Disgusted from Cornwall.
New member
I left my SRT kit on the cliffs and it got very very shagged indeed. I got on the blower to Tony at Starless River and ordered new stuff. The AV harness was lovely (since upgraded to an MTDE top and bottom) and the new Petzl Ascenders were utter rubbish. I recall being stunned by their flimsy construction (you can bend them with your hands) and size wise, they are probably better suited to the fairer sex. It seems that Petzl have wandered away from cavers with their desire for bombproof equipment and are pursuing some other market. I bought some CT ascenders, as they were basically like the OLD Petzl ones, with the metal catches (a feature lost in their last sacrifice of quality). I tried a CT foot ascender, because I was so happy with the chest and hand ascenders however, I didn't get on with the catch. I've been using my old (10 years) Pantin and it is very sad, the strap protector has worn through (as I keep it on more than I should) and the salt and acid minewater have really corroded it bigtime. So, I had a bit of cash and decided to get a new Pantin.
A peruse online revealed that the old model are impossible to get, however, one chap on ebay has pictures of the old model. Armed with ?10 more than the new ones cost, I got mine ordered up and thought "I'll look after this one more". What turned up in the post was different to the picture and I had to go through the "Oh here we go again" anger with Petzl and their cost cutting and their crap that they are hawking to cavers. It is just not good enough and I am bloody cross.
I knew the latest models had shrunk a bit and had lost the strap protector, but seriously, what turned up in the post was a joke. There is no hole for your caribiner anymore and as a result, should you choose not to wear it on your foot, it will hitch up on everything as you crawl through a mine/cave as you just randomly hang it by the webbing. So, should you choose to wear it on your foot, you will no doubt require one of their expensive replacement straps, then another, then another, etc.
If you notice, like the rest of Petzl's eco-drive to use less metal, this thing is smaller. You may also note that the catch has a shorter throw and the device is a different shape. I have yet to try this thing, but looking at it, I imagine that it will not just "fiddle on" with no hands and unclip with a flick of the foot.
I cannot be bothered to go through the whole refund process on ebay and giving this goon with the wrong photos the chance to explain his idiocy and mistake. As a result, I will first obtain some tubular webbing (to protect the expensive strap) and in the meantime, I have ordered a chinky foot ascender, which seems to be the same shape/design as the old Petzl.
Thus:-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Right-Foot-Ascender-For-8mm-13mm-Rope-Climbing-Rock-Climbing-Foot-Ascender-/361311882895?hash=item541fddce8f:g:G5gAAOSwstxVbtJ8
It's not PPE, but I expect it to work "right".
I'm not happy with Petzl. First they discontinue the excellent Ecrin Roc, then they shrink their ascenders, then they cut corners and what we are left with is frankly sh!t.
The market leader is seemingly being driven by a production manager who would be better suited liquidating companies, which is what they may have to do, if they continue on this path of lessening quality.
So, I really like my Petzl Rack for long pitches and Stop for fiddling. I wonder Petzl, how you can f*&k these up?
A peruse online revealed that the old model are impossible to get, however, one chap on ebay has pictures of the old model. Armed with ?10 more than the new ones cost, I got mine ordered up and thought "I'll look after this one more". What turned up in the post was different to the picture and I had to go through the "Oh here we go again" anger with Petzl and their cost cutting and their crap that they are hawking to cavers. It is just not good enough and I am bloody cross.
I knew the latest models had shrunk a bit and had lost the strap protector, but seriously, what turned up in the post was a joke. There is no hole for your caribiner anymore and as a result, should you choose not to wear it on your foot, it will hitch up on everything as you crawl through a mine/cave as you just randomly hang it by the webbing. So, should you choose to wear it on your foot, you will no doubt require one of their expensive replacement straps, then another, then another, etc.
If you notice, like the rest of Petzl's eco-drive to use less metal, this thing is smaller. You may also note that the catch has a shorter throw and the device is a different shape. I have yet to try this thing, but looking at it, I imagine that it will not just "fiddle on" with no hands and unclip with a flick of the foot.
I cannot be bothered to go through the whole refund process on ebay and giving this goon with the wrong photos the chance to explain his idiocy and mistake. As a result, I will first obtain some tubular webbing (to protect the expensive strap) and in the meantime, I have ordered a chinky foot ascender, which seems to be the same shape/design as the old Petzl.
Thus:-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Right-Foot-Ascender-For-8mm-13mm-Rope-Climbing-Rock-Climbing-Foot-Ascender-/361311882895?hash=item541fddce8f:g:G5gAAOSwstxVbtJ8
It's not PPE, but I expect it to work "right".
I'm not happy with Petzl. First they discontinue the excellent Ecrin Roc, then they shrink their ascenders, then they cut corners and what we are left with is frankly sh!t.
The market leader is seemingly being driven by a production manager who would be better suited liquidating companies, which is what they may have to do, if they continue on this path of lessening quality.
So, I really like my Petzl Rack for long pitches and Stop for fiddling. I wonder Petzl, how you can f*&k these up?