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Ascender comparisions

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climber pat · · Las Cruces NM · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 286

I see climbtech has ascenders for $40. climbtechgear.com/ascender-…

They look similar to the black diamond($80) and petzl ($75) ascenders.

Are the climbtech ascenders any good? Are they comparable with the black diamond or petzl ascenders?

Which ascenders are best and why?

Thanks

Forthright · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 110

Just so you know, BD nforce and Petzl acenders actually work two different ways. Outdoor gear lab has a great review/ explination of the differences.

Lol the chest ascender is more than the handled ones

Bretterick Briggs · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 5
Eric Fjellanger · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2008 · Points: 870
climber pat wrote:Are the climbtech ascenders any good? Are they comparable with the black diamond or petzl ascenders?
Never touched one, but I'm going to guess no. They are half the price of the competition and they look like a cheap knock-off. They must be doing something to save money. The trigger looks crappy, for one thing.

I once bought a bunch of keylock carabiners that were much cheaper than anything else I could find. I figured if they were tested to be safe, what more do I really need in a carabiner?

I got them and found the design had a sharp point at the bottom of the gate, that would pinch me every time I opened and closed it.

There are plenty of ways one piece of gear can do the same job as another, and still be really unpleasant to use. You usually get what you pay for.
Chris Vinson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 75

Hey guys, my name is chris vinson and i work at climbtech.

First off, i just wanted to appologize for your experience with our carabiners, specifically which ones did you purchase? I will correct the issue immediately. We only sell products that we use and we stand by everything we sell. I do appologize man, i really do, send them back and we'll get you some new ones or a full refund, no questions asked.

The ascenders are not a cheap knock off. The fact that they are less expensive is simply because our retail margins are much slimmer than other manufacturers.

Climbtech makes the vast majority of its revenues from industrial fall protection and rope access. Our rock climbing offerings are used by height access professionals and rope access training facilities world wide. They are in wide use in Australia, South Africa and South America.

The ascenders work great, are very simple, fairly light and strong. Not as ergonomic as the new petzl or black diamond ascenders (which i think are very nice too!) and are about half the price. Our marketing budget isn't close to that of the others, and that is directly reflected in our pricing.

The gear is bomber, simple but tried and true. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me directly at info@climbtech.com.

Rogerlarock Mix · · Nedsterdam, Colorado · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 5

Be sure to check out CMI's ascenders too. A little more $, but worth it.

Dronocian · · Monf***ingtana · Joined May 2008 · Points: 690

I bought one of the climbtech ascenders at the beginning of the summer. I have been using it quite a bit and haven't noticed any flaws or really anything that is less efficient than the petzl ascenders. I think they are pretty awesome at that price and definitely worth it for that cheap.

Kilroywashere! London · · Harrisonburg, Virginia · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 280
Rick Mix wrote:Be sure to check out CMI's ascenders too. A little more $, but worth it.
+1, awesome company, great people, made in America, with an awesome warranty...they really stand behind their product.

cmi-gear.com/catalog/ascend…
Eric Fjellanger · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2008 · Points: 870

Sorry if I was unclear, I have not bought or had problems with any Climbtech 'biners.

Maybe you'd be interested in getting Chris McNamara to do a review of your ascenders? At that price, if they are good, I'd imagine you could sell a LOT of them.

outdoorgearlab.com/Ascender…

T.C. · · Whittier, NC · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 0

I just got a pair of these ascenders, based on this thread. I've inspected these things, they are SOLID. I'll let you know how they jug next week after I try them on rope, but If you were worried that they would feel cheap, or look cheap, that's not even a concern.

TC

climber pat · · Las Cruces NM · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 286
T.C. wrote:I just got a pair of these ascenders, based on this thread. I've inspected these things, they are SOLID. I'll let you know how they jug next week after I try them on rope, but If you were worried that they would feel cheap, or look cheap, that's not even a concern. TC
Fabulous, I look forward to hearing how they work.
T.C. · · Whittier, NC · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 0

It may have to be the following week, It's raining here in WNC, and I'll probably have to go kayaking instead. Poor me.

NYClimber · · New York · Joined Jul 2011 · Points: 85

Chris - I just ordered one of your ascenders this AM to compliment my Petzl.

I'll post a review all once I have received it and tried it out. They look good to me though!

Ed Wright · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2006 · Points: 285

I have not used the climbtech ascenders but I can assure you that they would not put a crappy product on the market. These guys are real climbers and produce quality products.

NYClimber · · New York · Joined Jul 2011 · Points: 85

I have not used the climbtech ascenders but I can assure you that they would
not put a crappy product on the market. These guys are real climbers and produce quality products.
thanks I'm good with that !

Ray Pinpillage · · West Egg · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 180

Post pictures if you can. I'm interested in a set as well.

Tim Stich · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,520

They appear to be a copy of the Petzl design, which in my experience is one of the best ascenders available. I have both those and Jumars. No doubt Petzl's patent expired and now someone else is able to make the same ascender for much less.

T.C. · · Whittier, NC · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 0

OK, the climbtech ascenders are no joke. I used them Tues at a local spot and I can't tell the difference between them and the Petzl ones, except for the price and color. My climbing partner agreed, he's ordering a set as well. I also got a couple of daisy chains, and they are a no nonsense product. Bottom line is, if you want to save some cash, want to by new, and don't want to purchase junk, these are the way to go. Will post some pics from Glass Menagerie when I get to it.

TC

Parker Kempf · · Bellingham, WA · Joined Jul 2011 · Points: 210

A question i'd ike to ask you pat is what are you using them for? jugging static lin to take pictures, or bigwalls

I do alot of walls, and personally I stick by the nForce because I can trigger them with my index finger, thus i can leave my hand in a much more comfortable position (for me) when i am cleaning something tricky...the petzls are nice and im sure the climbtech ones are pretty much the same thing, but IMO i do not like having to use my thumb to trigger, because (maybe i have small hands?) i have to shift my hand every time i want to trigger them and pass a piece of gear...its the little things that count for me, its been worth the extra $$$, its an investment, buy the nice stuff the first time and you won't have to buy twice.

NC Rock Climber · · The Oven, AKA Phoenix · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 60

I am thinking about getting a pair of the Climbtech ascenders. I will only use these occasionally, and the fact that they are a little more than 1/2 the price of the Petzl ascenders makes them very attractive. Anyone else have any input on these?

Chris Vinson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 75

As per Eric's suggestion we sent a couple in to Chris. I think the review was fair! Thanks for the heads up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIEnqw3ew9E

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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