Chest Jammers
- Thread starter Benfool
- Start date
PeteHall
Moderator
Ian Ball said:
Inglesport had something that looked identical to that a few (maybe 5 or 10?) years ago, but I can't remember the brand. I bought one, popped it in the glovebox of my Land Rover and by the time I scrapped it, the jammer was nowhere to be seen... I'm sure it will turn up one day, but in the meantime, I've still got a few of the old style croll's.
Since they came out I've got through about six or seven of the smaller crolls. They wear very quickly especially on regular trips up muddy ropes. A smaller number of spikes engage with the rope than the old croll. This is especially so with thicker diameter ropes whether only the bottom few rows of spikes engage and quickly wear through in my experience. However, I am still using them as they are easy to come by (for me) and I'm not convinced other makes are a whole lot better.
cavemanmike
Well-known member
Camp Turbo for me
Mark Wright
Active member
Anthron have been going for years and make some interesting products.
I was first introduced to them about 30 years ago when I worked for Total Access Limited. They had a wide range of their products in their training store. They used an Anthron DSD descender device in one of their rescue kits at the time.
I assume the ?27.65 Inc. Vat. is from Arco?
Arco bought Total Access Limited a few years ago.
Despite the fact they wear out a bit quicker and are more expensive, I prefer the small Petzl Croll.
I?ve not got through as many as Badlad but that could have something to do with only going caving about 4 times in the past year instead of 4 times a week.
Mark
I was first introduced to them about 30 years ago when I worked for Total Access Limited. They had a wide range of their products in their training store. They used an Anthron DSD descender device in one of their rescue kits at the time.
I assume the ?27.65 Inc. Vat. is from Arco?
Arco bought Total Access Limited a few years ago.
Despite the fact they wear out a bit quicker and are more expensive, I prefer the small Petzl Croll.
I?ve not got through as many as Badlad but that could have something to do with only going caving about 4 times in the past year instead of 4 times a week.
Mark
pwhole
Well-known member
I went through one of those shitty new Crolls in less than a year - I thought it utter tripe. The teeth were soft, the body was flimsy and the release catch hits the central krab as the clearance isn't sufficient, and I destroyed it just doing regular weekly caving. I got a Camp Turbo and it lasted two and a half years, with more frequent trips - I just upgraded to a new one, and switched to a Camp hand-jammer too, figuring I may as well. I think the only Petzl kit I use now is the Pantin.
Mark - spot on 
Here you go Ben, AC-30 for ?45 so you can fully consider it.
dmm Anthron Ac30
(and reject it as it's not on sale at Starless river or Inglesport)
Here you go Ben, AC-30 for ?45 so you can fully consider it.
dmm Anthron Ac30
(and reject it as it's not on sale at Starless river or Inglesport)
JackSherlock
New member
I use the large Croll. I find it less finicky than the smaller alternatives (especially when wet).
Unsure if the issues with the small Croll are replicated in the larger model.
Unsure if the issues with the small Croll are replicated in the larger model.
The work done here by Simon Wilson is, afaik, still applicable to the Croll S.
It's a no Jack.
Simon Wilson said:Thank you people. At last more people seem to be starting to understand what the problem is.
Unlike all earlier Crolls this design becomes dangerous when it wears. This problem is compounded by the fact that the new design wears out a lot quicker than earlier designs, despite Petzl's spurious claim that it is more durable. But what really makes Petzl guilty of negligence, in my opinion, is that they have produced a device which is impossible for the user to inspect.
In January I pointed out to Petzl that they are expecting users to inspect a device that they cannot effectively inspect. I suggested that they should recall the Croll and that they might want to consider the legal implications. If somebody is killed and Petzl end up being charged with criminal negligence I would offer to be a witness.
It's a no Jack.
pwhole
Well-known member
This was mine, after retirement - check out the body connection-hole. That's special aluminium, that is. The main teeth were worn flat and the stainless wear-plate was just developing 'the edge' but it was right on the end of the plate rather than the curve as shown in Simon's article - though if I'm truthful it was the prospect of the Croll just stretching off the carabiner mid-pitch like Plasticine that finally did it. As always, I didn't check that part as much as it was underneath. The last Camp Turbo was replaced purely down to flat teeth, which was fair enough after years down Longcliffe every weekend, but it had no body damage like this one.
Attachments
Mark Wright
Active member
I?ve just checked the RRP of the small and large Petzl Croll ascenders and they are both ?48.73 Inc. Vat. The Anthron is less than I can buy a Croll with an enhanced trade discount.
The low price might be part of a sales pitch to convince Anthron they should put some of their products through the forthcoming UKCA testing and marking requirements? It?s unlikely you?d ever see an Anthron product inside a rope access technicians kit bag. Training centres usually only had them as novelty items.
Most manufacturers have developed their chest ascender designs over the years, admittedly not always to everyones taste. This Anthron product hasn?t changed since it was first copied from one of the much earlier Petzl Croll ascenders.
Mark
The low price might be part of a sales pitch to convince Anthron they should put some of their products through the forthcoming UKCA testing and marking requirements? It?s unlikely you?d ever see an Anthron product inside a rope access technicians kit bag. Training centres usually only had them as novelty items.
Most manufacturers have developed their chest ascender designs over the years, admittedly not always to everyones taste. This Anthron product hasn?t changed since it was first copied from one of the much earlier Petzl Croll ascenders.
Mark
Mark Wright
Active member
Ian Ball said:
You might well be right.
Mind you, if people are getting through other ascenders in a year they are worth a punt at that price.
