Why don't yall 2TC?

[HunterBob]

I'm curious how many of you who are experienced in 2TC use tether handles? I've done a handful of climbs so far and am really liking the 2TC method without handles, but can see the safety concerns in case of a slip and fingers getting pinched. Would love to get some feedback on those who use these and also from those who don't as to why.

 

[BackSpasm]

I just ordered one, but have my doubts on this weight capacity claim on this thin plastic.

View attachment 101861

BT

Someone stop this man please. He is on his way to sleeping in a dumpster with all his gear


Also nothing like weight bearing sheets of china plastic to keep your drawers full of excrement

 

[gcr0003]

I'm curious how many of you who are experienced in 2TC use tether handles? I've done a handful of climbs so far and am really liking the 2TC method without handles, but can see the safety concerns in case of a slip and fingers getting pinched. Would love to get some feedback on those who use these and also from those who don't as to why.

Been climbing 2-3 years exclusively 2TC and never used tether handles. I don’t use them because I didn’t assess the risk of pinching my fingers to be very high, also it’s another thing to carry and fool with. The pinch hazard is present when you fall, and I mitigate not falling.

I have had small “kick-outs” while climbing but have never fell such that i weighted the top tether. It’s always been that my foot slips off the tree a little and my hands are already on the tree and I just balance myself. I have grabbed for the tether for balance. I’m not saying it can’t happen, I’m just saying I’m not worried about it happening.

Last thing I’ll add on pinch is that there is a way to mitigate the pinch hazard by how you grab the rope. Instead of curling your fingers under and around the rope, grab the rope more with the tips of your fingers and flip the tether up. If you fall it’ll come out of your fingers fast.

Some use the handles as a way to walk the rope up the tree. It requires less slack and you basically rock forward to back to work it up. I choose to loosen my tether to easily flip it up the tree quickly. That’s just the way I like to do it.

 

[Center Punch]

I just ordered one, but have my doubts on this weight capacity claim on this thin plastic.

View attachment 101861

BT

The 'rope' loops underneath the plastic step, so it would be whatever the 'rope' rating is listed.

All in, I'm close to 200lbs and it works great for me. I think I posted about it earlier in this thread. Somewhere...

 

[gcr0003]

Someone stop this man please. He is on his way to sleeping in a dumpster with all his gear


Also nothing like weight bearing sheets of china plastic to keep your drawers full of excrement

It’s cute to watch all these 2TC newbies throw a bunch of money at what is arguably the most simple and cheapest climbing method available.

 

[Center Punch]

A plated aider on a climbing stick? That’s still one sticking imo.

I don't put it on a stick. I attach it to the prusik on the tether w/ a carabiner.

All in, I'm close to 200lbs and it works great for me. I think I posted about it earlier in this thread. Somewhere...

 

[Center Punch]

It’s cute to watch all these 2TC newbies throw a bunch of money at what is arguably the most simple and cheapest climbing method available.

I found using aiders a pain in the a$$. I'm almost 60 and this el cheapo plastic thing makes the climb nice. REAL nice.

I also remember when my ego caused me to assume everyone was like me.
So many doors opened up when I stopped doing that and concentrated on bringing out the best in everyone around me.

Don't be like me and let your ego keep you from figuring this out until later in life.

Good luck to you.

 

[Center Punch]

Hmmm....those loops through a carabiner hooked to a prusik/Schwabisch on the bottom tether? Might could work.

You got one? Give it a go and let us know if it works. I've contemplated trying one of those myself but never thought to use it for 2tc.

BT

Yep. It's worth the money for me.
All in, I'm close to 200lbs and it works great for me. I think I posted about it earlier in this thread. Somewhere...

 

[Center Punch]

Seems last fall/winter someone on this thread was using the MAXX™ LITE Climbing Stick Aider from Hunt Arsenal in 2TC with some comments about liking it but then heard no more. Seems it could be a little more stable foot "loop".

That may have been me. At the risk of being repetitive, I'll say again that I do like it a lot.

Now I need to figure out other areas of the 2TC method.
Is my bridge too long? Why are these prusiks so hard to release? Should I use my Madrock and Gri Gri instead???

I'll be Turkey Hunting a bit this year so I'll also put a lot of practice time into this 2TC. I'm sure I'll have it ironed out by Fall.

 

[Black Titan]

Can’t wait to hear the results. I’m curious about putting 2 feet in it instead of the leg wrap. I remember seeing one of the actual hunting companies selling these, but I don’t remember which one.

Hunt arsenal I believe has one that has reflective tape on it that looks pretty much identical to this one. I don't think it's wide enough for 2 feet though. Certainly not 2 of my feet anyways. I'm a 11.5EW - 12EW depending on brand.

BT

 

[Center Punch]

Hunt arsenal I believe has one that has reflective tape on it that looks pretty much identical to this one. I don't think it's wide enough for 2 feet though. Certainly not 2 of my feet anyways. I'm a 11.5EW - 12EW depending on brand.

BT

Hmmm... That's interesting. I never thought about using two of these to make it even easier on these knees...
I did buy two of them so my son could use one. I wonder how it would work if I attached two side-by-side by drilling holes and tying them together with paracord so they don't clank together???

 

[Black Titan]

Someone stop this man please. He is on his way to sleeping in a dumpster with all his gear


Also nothing like weight bearing sheets of china plastic to keep your drawers full of excrement

Nah I'm done! Lol I'm all set for the upcoming season gearwise except for some arrow shafts and components.

BT

 

[krub6b]

I'm curious how many of you who are experienced in 2TC use tether handles? I've done a handful of climbs so far and am really liking the 2TC method without handles, but can see the safety concerns in case of a slip and fingers getting pinched. Would love to get some feedback on those who use these and also from those who don't as to why.

I've tried using tether handles but haven't found ones I love yet. Made a set like @always89y shows on his youtube channel and tried using s-biners and tried paracord loops, none of them are it for me. While I know it is possible to still get my fingers pinched, I don't see it as being a high risk concern at this point

 

[GeoFish]

Any reason why you guys can't keep it this simple?
Climbing aider

I wonder where they got that idea?

 

[Black Titan]

I've tried using tether handles but haven't found ones I love yet. Made a set like @always89y shows on his youtube channel and tried using s-biners and tried paracord loops, none of them are it for me. While I know it is possible to still get my fingers pinched, I don't see it as being a high risk concern at this point

I made some of those that Jerry did the how to video on as well. Havent had a chance to try them yet due to weather, sick kids, oldest kids ball schedule, or college tours.

I tried carabiners, but didn't like that, then S biners, still not a fan, and then some 3d printed hooks I made. Those worked, but not smoothly. Looking forward to these handles to see how good they work.

BT

 

[HunterBob]

Been climbing 2-3 years exclusively 2TC and never used tether handles. I don’t use them because I didn’t assess the risk of pinching my fingers to be very high, also it’s another thing to carry and fool with. The pinch hazard is present when you fall, and I mitigate not falling.

I have had small “kick-outs” while climbing but have never fell such that i weighted the top tether. It’s always been that my foot slips off the tree a little and my hands are already on the tree and I just balance myself. I have grabbed for the tether for balance. I’m not saying it can’t happen, I’m just saying I’m not worried about it happening.

Last thing I’ll add on pinch is that there is a way to mitigate the pinch hazard by how you grab the rope. Instead of curling your fingers under and around the rope, grab the rope more with the tips of your fingers and flip the tether up. If you fall it’ll come out of your fingers fast.

Some use the handles as a way to walk the rope up the tree. It requires less slack and you basically rock forward to back to work it up. I choose to loosen my tether to easily flip it up the tree quickly. That’s just the way I like to do it.

Awesome, great info! Thanks and I appreciate the experience. I've been using a system for the past few years of having two stick with a moveable aider that I made. In my few experiences with the 2TC method, I think it may actually be easier than using a moveable aider and I am excited to keep trying climbs on different trees. Even more excited to lighten my setup by removing my two sticks this season.

 

[BTaylor]

Hmmm... That's interesting. I never thought about using two of these to make it even easier on these knees...
I did buy two of them so my son could use one. I wonder how it would work if I attached two side-by-side by drilling holes and tying them together with paracord so they don't clank together???

Based on my experience using a 2 loop webbing strap for climbing I think you will find you have to use a linemans rope unless you only climb the high side of leaners. 2 loops work well for rope climbing a preset but not great for the initial climb for me.

 

[Black Titan]

Based on my experience using a 2 loop webbing strap for climbing I think you will find you have to use a linemans rope unless you only climb the high side of leaners. 2 loops work well for rope climbing a preset but not great for the initial climb for me.

When I initially started thinking about 2tc I had the thought that 2 loops with a strap between might be easier. Kind of like stirrups on a horse saddle. One loop on each side, with the strap between them hugging the tree. Simple stand up with both feet and move tether up.

I talked to Jerry about this and he said "you mean like this?" And send me a pic of exactly what I was talking about. So somebody has done it. Anyways, he explained that 2 foot loops is a young agile mans climbing method lol. It requires more core strength, and said it is actually easier if you have that core strength, but one loop is better suited for me.

BT

 

[krub6b]

When I initially started thinking about 2tc I had the thought that 2 loops with a strap between might be easier. Kind of like stirrups on a horse saddle. One loop on each side, with the strap between them hugging the tree. Simple stand up with both feet and move tether up.

I talked to Jerry about this and he said "you mean like this?" And send me a pic of exactly what I was talking about. So somebody has done it. Anyways, he explained that 2 foot loops is a young agile mans climbing method lol. It requires more core strength, and said it is actually easier if you have that core strength, but one loop is better suited for me.

BT

it seems like two loops straddling the tree would put my feet in front of me too much and create the potential to fall back into the saddle easier than one foot directly below me and the other wrapping the tree

 

[Samcirrus]

When I initially started thinking about 2tc I had the thought that 2 loops with a strap between might be easier. Kind of like stirrups on a horse saddle. One loop on each side, with the strap between them hugging the tree. Simple stand up with both feet and move tether up.

I talked to Jerry about this and he said "you mean like this?" And send me a pic of exactly what I was talking about. So somebody has done it. Anyways, he explained that 2 foot loops is a young agile mans climbing method lol. It requires more core strength, and said it is actually easier if you have that core strength, but one loop is better suited for me.

BT

Yes, he made those. You just can't lift your legs as high in one step as a single foot. Its also harder to adjust your foot tether around the tree as you advance because you need 1 hand to push your body away from the tree as you lift both legs.