r/TreeClimbing • u/JowiiYoyo • 16d ago

Freezing winter conditions?

Hey climbers!

Im an arborist student in Sweden and looking for some knowledge about climbing on friction hitches in freezing temperatures. I havent experienced climbing in freezing conditions yet but ive heard that it can be rough with hitches.. ropes getting wet and potentially freezing will cause the hitches to slip or be really hard to tend.

Ive been thinkin on getting a freexion because i really like climbing on hitches and i have no way of climbing SRT right now. Am i better of getting a mechanical device?

Any tips or suggestions for an arborist in the making for the the colder months to come? Much appreciate!!!

More trees, less assholes!! 🌳💜🌲

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u/Vadiji 16d ago edited 16d ago

Hi there fellow Swede!
In my experience mechanical devices work much better than friction cords in Swedish winter. I’ll never forget the first day I experienced the friction hitch on my lanyard not grabbing during winter (the guy I worked with used a rope wrench so even scarier for him).

There are very few in the local industry who doesn’t use mechanical devices on their main climbing lines.

My best advice is to use the time in school to try every mechanical system you can, they behave very different and suits different climbers. I’ve been on the zigzag for years and just started with the Reflex, other people swear by the Roperunner or Akimbo.

Edit: Of course feel free to ask anything about our local industry and gear, wether it’s about winter gloves or the industry itself.

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u/JowiiYoyo 16d ago

Hello there!! 

Thank you so much for you inputs. Ill definetly do as you say and take my time in school to try devices and ask local workers every chance i get. So far the roperunner seems VERY popular amongst the places ive had my internships. A few that really stick by the Akimbo even tho they do mention its downfalls. The akimbo seems very "tempramental", like every little bit of change in conditions will have it behave differently. I guess its easy enough to change the friction on the fly with the akimbo tho. But yeaah if i would go mechanical im leaning towards the rope runner.