linelocs vs prusik loops
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the blakes hitch was invented 30+ years ago by Heinz Prohaska for mountaineering and caving applications
its remained a relatively obscure hitch until popularized by Jason Blake in the 90s for tree climbing
the blake hitch as the following advantages
– it grips VERY well on same sized cord
– it is a terminator friction knot … ie you can simply tie it on the end of the line without any loop back
-it releases and slides up the line fairly easily when unweighted
so why is it not used more in climbing applications ???
it has the following issues
– it is hard to remember to tie properly without alot of practice … "hard" compared to climbing knots such as the kleimheist, prusik, autoblock where you could show a person once or twice and theyll remember for years … the blakes hitch requires you to practice it to be able to tie it properly where it counts … when youre cold tired hungry wet on the side of a windy mountain wall in the dark
– it is fairly hard to inspect compared to other climbing friction knots
– if you tie it slightly wrong it becomes the suislide knot … as you can guess this is a very bad thing where your life is on the line
the WRONG way to tie a blakes … this is the suislide
the RIGHT way to tie a blakes …
for hikers who are under less severe conditions and with less consequences of a mistied knot … the blakes hitch i think will work fine
;)
Hummm… lets see… the door on the Left, or the door on the Right?
Oh, wait… is that knot tied correctly?
I'm a LineLock guy, but if I have to tie things off a taught-line is fast and simple. And if you leave the tail in, it comes apart fast as well.
The blakes hitch is no more difficult to tie than a tautline which itself has several different variations
Years ago arborists used tautlines, but this has been superseeded by the blakes and other hitches which grip better on modern ropes
You can see its the differences here
For rock climbing application almost no one uses the tautline as it doest grip as well under critical applications on modern ropes and lines … Which is why at least one user above reported slippage
And a prussik/kleimheist is MUCH easier to tie using a looped cord or sling, which is what most climbers carry
You can read about the pros and cons of various hitches here
http://www.treeservicesmagazine.com/print-2460.aspx
And here is an article about using the blakes instead of the tautline for guylines
The taut-line is a friction hitch knot traditionally taught in scouts. A common use is to tie tent guy lines for the purpose of adding tension. The benefit is that the tent is held tight and secure. Unfortunately, this knot easily loosens and fails. I've climbed on this knot; I know. I've spoken to scouts who took turns through a stormy night re-securing their taut-line hitches.
The Blakes hitch provides the same functionality, yet it incredibly more stable than the taut-line. The coil construction of the Blakes provides this improvement. For the simple fact that the Blakes hitch has more coil, that's enough merit to prefer it. Coils add friction and friction yields stability.
http://jimknowsknots.blogspot.ca/2011/11/use-blakes-hitch-instead-of-taut-line.html?m=1
A good hitch is one that works for YOU … Not someone else
I find it interesting that some folks here are willing to try something that may work better
While others deny any benefits without trying it first
;)
On another thread (Staking Out Copper Spur UL2), Eric Chan gave the following good description of how to use a Blake’s Hitch (could also use the “Adjustable Grip” Or “Adjustable Loop” hitch) to attach a tie-out line to a tent of tarp corner, so that the length of adjustment is close to the full length of the tie-out cord. Other methods I’ve seen and read about, usually used for guy lines instead of ground-level tie-outs, only allow length adjustment between half length and full length of the line by forming an adjustable loop at one end of the cord.
Does anyone have experience with using an adjustable hitch (such as Blake’s or a Prussik) to tie just a complete loop through the ground-level tie-out webbing on a tarp or tent, as shown below? It would take two hands to adjust – one to hold the gripping knot and one to pull the loose end of the cord through it. I tried it in my house and it seems to still lock well when the loop is tensioned, and doesn’t slip.
It would allow a wider range of length adjustment than having the loop just in the end of the tie-out cord. I’m wondering how difficult it would be to tighten once the tent or tarp is set up, though.(I got the idea while trying to replace the short, non-adjustable tie-out loops on my Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2, which came woefully inadequate stock).
It would allow a wider range of length adjustment than having the loop just in the end of the tie-out cord. I’m wondering how difficult it would be to tighten once the tent or tarp is set up, though.- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
