*Update* First day climbing with it and I have an issue with the carabiner going through the main attachment point hitting the lower frame just under the bottom bollar gate. I tried two different size carabieners. Same issue. When pulling slack out of the rope in an upward motion the carabiener hits the frame preventing the movement.
Hi V. I kinda had that same issue in double rope config. With a foot assender, the cabiners would flop, and it would go up the spine, miss orientate and I would have to keep adjusting them, then sometimes it would hit the bottom of the fiction plate bit. Also in srt I found it somewhat jumpy on setting 3 on kalimba, almost impossible on setting 2 to release, need try it on my squir.... I guess i need more time on it and is my first mechanical device, I usually use the hitch hiker xf. Bit disappointed in comparison, though was my first time using it yesterday.... what setting do you use? Cheers
@@VeteranTreeService nice. What rope you running, couldn't tell from the vid? Yeah I thought need to try 4, but wasn't sure if was creeping a little on 3, need more testing. Does ascend on srt pretty well tbf.
As a mechanical engineer, I say the Rope Runner Pro isn't engineered that well - it could easily be better. Like having slick pins that rotate in the RR Pro aluminum body. The Vertec looks better to me, as long as those spring pins hold up. Being able to adjust the friction easily looks useful, especially for me. I'm a heavier climber and so I have to pay more attention to adjustments to where I have enough friction but not too much that the RR is too hard to release. I wonder what happened to the Buckingham descender or the to-be-updated Unicender. Oh, I thought the big pulley on the bottom of the RR Pro was a good thing. It would be nice if it was a one-way pulley. Big diameter for pulling out slack or using with a hand ascender with pulley, but the clutch to provide more friction when going down. I need more friction at the lower part of the RR Pro so that the top section doesn't have to lock on so hard.
Just got mine today. I love it. Substantial upgrades from the pro in my opinion. Definitely worth the upgrade to anyone on the fence. My unboxing was almost identical to VTS.
@@VeteranTreeService if you do big oak removals or trims and have to utilize redirects in the tree it’s a big upgrade. Also the fact that you can change friction for different ropes pretty easily is a huge plus as I sometimes set multiple ropes in different tree for removals or trims so that I can go up one and immediately do the next. It’s nice being able to change the friction according to the rope you have set up. Huge time saver in my situation, but then again for you doing a lot of relatively straight up removals it’s not a huge upgrade, so I get your point. That was in no way a slight at your work. We just do different types of trees. I used to live out west for like 20 years in California so I’m very familiar with all the big firs, pines, redwoods and cottonwoods. Now I’m out east were the trees tend to be more sprawled out and branch and over everything. So the friction on the fly is awesome for me. It’s definitely better than the akimbo which is very rope specific where this isnt
My Ice Tail prusiks last a year with normal use. Sometimes a bit longer. Costs less than $8 to make. I’ve been climbing on hitches for 39 years. Guess I’ll stick to them.
Yep, it's a rope runner but to be fair the friction adjustment on the other RR was too fiddly for me to ever bother running one to begin with so it has that going for it but I still prefer my prusik and wrench for if I feel the need to go single line. I liked that I could throw it on the wrapter and work off that rope which is not as easy with my prusik set up in the air.
@@VeteranTreeService Really? That exactly what I predicted about the RR and why I never really wanted to try it. I just wish this new one would have used the same design as the apex wrench, so easy to adjust in the tree!
I like the easily adjustable friction mechanism. Instead of having to push the rope through the head of the bird and past the pin the upper side plate swings out of the way.
Almost looks like they beefed up the side plates a little? I’ve side loaded my RRP while choked a little tight on a spar and it creeped me out. I want to know how the new push buttons work when they get some man glitter and sap worked into them… The top of the crane looks a bit more finger friendly, I know some people complained about sore fingers from the crane and a sore hand from the top slick pin after using the RRP all day, it hasn’t been an issue for me but my climbs are typically short.
Zigzag is not midline attachable and most likely will want a chicane for srt which also requires Petzl OK carabiners. Would only use the Zigzag for drt personally.
It’s cool but ehhhhh it’s not for me. Not sure I completely trust my rrp 2 😂 not to mention it’s a notch product and I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets recalled by next month lol. Nice video👍🏻
@VeteranTreeService also ethanol is good for sap too. It's what Teufelberger recommends for ropes. Wd40 after on your bird spring for longevity and reliability
Looks nice I've never used the Rope Runner Pro the zig-zag I use all the time and I also use the unicender I wish you would have tried out the unicender I don't know if you have before if you have what is your opinion I love the uni
I used it for a quick minute. I just remember liking the rope runner more. I think I had to use both hands to repel down the tree. But idk if I was using it correctly.
@VeteranTreeService yeah you can use one hand to repel on the uni but everybody likes their own thing the Rope Runner Pro I would love to try one day God bless
not really impressed with any of the new devices that came out this year, from buckingham, notch or rock exotica’s new version of the akimbo, l think l’ll wait for rock exotica to come out with an upgraded version of the unicender (hopefully with a built in pulley🤞🏼).
I'm hoping for that as well. With some minor upgrades, the uni will be the best device by far. I've tried all kinds of devices and I always end up back on the uni
*Update* First day climbing with it and I have an issue with the carabiner going through the main attachment point hitting the lower frame just under the bottom bollar gate. I tried two different size carabieners. Same issue. When pulling slack out of the rope in an upward motion the carabiener hits the frame preventing the movement.
Hi V. I kinda had that same issue in double rope config. With a foot assender, the cabiners would flop, and it would go up the spine, miss orientate and I would have to keep adjusting them, then sometimes it would hit the bottom of the fiction plate bit. Also in srt I found it somewhat jumpy on setting 3 on kalimba, almost impossible on setting 2 to release, need try it on my squir.... I guess i need more time on it and is my first mechanical device, I usually use the hitch hiker xf. Bit disappointed in comparison, though was my first time using it yesterday.... what setting do you use? Cheers
@Dolmar-Rick thanks for the info. I have mine on setting 4 but I might try 5.
@@VeteranTreeService nice. What rope you running, couldn't tell from the vid? Yeah I thought need to try 4, but wasn't sure if was creeping a little on 3, need more testing. Does ascend on srt pretty well tbf.
As a mechanical engineer, I say the Rope Runner Pro isn't engineered that well - it could easily be better. Like having slick pins that rotate in the RR Pro aluminum body. The Vertec looks better to me, as long as those spring pins hold up. Being able to adjust the friction easily looks useful, especially for me. I'm a heavier climber and so I have to pay more attention to adjustments to where I have enough friction but not too much that the RR is too hard to release. I wonder what happened to the Buckingham descender or the to-be-updated Unicender. Oh, I thought the big pulley on the bottom of the RR Pro was a good thing. It would be nice if it was a one-way pulley. Big diameter for pulling out slack or using with a hand ascender with pulley, but the clutch to provide more friction when going down. I need more friction at the lower part of the RR Pro so that the top section doesn't have to lock on so hard.
Buckingham Throttle is coming out late April 2025 last I heard.
What do you think about the Akimbo?
@@NealZ31 I've never used one. 🤷♂️
Just got mine today. I love it. Substantial upgrades from the pro in my opinion.
Definitely worth the upgrade to anyone on the fence.
My unboxing was almost identical to VTS.
@@YourOutdoorOasis no regrets here. At least, not yet. I haven't put it through the gauntlet yet.
@@VeteranTreeService if you do big oak removals or trims and have to utilize redirects in the tree it’s a big upgrade. Also the fact that you can change friction for different ropes pretty easily is a huge plus as I sometimes set multiple ropes in different tree for removals or trims so that I can go up one and immediately do the next. It’s nice being able to change the friction according to the rope you have set up. Huge time saver in my situation, but then again for you doing a lot of relatively straight up removals it’s not a huge upgrade, so I get your point. That was in no way a slight at your work. We just do different types of trees. I used to live out west for like 20 years in California so I’m very familiar with all the big firs, pines, redwoods and cottonwoods. Now I’m out east were the trees tend to be more sprawled out and branch and over everything. So the friction on the fly is awesome for me. It’s definitely better than the akimbo which is very rope specific where this isnt
"here's what happens when you run out of rope..." literally made me laugh out loud 😆
I was waiting for someone to do a review on this
👍
My Ice Tail prusiks last a year with normal use. Sometimes a bit longer. Costs less than $8 to make. I’ve been climbing on hitches for 39 years. Guess I’ll stick to them.
It's cool, but I paid $300 for my purple edition RRP. I don't like the big price increase. I might just get another RRP when they go on sale.
Yep, it's a rope runner but to be fair the friction adjustment on the other RR was too fiddly for me to ever bother running one to begin with so it has that going for it but I still prefer my prusik and wrench for if I feel the need to go single line. I liked that I could throw it on the wrapter and work off that rope which is not as easy with my prusik set up in the air.
The friction adjustment on the RR pro would move on me over time. I'd have to readjust it periodically. I guess that is eliminated on the vertec.
@@VeteranTreeService Really? That exactly what I predicted about the RR and why I never really wanted to try it. I just wish this new one would have used the same design as the apex wrench, so easy to adjust in the tree!
I like the easily adjustable friction mechanism. Instead of having to push the rope through the head of the bird and past the pin the upper side plate swings out of the way.
Almost looks like they beefed up the side plates a little?
I’ve side loaded my RRP while choked a little tight on a spar and it creeped me out.
I want to know how the new push buttons work when they get some man glitter and sap worked into them…
The top of the crane looks a bit more finger friendly, I know some people complained about sore fingers from the crane and a sore hand from the top slick pin after using the RRP all day, it hasn’t been an issue for me but my climbs are typically short.
Same concern I have. What happens when the spring pins get gummed up. We'll see.
Love the spirit "not gonna be today". I live by that!!
great review thanks !
put a stopper in the end of that rope asap.
You're no fun. 😉
@@VeteranTreeService. You already have a stopper, the ground.😮
I still use a original rope runner but it looks cool maybe I’ll get that new one if I need a new one
one of the biggest differences is the price.😊
What's better this RRV or the petzel zigzag
Zigzag is not midline attachable and most likely will want a chicane for srt which also requires Petzl OK carabiners. Would only use the Zigzag for drt personally.
What do you think? Worth replacing the Rope Runner Pro?
Ya beat me to this 😂😂 sick rig i been running a zig zag kinda wanna play with something different mine hasn’t shown up yet
@Sappysolutionstreecare TH-cam will be flooded with vertec reviews soon I'm sure. 👍
@@VeteranTreeService oh yeah for sure
It’s cool but ehhhhh it’s not for me. Not sure I completely trust my rrp 2 😂 not to mention it’s a notch product and I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets recalled by next month lol. Nice video👍🏻
Rope runner original 👍
notch recommends wd 40 to clean sap out of the rope runner pro
Interesting. 👍 I'll look into that.
@VeteranTreeService also ethanol is good for sap too. It's what Teufelberger recommends for ropes. Wd40 after on your bird spring for longevity and reliability
@@hrstuck wow. I didn't know that either.
@@hrstuck just no end of uses for ethanol 😜
Let me guess... Made in Taiwan. So, thank you Taiwan - your quality does not disappoint.
My only question is…
why is it the same color as the akimbo slice?
Looks nice I've never used the Rope Runner Pro the zig-zag I use all the time and I also use the unicender I wish you would have tried out the unicender I don't know if you have before if you have what is your opinion I love the uni
I used it for a quick minute. I just remember liking the rope runner more. I think I had to use both hands to repel down the tree. But idk if I was using it correctly.
@VeteranTreeService yeah you can use one hand to repel on the uni but everybody likes their own thing the Rope Runner Pro I would love to try one day God bless
I wonder how much side loading or twisting it would take to pop the side plates off the push buttons
Need a HowNot2 video on all these tree climbing ascenders
Hai ! How much and how to use the RRP , cause i am not professional climber, bro..❤
Can you swap the pulley from the pro onto the vertec
Yes, the lower body can be swapped.
Looks like you lions tailed all the branches on the fir. The evergreen tree special
"the evergreen tree special" 😆
zig zag ever and forever
not really impressed with any of the new devices that came out this year, from buckingham, notch or rock exotica’s new version of the akimbo, l think l’ll wait for rock exotica to come out with an upgraded version of the unicender (hopefully with a built in pulley🤞🏼).
I'm hoping for that as well. With some minor upgrades, the uni will be the best device by far. I've tried all kinds of devices and I always end up back on the uni
@VeterenTreeServices WHAT IS THIS "SAP ZAPPER" YOU SPEAK OF?!? 👀
You can find it on wesspur website
Rope runner pro is the best. Vertec will never find its way in my kit.
All mechanical devices can fail unfortunately. I'm old school and believe in knots.
Hitch cord can burn up
Knots can fail too, many a time I’ve had a VT or a Knut not grab after tending, but whatever works for you!
👍🏻
No stopper.... lol
Lol. Idk why, but this made me laugh.