the top of the rappel line.
 
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