UKC

I am after a self-belay device for climbing on a top-rope,
which is the safest,or simplest to use?
Cheers,
Tim.

In reply to TimD: have you considered a petzl shunt? ive never used one but i have seen others use them on a back rope

In reply to TimD:What is a back rope?

In reply to Tim D: I suggest that you learn a little more about what you want to do then start asking your questions?

UNLESS you are a troll!!

In reply to TimD: Although I have used a Petzl Shunt in both climbing and professional capacities (Industrial Rope Access) and have found them efficient in certain applications, they are NOT design to take a shock loading in the result of a fall. I am sure Troll manufacture a device which may meet your needs.

In reply to Charlie: I use a shunt for self belay(toprope solo)but always back it up with a figure of eight knot to a crab on my harness about every 4m or so,just in case the shunt should fail-although I think it unlikely.I doubt you would want to take long falls on self belay anyway.I usually take the slack on the rope in before doing a crux move.Brianb take care

In reply to Charlie:Could you baisically have two top ropes, with an ascender on each one,and with each rope ancored seperately?.I shall research more before starting though.
Tim.

In reply to Anonymous: Sorry for the delay, got distracted by the football yest. but if you're still following this one, YES it's obviously safer still to use 2 ropes (standard practise in Rope Access Work) especially with a seperate auto-locking device on each. I would suggest using a shunt or similar is far better than using an ascender with 'teeth' which have been known to tear down the sheath of the rope when shock-loaded after a fall. Needless to say, whichever method you employ for self-belaying, it is ALWAYS prudent to remove the slack as you ascend (weighting the dead-end of your rope with a rucksack say, just above the ground does this automatically when using a shunt) and the more you eliminate risk; by using a back-up rope on seperate anchors and 2 independant auto-locking devices, the safer you make things for yourself. Happy cranking.

In reply to TimD:

im sure both these jobbies would make a nice mess of your ropes should you take a fall onto them.. they are designed for ascending a rope not taking a dynamic fall. i suggest you examine the teeth and little spikes on them and think about what it might do to your rope should you lob...

check the petzl website and have alook at what they recommend. http://www.petzl.com

theres plenty of other gadgets such as shunts and maybe gri-gri (which i have used before).

In reply to charlie:Final questions,can you reccomend any other brands/devices for fall arrest on a top-rope? And is rope-access work very difficult? Is there a nearest equivelent climbing grade(s) to give an idea of difficulty?
Thanks for your advice already,
TimD.

In reply to TimD: In answer to your 3 questions, firstly, see previous responses... and not just those from me.

I dont find rope access difficult, completely different from climbing tho., despite your possible pre-conceptions, but very enjoyable. Good practises come from good training - If you are seriously interested, I would suggest you contact Troll's excellent Training Dept. or The Industrial Rope Access Trade Assoc. (I.R.A.T.A.) for advice. You should have no problems finding there details on the web. Cheers
Charlie

In reply to TimD: One device which can be useful (not recommended for overhangs) is the Soloist. Good luck.

In reply to TimD:Thanks a lot for your help and advice all,i shall hopefull manage to get climbing again this summer.
Thanks,
Tim.

In reply to TimD.: tim, ive been soloing for years now, (why be stuck for a partner?). the best solution ive found for top roping, is to use a wild country ropeman as long as you take in the slack ive had many falls on this device and survived. Due to a fall over an overhang i now back up with a petzl ascension attached to a short sling. you can now pull up on this if you get stuck. tie your bag to the rope and the equipment moves up. use separate krabs for each though as the sling can unhinge the ropeman. i would not use a shunt for top roping as ive had bother getting it to lock if the krab catches in the middle. it simply slides back down the rope. take care

In reply to adam:I've decided on two fixed ropes each seperatly anchored,with a ropeman 2 on each rope.I think this will be okay.
Have good climbing,
TimD.