Petzl Ascension Handled Ascender Review

Gear review of the function and design of Petzl's Ascension handled ascender.
You should buy Petzl gear from a certified retailer such as Inner Mountain Outfitters: www.innermount...
Left-handed model: www.innermount...
Right-handed model: www.innermount...
Caves are delicate and potentially dangerous places. For more information on wild caving, vertical caving techniques, and cave survey, visit the National Speleological Society website:
caves.org
To find a local grotto (caving club) visit:
caves.org/comm...
White Nose Syndrome (WNS) is a disease that is devastating to bats. To learn more about what you can do to help, along with information on how to properly decontaminate caving gear, visit:
caves.org/WNS/...
Cave Videography Gear I Use:
Full-frame Low-Light Camera - amzn.to/2TkIUxT
In-Cave Fast Prime Lens (a7iii) - amzn.to/2TnkB27
General Purpose Zoom Lens (a7iii) - amzn.to/2Trc2Uf
Wide Angle Zoom Lens (a7iii) - amzn.to/2Duwuhl
Gimbal - amzn.to/2TKccpT
ND Filter - amzn.to/2PAvBuJ
Soft-Case for Caving (a7iii) - amzn.to/2QanKDA
Tripod - amzn.to/2PVGrvv
Camera Bag - amzn.to/2RZekYT
Helmet-Mounted Action Camera: amzn.to/2qTa0yT
Drone - amzn.to/2PRs7nU
APS-C Run and Gun Camera - amzn.to/2DKTMQU
In-Cave Prime Lens (a6500) - amzn.to/2DuyLZK
General Purpose Zoom Lens (a6500) - amzn.to/2Q5Mgpw
Wide Angle Zoom Lens (a6500) - amzn.to/2Tnl98b
Soft-Case for Caving (a6500) - amzn.to/2OPF6Be
Hard-Case for Wet Caving (a6500) - amzn.to/2DxFOki

[@magnusstromhall6398]

Thank's for the heads up on cam wear.

[@DerekBristol]

Note that when the top rows of teeth wear the ascender sometimes doesn't "catch" after advancing it. I've never had an issue with it slipping after it has engaged the rope, regardless of wear, but when it doesn't catch it can be frustrating or even scary.

[@subarutime5089]

I use these for roofing

[@grippimatt]

"Grabbing has recently developed some negative connotations". Ha!

[@artur8403]

Before switching from silicon oil to graphite make sure graphite does not contain sharp particles. Some bolt lubrication graphite has additives to clean threads. They wear out bearings, shafts etc very quickly. Graphite isn't best option

[@bobbypatton4903]

Lmao

[@giorgos1970g]

!!!!! bravo .

[@safers_official]

useful clip! 😀

[@kshred3043]

Newbie question: Why would a person chose a left-handed over a right-handed (and vice versa) ?

[@truetrueevil1]

Preferred hand to grip it with. Normally your stronger dominant hand as you use it for stability and sometimes to pull on. So usually right handed people use a right handed one. If you use one on the wrong hand the thumb catch is very hard to reach. Its also harder to inspect that the rope is positioned correctly using the wrong hand as the catch assembly will be facing away from you.

[@jima4656]

I think it depends on what other gear you use in conjunction with this item. There are many different configurations that can work. If another piece of kit ties up your right hand, then a left hand ascender may be the better choice. I think you need to look at the whole rig when choosing the individual pieces. I'm right handed, I would choose a left hand unit for my rig, but that is because my right hand is busy feeding the rope down through the descender that I use as my redundant fall safety.

[@marcusvaldes]

Sometimes you use BOTH as well if you are climbing quicker is my understanding.

[@trevordustin2613]

How long does it usually take for the ascenders to wear down?

[@greasymuchacho]

Years

[@barakgooroo5082]

3 years 45 weeks after date of purchase

[@brockandload]

Takes awhile but I’ve noticed the boomers in my grotto have the most finicky ascenders ever. Not at all smooth like a newer one imo.

[@expierreiment]

What did he do with the hammer to the ascender???

[@DerekBristol]

The aluminum frame of the ascender was bent when crossing an edge. He's straightening the frame. This would probably be a good excuse to replace the ascender, but when you're 1,000 meters underground you have to improvise.

[@expierreiment]

Derek Bristol good to know that this could happen to the ascender. I also have the Petzl Ascension but only did treeclimbing in the past. But now I’m ready to start learning caving. Need to get connected with cavers in my region.

[@zorkan111]

​@@DerekBristol Replacing that ascender would be the only right thing to do once you get out of the cave. Once the metal has been deformed, and then deformed again in the same place (i.e. returned with a hammer), it has lost a lot of its strength. If you take something like a paperclip and bend it back and forth, it's gonna snap after 2-4 bends. Same can happen to that ascender that has been "repaired" with a hammer.

[@youregonnaattackthem]

Does the croll L use the same SS cam?

[@DerekBristol]

Yes. The new Croll L and Croll S both use a stainless steel cam. They're different sizes, but the same material.

[@bjrnegiljohansen7805]

I prefer the petzl basic as my hand ascender. I have no use for the handle. I get a great grip on the basic. The basic is lighter, but more importantly less bulky.

[@BrodyYYC]

Same here. I don't understand why anyone would want the handle.

[@oisinkeatingmacdermott8400]

@@BrodyYYC in practice I've found it easier to flick open the catch one-handed with my palm on the handle than the Basic, but I'd still go with the Basic.

[@brockandload]

@@BrodyYYC to hide that we are actually using our arms more than we should 😂 I am very guilty of that… I have much stronger arms than legs because I guess I’ve skipped leg day too many times but maybe I should consider the basic to get myself to stop doing that. It just… happens 😅

[@tomturbo5296]

Could do without the music

[@lesfranklin6363]

You lost me at God.