Child equipment

[TheGrave]

Hi,

Trying to get my 8y old girl interested in SRT. She is quite decent in gym climbing so I figured it's time. I face a few issues though:

1) Can't find find a child speleo harness. Plenty of caving harnesses but no speleo, am I missing anything? She is about 30kg/65lbs, 4ft/130cm high.

2) Hand ascenders - need to get her something for smaller hands. She's struggling putting it into semi-locked state and it's just impossible with her small hands, I can see it. Mine is a slightly older version of this one - pretty standard size I'd say:

https://www.climbingtechnology.com/en/outdoor-en/pulleys-and-ascenders/ascenders/quick-up-plus

3) Foot loop - anything shorter on the market? I gave her mine Camp Turboloop but it's too long for her legs. It goes down to 95cm/1y at the min side so I need something that goes shorter...or worst case I'll buy some rope to make her one but the rope ones are far more uncomfortable. Still remember the pain I was going through during our caving course

Cheers

 

[mikem]

Check out:

Thread 'SRT Harnesses for Kids...'

Feb 12, 2024

My 10 year old is asking a lot of questions about SRT climbing. We've been playing on our practice "vertical caving simulator" with rappelling, and she's having fun, and is doing great rappelling on a Petzl Stop, 14' at a time...

My question is about harnesses, specifically for climbing, for kids. It doesn't seem there's many options that might size down for her. I'm going to take her measurements soon, but I'm worried we won't be able to find a caving-style SRT harness small enough for her.

Thus far, we've been just using 1" webbing to make a swiss-seat, and attaching the bobbin to the...

• JAshley73
• Replies: 29
• Forum: Equipment

Has anyone used these?:

Kong Futura Hand Ascender - Honey Brothers

Kong Futura Hand Ascender from Honey Brothers. The largest equipment specialist in the tree care industry.

honeybros.com

As she presumably doesn't weigh anything, a rope foot loop is unlikely to be a problem

 

[mikem]

If the rope foot loop is uncomfortable then you can put a piece of hose pipe around it, under her foot

She may find petzl basic or CT simple+ ascenders easier (the handles are only really necessary for rescues)

I have added a more recent US caver YouTube review to:

M

Post in thread 'Kong Futura Ascenders'

Jun 19, 2026

• mikem

 

[Ian P]

The set up I have put together for my 6 year old granddaughter.

MTDE Ninio harness (Although an MTDE club harness and separate chest harness would work)

Kong Futura hand ascender

Petzl small Croll

Petzl vertigo carabiners for cowstails

Combined footloop and safety cord made from 7mm cord.

Petzl Rig for the descender

My other advice would be to make make sure everything you do is “achievable” fun and not too strenuous. (And obviously safe )
I have the pitch rope through a pulley jammer when she is prussicing and give her a “gramps boost” when required.

Good luck

Video of her prussicing:

iCloud Photos - Apple iCloud

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share.icloud.com

 

[ChrisB]

the rope ones are far more uncomfortable.

Footwear makes a big difference. If you wear wellies the sole spreads the loop and the boot as a whole holds the sole flat.

 

[Brains]

Use a handle-less jammer, far better IMO.
A rope footloop with tube will be ideal with wellies and her weight. Ensure whatever you use for the upper body harness is secure, as falling out of a sit harness when upside down is horrifingly easier for a child in caving gear.
Enjoy

 

[Ian P]

Snip: Ensure whatever you use for the upper body harness is secure, as falling out of a sit harness when upside down is horrifingly easier for a child in caving gear.

This is definitely one advantage of the “ninio” it is basically a full body harness with “proper” shoulder straps

 

[JAshley73]

Check out:

Thread 'SRT Harnesses for Kids...'

Feb 12, 2024

My 10 year old is asking a lot of questions about SRT climbing. We've been playing on our practice "vertical caving simulator" with rappelling, and she's having fun, and is doing great rappelling on a Petzl Stop, 14' at a time...

My question is about harnesses, specifically for climbing, for kids. It doesn't seem there's many options that might size down for her. I'm going to take her measurements soon, but I'm worried we won't be able to find a caving-style SRT harness small enough for her.

Thus far, we've been just using 1" webbing to make a swiss-seat, and attaching the bobbin to the...

• JAshley73
• Replies: 29
• Forum: Equipment

Has anyone used these?:

Kong Futura Hand Ascender - Honey Brothers

Kong Futura Hand Ascender from Honey Brothers. The largest equipment specialist in the tree care industry.

honeybros.com

As she presumably doesn't weigh anything, a rope foot loop is unlikely to be a problem

Wow - blast from the past! Thanks for digging that up @mikem

As for harnesses, the MTDE Club harness is basically infinitely adjustable, and will fit the smallest of kids. I would recommend a solid chest-harness, so they don't fall out of the sit-harness.

For Ascenders, I'm a big fan of the Edelrid "Uni-Cruiser." It operates as a left-hand ascender, making it easier to detach from the rope when doing changeovers. It also has a narrow shape that is very comfortable in the hand. My daughter uses a Petzl Basic, but I think the Uni-Cruiser is a much better ascender.

UNI CRUISER | rope clamps | EDELRID

Versatile hand and chest ascender for efficient and fatigue-free climbing on ropes. The ergonomic design is suitable for both left and right-handed use. Than...

edelrid.com

 

[TheGrave]

Thank you all for the tips guys, greatly appreciated! I already stumbled across the other topic Ashley started years ago and captured some useful tips from there. Now I'm on the hunt for some new hardware, hopefully I won't have to resell it after 2 SRT sessions - keep your fingers crossed

 

[Loki]

I use a foot loop tied out of 20mm webbing/tape with some tubular tape to protect the loop. Has almost zero stretch compared to a rope footloop and spreads load on sides of foot better. Lasted 15 years so far….. not excessively admittedly
Why do people tie foot loops from stretchy cord/rope?!.

 

[Brains]

Why do people tie foot loops from stretchy cord/rope?!.

Always used 9 or 10 mm caving rope ( semi static) as easily obtained and works for me. Heard too many horror stories of thinner cords or tapes getting stuck in jammers. Some people may use dynamic as a combination safety and footloop, but I am happy to to have mine all in as, the "cord of shame" as it was known by the French in the early days of SRT!

 

[TheGrave]

If the rope foot loop is uncomfortable then you can put a piece of hose pipe around it, under her foot

She may find petzl basic or CT simple+ ascenders easier (the handles are only really necessary for rescues)

I have added a more recent US caver YouTube review to:

M

Post in thread 'Kong Futura Ascenders'

Jun 19, 2026

• mikem

I also use the Grivel A&D and swear by it. I got fairly big hands (size 10/XL) and it just feels right, solid and easy to operate. Too big for my little girl though. Frankly, not very impressed by the Kong Futura. I wonder if there is anything in between those two in terms of sizes. If memory serves me right the A&D is maybe 20% bigger than regular hand ascenders on the market, no?

 

[JAshley73]

I also use the Grivel A&D and swear by it. I got fairly big hands (size 10/XL) and it just feels right, solid and easy to operate. Too big for my little girl though. Frankly, not very impressed by the Kong Futura. I wonder if there is anything in between those two in terms of sizes. If memory serves me right the A&D is maybe 20% bigger than regular hand ascenders on the market, no?

I have a couple A&D's as well. Fantastic handled ascender - perhaps the best...

Not really suitable for kids' main climbing ascender, but as a backup, or for adults, they're cracking as you all say.

 

[mikem]

It's particularly useful if you're constantly forgetting to unclip your cowstails after rebelays...

The only place I see A&D being necessary is on big mountain routes where you quickly want to change from ascent to descent, due to rockfall or avalanche (possibly increasing water levels underground)

It weighs 258g compared to petzl ascender at 165g (futura 125g). Petzl basic is only 90g

 

[JAshley73]

It's particularly useful if you're constantly forgetting to unclip your cowstails after rebelays...

The only place I see A&D being necessary is on big mountain routes where you quickly want to change from ascent to descent, due to rockfall or avalanche (possibly increasing water levels underground)

It weighs 258g compared to petzl ascender at 165g (futura 125g). Petzl basic is only 90g

I don't use one for my main climbing ascender, but I, like many Americans keep a "3rd" ascender on me - especially useful when using a Rack descending device. It is far nicer to use than a Petzl Ascension. The cam is much easier to operate. The hole in the cam opener is handy, ifn' when required.

The "descension" feature isn't terribly useful for caving, but it is handy to have for sloped pitches. I have tested it out for true rappels - it requires a terrifying amount of tension on the brake-strand, but it's doable.

(I can certainly see it being the supreme ascender for "mountaineering".)