Ring Buckles and Garda Hitch

[trekkingnut]

as in all these things, do it properly and do it safely! i dont want anyones rope snapping and me getting blamed!

[Backcountry]

ok quick question about the rope damage...i'm not using rope i using a poly strap with a quick release knot. i did a quick setup in my yard yesterday and it was up and ready to go in just a few mins. i really liked it. have there been any problems with using straps?

[trekkingnut]

i have no idea... dont use straps myself... ive never had a problem with the rope anyway because i use very very fat rapel rings....

if it breaks it breaks... its all trial and error i guess....

when i get back from six months in costa rica then i will let everyone know about long term use....

[tim_n]

[hijack] Where are the two places in the UK that do the rings trekkingnut?[/hijack]

[trekkingnut]

if you watch the garda hitch video, it says in the credits at the end, somewhere in cumbria, the other place that does them is ridiculously expensive so not really worth looking at, i cant even remember where it was....

[Oxblood]

Knotty, I read the thread. How many examples of failures have there been with the garda hitch system. Upon retrospect, I can see that the rings will exert a lot of pressure on the rope. Still, I am curious as to its actual rate of failure. that said, I can always use the rings in a modified version of the trucker's hitch system that HeadChange4U outlines.

[trekkingnut]

im still convinced its about size... a lot of people on this site seem to post up pictures of very very thin welded rings... rather than very very fat rapel rings... the thin rings are more likely to bite into the outer covering....

i do agree though, as one of my videos shows, it can be very useful for fat trees as well having a rapel ring kicking around. makes life a hell of a lot easier!

[Knotty]

Knotty, I read the thread. How many examples of failures have there been with the garda hitch system. Upon retrospect, I can see that the rings will exert a lot of pressure on the rope. Still, I am curious as to its actual rate of failure. that said, I can always use the rings in a modified version of the trucker's hitch system that HeadChange4U outlines.

No statistical info has been collected but there have been failures and rope damage documented by multiple people. Enough to convince me not to risk my spine.

im still convinced its about size... a lot of people on this site seem to post up pictures of very very thin welded rings... rather than very very fat rapel rings... the thin rings are more likely to bite into the outer covering....

i do agree though, as one of my videos shows, it can be very useful for fat trees as well having a rapel ring kicking around. makes life a hell of a lot easier!

Best I can tell most people were using climbing rings since the welded rings aren't strong enough. These ones from SMC are popular. http://www.rei.com/product/471123

Also someone asked about using webbing. As far as I can tell web straps probably do fine with rings and a garda hitch.