Chest Ascender - time for a new one

[pwhole]

The worn connection hole on that Croll was a huge shock to me, as it hadn't been that bad, and then suddenly seemed to 'go' quite quickly. To be honest, that part of the device was generally less important to me for visual checks, as I (perhaps) foolishly assumed that part was bomb-proof - compared to the cam/teeth/spring at least. But the previous model (old style) had worn teeth and a groove at the top after two year's use, and that's why I binned it - the connection hole was barely worn at all, and on the same steel D-maillion too. So without a doubt the new Croll body is softer than the old one, as I'm no heavier. I can assure folks I don't take risks lightly - it was just that my expected lifespan of the kit didn't match reality by a factor of 2 at least.

 

[nihil_enochian]

I've just visited CT website and there is link called News 2018 in outdoor section. There are new chest ascender and hand ascender which will be available from 2nd quarter 2018 and both of them will have 140kg max load. 
Problem is that I am going at Monday to buy two hand ascenders which will be this current 100kg model. Can't wait until 2018 to buy this newer one.

 

[Amy]

I have most definitely had ascenders slip once bit-in to the rope.
Most notibly was my Hightec, used as my knee ascender in my bungee-and-a-half ropewalker setup. (They replaced it for me for free, as it was only a year old and was odd in the wear pattern on the teeth and cam, my replacement has lasted me four years so far and going strong and they are generally good devices but the teeth are softer.)

It first started happening during my 2013 UK trip. Coming out of GG no less (fun!). It would set onto the rope fine (I swear we were on 8mm, I know it was 9 but damn it stretched like friggin spaghetti, not the kind of rope I"m used to) and mid-step it would slip. At first I figured it was just the different rope acting different. It did it many times over the course of the climb. Probably every 3rd step.

When I got back to the US, the first pit I did here on our nice 11mm PMI pit rope it did the same though, which is when I looked at the teeth. None were gone, but many were tiny nubs on the upper side. It was plenty to grip, but once under full weight load it slipped.

My SO had the same happen to him with a different ascender when climbing El Cap.

So uh...yeah. Ascenders definitely can slip even after set. I think it is more noticible on ropewalker style systems because your croll either holds or it doesn't in a frog. On a ropewalker you constantly are shifting where your weight is so you can easily feel it's holding-holding-ohf*ckslipped!



Mod note: edited swearing

 

[Amy]

Well hot dam, mods editing swearing on a caving forum.....
...when this is one of the smiley options which means the same as the word that was edited :icon_321:

Do you ever cave, sweetie?