|
rockreaver
Aug 8, 2009, 4:11 AM
Post #1 of 8
(5692 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jun 5, 2009
Posts: 187
|
I'm wondering for your trad gear: Do you just use biners to organize and rack it on your harness? Do you use a gear sling? Did you make your own sling if so what/how did you go about it? Did you buy one and if so what was your preferred sling make/model/etc? I'd like to make one if I can but then again I'm wondering if just using my harness isn't a good way to go. All comments and thoughts on this are welcome. My searches here came up with hits but none covered making your own slings...
|
|
|
|
|
billcoe_
Aug 8, 2009, 4:25 AM
Post #2 of 8
(5682 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jun 30, 2002
Posts: 4694
|
When I first started we'd use tied 1" tubular slings for racking. Noboday had invented cear slings for your harnesses then. Later I made one for myself that was 2" tubular webbing on top with 7mm rope for the gear (It may have been 5 or 6mm, this was 30 years ago). I flattened the rope ends with a pair of pliers after heating them, stuffed them inside of the 2" tubular webbing and sewed them on. I should say that I got a lot of partial stitches and broken needles out of it. I couldn't get it to break even by totally reefing on it, but it made me nervous that my sewing looked like shi*t - so I drilled and riveted the rope to the tubular as well for insurance. I remember this pretty well as I worked fairly hard on it. I had it for many many years and it served me well. Now days, I'd just buy one. I have 3 double rack slings (Metolius, Mammut, and a Misty Mountain chest harness/big wall rack, and 5 regular single opver the shoulder slings. 2 Chouinards, 2 Metolius, and a Jrat.
|
|
|
|
|
rockreaver
Aug 8, 2009, 3:54 PM
Post #3 of 8
(5648 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jun 5, 2009
Posts: 187
|
Got any photos of you all jocked up and ready for combat with your gear slings loaded for bear?
|
|
|
|
|
moose_droppings
Aug 8, 2009, 5:57 PM
Post #4 of 8
(5628 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jun 7, 2005
Posts: 3371
|
A ways back lots of us made our own gear slings tying webbing in a loop. You might try it just to see if your going to like a gear sling. If you like racking on a sling, look around and buy one. You can get one cheap and most have nice padding for the shoulder. Some have separate loops on them for dividing up your gear. Most of the time I rack on a chest harness/gear sling, but their are always a few items that go on my seat harness.
|
|
|
|
|
Alpine07
Aug 8, 2009, 6:10 PM
Post #5 of 8
(5621 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Mar 1, 2007
Posts: 842
|
I used to just use a one inch webbing sling. It worked pretty well for a while, until the rack got big enough to make it super uncomfortable. So I broke down and bought a Metolius gear sling, I know it was very un-Mark-Twight like of me. I compared BD and Metolius, and thought that the Metolius was a better design. Its definitely worth it if you are going to be wearing a heavy rack for longer periods of time. If not I would just use a bit of webbing.
|
|
|
|
|
sky7high
Aug 8, 2009, 6:17 PM
Post #6 of 8
(5618 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Feb 15, 2006
Posts: 478
|
I made my own. It was similar to the one billcoe mentioned, with 2 inch tubular webbing for the shoulders and 3mm cord running through it. I put in some padding for the shoulders, and rigged it so that it is a two-sided gear sling, kind of like the BD big wall gear sling, but with 4 separate loops. I also used some rubber hose for the loops, in the same manner manufacturers use plastic tubing to avoid snags. I really like it, but it is overkill if you're just going for a short climb. If I don't need that much gear I just rack trad gear to my harness with quickdraws to a 60cm sling over my shoulder.
|
|
|
|
|
tarsier
Aug 8, 2009, 7:09 PM
Post #7 of 8
(5597 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jun 7, 2003
Posts: 127
|
"Later I made one for myself that was 2" tubular webbing on top with 7mm rope for the gear (It may have been 5 or 6mm, this was 30 years ago). I flattened the rope ends with a pair of pliers after heating them, stuffed them inside of the 2" tubular webbing and sewed them on." I did the same thing except I melted the 6mm cord ends into small balls and then wrapped the ends of the 2" webbing tightly around these last inch or two of these cord ends. I used a stitch awl and sewed the shit out of it, then wrapped the stitching areas in duct tape. I have my second use a 3/4" wide (sewn) runner to rack cleaned gear on; which works fine if it doesn't dig into your shoulder too painfully. Maybe you could start with one of those and add some padding. You get extra style points for homemade gear unless it falls apart and rains aluminum down the route.
|
|
|
|
|
billcoe_
Aug 9, 2009, 11:39 AM
Post #8 of 8
(5540 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jun 30, 2002
Posts: 4694
|
rockreaver wrote: Got any photos of you all jocked up and ready for combat with your gear slings loaded for bear? Page 31-32 33 of the "show your Rack" thread:-) http://www.rockclimbing.com/..._reply;so=ASC;mh=25; ______________________________________________________ Tarsier! Duct tape finish, I love that look.................!!!! Bet you freak people out when they see that.
|
|
|
|
|
|