fifi alternatives?

So I went climbing a while back with a guy who was using something like a camp lift as his fifi. He had it attached to a short piece of rope, clipped it to his high point and pulled in the slack until he was high on his aiders. I used an usbah to do the same thing on an easy bolt ladder last weekend and really like it over using a fifi.

Petzl even makes something that looks like it would be perfect for this ( petzl.com/US/en/Sport/Lanya…). What are your thoughts on using this method? Are there other fifi alternatives out there?

Thanks

The Allfrifi

supertopo.com/climbing/thre…;tn=1

I mostly don't use a fifi, hate them. Most of the time an adjustable daisy gets me through. Only at certain angle (just past vertical for me) does the fifi help pull me in a little closer for a little more reach.

I fiddled with use some 8.8mm rope and a Wild Country Hand ascender a few years back. You naturally wrap the rope around the bottom of your hand, and unless your pinky is fully enclosed, it gets trashed fast. I am hopeful for the Petzl version, but 3 finger gloves are still probably warranted. I have a set, just have not used them yet.

An adjustable Fifi is far more valuable that a fixed Fifi or an adjustable daisy (for actual movement while climbing) IMHO. The Alfrifi is a great tool but unfortunately, Skot is not making them anymore (and I know that he doesn't have any more). There MIGHT be a V.2 eventually.

Unless the climbing is very awkward or severely overhanging I never use a Fifi or daisy to pull myself to the top of my aiders. While actually climbing a pitch I hardly ever use daisies. I use my Fifi when I need to topstep.

Petzl's version of an adjustable daisy is this: petzl.com/en/Sport/Packs-an…

I've used it a bit and really like it. Nice to have a strong dynamic daisy that can't be twisted and has no buckle to start slipping. I think it is the best adjustable daisy out there, though it is a little trickier to release under load than a buckle style adjustable daisy. A fifi is still nice though since the design doesn't let you get in as tight to a piece as a buckle style adjustable daisy.

That Petzl device looks nice, replacing the biner with a hook would make it very nice. The advantage of a hook is than once you've done the move that you needed the daisy for, you can simply pop it off the piece and not have to move back a bit to gain some slack to unclip a biner. For me, I use my daisies/Fifi pretty much only in awkward situations and I'm moving from one awkward position to another one. Having to move back, even just a little bit to gain some slack, often increases the awkward level.

When you are top stepping, you pretty much need to estimate where the Fifi or daisy needs to be before moving up. Once you are top stepping (and don't forget, I'm short, I live in my top steps!), you frequently need to adjust the Fifi/daisy. The buckle Skot used for the Alfrifi is the only one I've ever seen that is easily release under tension.

I'm happy to announce that I am able to make the Allfrifi once again, feel free to hit me up for info or ordering one