Used to spend 20 mins tying rope knots on every climb. Switched to a friction hitch last month and saving almost 10 mins per tree.

2 comments

2 Comments

Gotta push back a little here. That 10 minutes you're saving is gonna come back to bite you when you're on a damp tree or dealing with a rope that's a bit worn. Friction hitches can slip more than you think especially under a dynamic load, and I've seen guys have to re-tie mid-climb because their hitch just gave out. Plus, taking those 20 minutes to tie proper knots builds muscle memory and gives you time to double check everything. You really trust a friction hitch on your TIP when you're 50 feet up and the rope gets wet?

king.kevin13d ago

Add to that the fact that a wet rope can freeze up a knot too, making it a pain to untie when you're done. I've also seen friction hitches walk down the rope on a long descent if the rope's even a little bit dirty or glazed over. You ever had to stop halfway down because your hitch started slipping and you had to reset it with one hand holding all your weight? Not a good time.