Amount of rope needed for Cowstails

[Subpopulus Hibernia]

Right, did up my new cowstails just now, and in future I'll be asking for 2.4m of rope.

They're done up pretty short though, so I'm not sure how usable cowstails done from 2m of rope would be. Perhaps if they were done from 9mm dynamic rather than 10.5 you might get a neater knot. And two twists of rope on the stopper knot rather than three might lessen the amount of rope needed.

 

[Mike Hopley]

2 metres of 9mm is just enough, provided you (a) don't require unusually long cowstails and (b) use minimal knottage. For easier tying and less worry about coming up short, I would get about what you said (around 2.5 metres).

It is safe (and neat) to use just two barrel knots and an overhand loop in the middle. Tighten all knots with bodyweight from both sides to set the lengths and ensure the barrel knots cannot work loose. You need several centimetres of tail outside the barrel knots (I would say minimum 3 cm; tests on barrel knots show ~1 cm can be yanked through in a fall).

With this setup, additional turns, long tails, or stopper knots are not necessary. But equally there's nothing wrong with using them, especially if it makes you feel more confident in your cowtails!

 

[topcat]

Unless shops have become much more customer focussed of late, you'll have to buy 2 or 3 meters anyway..................can't see anyone cutting you 2.4m from a drum? 

 

[Ed]

I eventually solved it by tying a butterfly knot about 1/4 of the way along my long cowstail, so I have one long/short one and one medium one.

I like that idea, Rachel!  Currently I have a set-up similar to pwhole's (long, short and tiny in the middle) but it is a bit crowded on the D-maillon.  Might try that next time I can be arsed playing with it

Or clove hitch for a tempory shorter one

 

[ianball11]

I prefer a 3 wrap barrel (scaffold?) knot on my long cowstails as I find it easier find without looking with a gloved hand when the short is 2 wraps.

 

[Disgusted from Cornwall.]

Disgusted from Cornwall:

None, use tape.

Why?

Because, if you find yourself in the dark with a broken light. You won't make a mistake with your rigging by using a cowstail.
Because they are bulky and bulk is a bad thing.
Because all of this bollocks about falling and the like is just that, bollocks.
Because it's neat and makes sense.

I use a Alp Octopus. Longest to hand ascender, 2 and 3 to cowstails. Neat, compact, does the job, effective. Good.

 

[Fulk]

Thank you.

 

[andrewmcleod]

Because all of this bollocks about falling and the like is just that, bollocks.

a) do you not think you will fall, or
b) do you not think the consequences of a short but high fall-factor fall (e.g. 0.5m onto 0.5m cowstail) will be severe for you?

(both points are defensible, just curious... for example a) is how climbers operate in that you just don't move around on a sling when climbing, and this is why I am happy with a sling cowstail for climbing)

 

[Smiley Alan]

Because, if you find yourself in the dark with a broken light....

I use a Alp Octopus. Longest to hand ascender, 2 and 3 to cowstails. Neat, compact, does the job, effective. Good.

i use a  spare ligth. neat , compact , does the job , efective. Good .