pwhole
Well-known member
I use the rope-access style of a short loop tied with two mirrored overhands between my cowstails, and that's the only part that has a snapgate on, and I use this for traverses and awkward rebelays, with the other two screwgates used as backups either side of the anchor - I'm very strict with myself. My 'safety cord' to the jammer/footloop is essentially a duplicate of my long cowstail, fastened with a maillon to the D-ring, so I essentially have four cowstails. I don't find any of this to be bulky or unduly heavy - I often have a drill and bolting kit hanging off me, so this level of weight-saving is largely irrelevant. But I've had the same pair of Petzl Lockers on my cowstails for 12 years now, and they're still fine, with regular cleaning. Just tying up some new ones now, actually, so happy to send a photo in later (I'm off out now).
Incidentally, when doing rope-access work with company-provided kit, which invariably didn't have a 'cord of shame' attachment (and often have cowstails that you wouldn't believe possible), I have dropped my hand-hammer and footloop twice - one was eight floors into an internal courtyard with no ground-level access, so I had to asbeil down to get it just so I could get back up to the roof. In a cave this might not have been possible, but it proves the need for a permanent connection.
Incidentally, when doing rope-access work with company-provided kit, which invariably didn't have a 'cord of shame' attachment (and often have cowstails that you wouldn't believe possible), I have dropped my hand-hammer and footloop twice - one was eight floors into an internal courtyard with no ground-level access, so I had to asbeil down to get it just so I could get back up to the roof. In a cave this might not have been possible, but it proves the need for a permanent connection.
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