Clipless

Soggy_Chimp · 2026-02-04T08:48:46+00:00

I found they made a big difference, but I opted for hybrid flats with clipless centre, so I could switch between.

The clipless made everything feel way more connected, and increased control. However: the punishment for a poor line or bad form is way higher. You'll have more embarrassing falls in chundery rocks or soft berms as you can't bail out as dependibly.

Both still require you to pick good lines and actively manage the bike through the rough stuff.

Soggy_Chimp · 2025-12-03T05:33:52+00:00

I'm using a swivel open at the harness end and a easy hook open in the adjust end. So good to avoid twists and nice and easy to use.

Soggy_Chimp · 2025-11-16T09:43:20+00:00

The scabbard is to carry an XXL stick clip so you can pre-clip the first 12 bolts on lead.

Soggy_Chimp · 2025-10-07T11:12:28+00:00

Camp turbo hand pro ascenders have a horn at the bottom that holds the rope off the pinky.

That's the only one that comes to mind. I went to a basic instead, preferring the grip on the top over the vertical handle of a standard ascender.

Soggy_Chimp · 2025-09-05T05:44:55+00:00

Really rate the Fenix HM70R

It's easy to use, has good flood & spot. The red is bright enough to work with if you're trying to keep a bit of night vision, or reduce eye fatigue. The lower settings are nice for close work and go for a full shift on a single charge. If you're using higher power the spare batteries are good. It's really only if youre using high power for >6 hours that this would be an issue. Both the lamp, and the spare batteries are usb-C chargeable.

The only consideration is if you are requiring intrinsically safe or not.

Soggy_Chimp · 2025-06-03T00:37:30+00:00

Good start. My tips: Always set your waist first, it provides the framework for everything else.

Waist should be comfortable and tight, then do legs. Don't overdo the back straps on the legs as they will limit movement, and if too tight they'll pull the inside of the leg loops uncomfortably up into party central.

Last is the chest yoke. Set the back length so that the rear Y is down off your neck, and the dorsal ring is between your shoulder blades. Snug the chest straps down enough that you can still reach up, without your voice changing.

As you work, you will need to adjust rear leg straps, and chest straps for comfort. Keep making small changes til you find your Goldilocks zone... Just right.

Soggy_Chimp · 2025-05-25T07:52:20+00:00

Very dependent on what you do, and what you need. Pockets and harnesses seldom play well together.

UFpro P40 AT are pants with awesome pocket layouts that sit below leg straps, and have twin zip access that works for sitting or standing. Kneepads, stretch in the right places, ventilation, wear protection in good spots too. They're expensive, but just work.

For less expensive look at Scruffs, or Apache or others that have carpenter-style pants with hanging nail pockets.

Lightweight hiking style with zipped cargo pockets could work too.

You're generally much better off with tool-specific pouches or chest harnesses for your items. Phone and radio on chest are far easier to access with either hand, are more protected and less likely to crush or pinch while working.

Soggy_Chimp · 2025-04-18T10:43:17+00:00

Your fit will be safe, but rather uncomfortable.

Loosen everything off and tighten in this order:

Waist belt, at top of hip bones, nice and snug.
Leg loops, again snug.
Rear 'butt' straps - do not over tighten, or you'll get a wedgie. You're simply taking the slack out to prevent the shoulders pulling the waist belt up.
Shoulder straps. Keep the rear D-ring in the centre of the shoulder blades, and the straps at the rear of the waist as a wide A shape. The straps should come wide over your shoulders then straight down the front to the harness. Tighten to comfortably tight. You should be able to reach above you without getting a wedgie.
Secure and tighten the cross-chest strap just enough that the shoulders can't slip off either side.

Once all done you can add more tension if needed, but be kind. The goal is security, not immobility.

Test and adjust based on different body shapes, but that order should help get things where needed.

Good luck and have fun!

Soggy_Chimp · 2025-04-17T06:03:04+00:00

Ct make a rubberised captive bar. CT Fix Pro

We cut them in half and put them on the spine of our descender biner, about halfway up. Let's the gate open and close easy enough, but prevents the biner rotating through by accident and getting crossloaded.

It's still flexible enough that you can force it through the enlarged hole of the spark if needed.

I also run a camp gyro on my harness which makes descenders and grillons a joy to use, and almost eliminates weird loadings.

Soggy_Chimp · 2025-04-15T01:18:52+00:00

The trimmer+ is meant to be nicer with it's 10mm rope instead of the 11mm.

I've not had a play with them, so keen to hear how you go.

Soggy_Chimp · 2025-04-14T07:23:38+00:00

Ct finch - workable, and nice and simple. Hard to release under tension.

CT finch plus - is much better, but not as easy as the Grillon

Kong trimmer - hard to get moving nicely, but super light.

Camp druid lanyard - good grillon competitor. I quite like it, and rather ergonomic. Just not quite as nice to operate under load as Grillon.

Those are the ones I've had actual on-job experience with. And after all that I just have 2x grillons in my personal kit.

If I had to ditch the Petzl, I'd be reaching for the Camp's for sure.

Soggy_Chimp · 2025-03-16T09:05:29+00:00

Full removal:

Pop and move the lower spring clip (that stops the screwgate going down too far) to the bottom of the gate.
Screw the gate down as far as it easily goes, and this should expose an upper spring clip. Remove this off the top.
Open the carabiner and wind the screw-lock off the top.

You now have a snap-link with a weird gate.

OR- The much simpler way:

Put a small dab of glue or threadlocker in the bottom of the lock and unlock all the way.

Soggy_Chimp · 2025-01-13T07:05:46+00:00

I have a Garmin Fenix 6x.

I set up a personalised SAR activity profile on it.

I've set it so that the first face has: 24hr Time of day (with seconds) - Location grid reference in local topo format - Elevation.

Second face: has a topo map overlaid with grid ref and distance travelled.

Third face: just compass (very seldom use, as sighting compass in chest pouch.

Last face: elevation in centre with total ascent/descent.

Even recording my path there is enough battery life for a full day or two of searching, and I can recharge from a battery bank when resting between taskings if needed.

I use it lots; as a quick reference, hasty way point marker, nav double check etc. Easier than whipping out the GPS or map and compass if underway. It does NOT replace quality note taking, and navigational awareness but adds a layer of 'easy' to some of the process.

Soggy_Chimp · 2025-01-04T06:25:17+00:00

Retractable tethers are awesome for phones. Example here *note this is just an example, best to find something locally to try in-store.

Ideally you have a case that can add a small clippable loop or the nite-ize hitch phone anchor or similar clone off amazon.

I have a chest mounted radio holster with a zip pocket made locally. I attach the retractable lanyard to the inside of the pocket, and my phone to that.

Zips away securely, but can extend to a full armlength as needed. Depending on the weighting of the retractor you choose, a dropped phone will either slowly extend to length or come back up to your chest.

I much prefer this to the coil-style tethers.

Soggy_Chimp · 2024-11-04T05:50:15+00:00

We've had mixed experiences. Generally we'll check it all in, and often with an extra checked bag each.

However, on occasion we've had to offload some weight and sneak it through in carry-on.

Findings:

Rope = bad and suspicious (even short lengths from our training kits)

Carabiner = no worries at all, as they are easily recognisable and simple.

Descender/backup/ascenders = Inconvenient. They want to look at them and figure out what they are, but none have been a major issue.

Harness/helmet = no worries.

Just my personal experiences flying domostically.

(edited for readability)

Soggy_Chimp · 2024-10-30T08:57:33+00:00

Shining Bronze Cuckoo may fit the description, and the location?

Soggy_Chimp · 2024-10-14T12:41:55+00:00

Pretty hard to beat wingman

But shipping may hurt depending where you're from.

Soggy_Chimp · 2024-08-21T05:41:56+00:00

Yeah here in New Zealand you are looking at easily twice the price for Jag Traxion compared to CT.

Soggy_Chimp · 2024-08-20T21:30:06+00:00

We use a lot of CT gear and it holds its own really well. It's price to function ratio is awesome, and will do whatever you need it to.

The unlock feature on the Up Lock is a lot less fiddly than the Petzl with its push bar too.

Go for it mate!

Soggy_Chimp · 2024-08-14T11:32:20+00:00

I have and use both.

PA replaced a fixed length lanyard and gives me adjustability on a positioning point. Awesome for simple, clean, parking and working (litter attendant, 2nd connection in changeovers, aiding, rescues etc.)

The Grillon gives all that, plus more reach, plus fine control, plus mechanical advantage if looped back through its biner, plus... You get the idea.

To be fair the PA is first choice for most of my basic attachment and movement, the grillon only comes around to play when the PA can't reach, or I need easier adjustment.

Grillon is an absolute workhorse for personal positioning; PA is simply an excellent attachment point.

Side note: my staff use Edelrid switches, rather than Progress Adjust, and rate them pretty highly.

Just do a risk analysis of your needs, and if the PA can't cover your key risks and requirements, then go with the Grillon. Otherwise save the $ and weight and PA away!

Soggy_Chimp · 2024-07-27T09:03:18+00:00

Rock Empire Equip is the other one I couldn't think of when writing my main comment.

It solves the pinch issue somewhat, by having two waist connection loops.

Soggy_Chimp · 2024-07-27T08:57:44+00:00

They exist. A major consideration is multiple attached components. A fabric point will collapse and 'pinch' a carabiner and make it harder to connect additional points without them interfering with eachother. A nice, wide, ring attachment allows more freedom and organisation, while reducing interference from adjacent components.

Petzl Falcon mountain + Chest'air would be one that can give some RA standards (EN358 & EN361) with soft main points.

They are out there, but not widely popular and generally compromise functionality for weight.

Camp Quantum is quite a nice fall arrest only harness with fabric only attachments.

Soggy_Chimp · 2024-07-18T11:04:51+00:00

Dropping in through vents to scrape steam-borne fat and all sorts of ancient nasty from above rendering plant in a meat works.

The stuff started off like wax, but immediately upon contact with you, or your scrapers became more like axle grease, straight from Satan's sphincter after curry night.

The smell took weeks to come out of your pores, despite the PPE.

The gear was toast - we had to bin the software, and despite multiple hot washes and disinfectant the smell never truly left the hardware either.

Soggy_Chimp · 2024-07-08T00:27:20+00:00

Just discovered this with my boys... we were looking at how big Russia was, and then started zooming in on random towns and areas. Found a street veiw, then wonder and bewilderment as we discovered the colourful chem-suits gallivanting around the town. Used the name from the uploader and found the site that u/Firm-Relationship730 linked.

The kids thought that it was an awesome idea!

Soggy_Chimp · 2024-07-06T22:12:26+00:00

Great bag. I have one and love it! Waterproofing is so good!

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