Tall guy, Connect Adjust too short to top step & reach

Any tall guys have a favorite solution for top stepping ? Here’s my current ideas.

6’3, +2ish ape index

1. Get something else ($$)

2. Change the rope of the Connect Adjust (sad)

3. Artificially extent the length with a sling or something between me and CA or CA and reaching hand (weird)

#2. 7mm is way smoother anyway, you'll be happy you did.

The 7mm Armadillo cord from hownot2 is sick. You'll never go back.

Change rope. (Happy)

I know how you feel man, I'm super tall also. Easily 5'7". Change the rope. 

6'2" here... I feel ya bruv.  

I posted this thread a while ago:
https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/202220028/what-size-mm-cord-type-do-you-use-with-your-petzl-connect-adjusts-and-what-knot-

I'm still using my 2x Edelrid Switch Adjusts (I have 2x Connect adjusts too) and am still trying to figure out what cord to get. I really want dynamic. I also am not sure what length to get.

Here are the suggestions from the link above sort of summed up.

• 5.9mm powercord
• 8.3mm Scotts locked bowline
• 8mm One cord tied with tiny alpine butterfly in middle on Petzl Ring Open through hard points
• 7.5mm half/twin rope w ring bend / competition knot
• Maxim 5mm tech cord. 
• Skot recommends a Skot's adjustable Daisy :) So do others - this is static (Skot also says don't leash your ladders, I think he pulling my leg - jk, I do loves me some Skot's gear)
• Beal 9.1 w/ Fig 8 and Yosemite finish 
• Armadillo 7mm cord

If you do end up buying something please post and let me know what you end up going with.  (Length, attachment point, dynamic v. static etc...)

I like the Petzl Ring Open option so far with an endline alpine butterfly (course you could just do a regular AB before you lock the Ring Open down) The only bit I'm still worried about is a decent dynamic cord and really just how long to get it.  (This was way too much rambling for this early in the morning)  (I hope you survived reading it or didn't fall asleep :)

OP, I'm right around your height and ape index. I cut out that stock rope almost immediately when I started using the adjust (to be fair, I have the double arm evolve adjust). Partly due to the limited reach and partly due to how fat that rope was. 

Are you only using a single tether as a single adjustable daisy? Or just using it to yard up on a piece here or there? 

Beal gully or Beal Opera are good dynamic options. For those, tie an overhand on a bite for your harness end and girth hitch that to your belay loop. Any skinnier than 7mm is nice to tie in to hardpoints for use. Many of Trae's suggestions are solid. Plenty of people use 5mm Maxim tech cord, tied in to hard points, and don't experience any slip. Know the limitations of any PAS-  super static, dynamic, or otherwise. Hownot2 sells by the foot of many ropes and cords. Just buy an extra couple feet for a few bucks and dial it in for personal preference. 

Alternatively/additionally, check out the Alfifi at Skots wall gear. Game changer piece of kit. I don't use daisy's on my ladders anymore, just the alfifi. I do still have double daisy's (evolve adjust) attached to my harness at all times though for the occasional daisy bounce testing, but primarily for tethering to anchors and jugging.

Jacob Wardwrote:

The 7mm Armadillo cord from hownot2 is sick. You'll never go back.

This is the correct answer. 

OP here

Thanks everyone! Follow up questions:

1. Will that 7mm cord work for the older and newer CA model? I have one of each.

2. Some people in the other forum posted above said they use 5mm cord… crazy?

3. Are you guys using this 7mm without a backup? Like when setting up a rappel hanging at the anchor. That’s how I’ve been using mine, maybe that’s not proper.

thanks!

Joshua Brownwrote:

Any tall guys have a favorite solution for top stepping ? Here’s my current ideas.

6’3, +2ish ape index

1. Get something else ($$)

2. Change the rope of the Connect Adjust (sad)

3. Artificially extent the length with a sling or something between me and CA or CA and reaching hand (weird)

what you should actually do is use the skot richards alfifi ;)

what you should actually do is use the skot richards alfifi ;)

that won’t solve the issue, the too short cord of the adjust will bottom out before your leg is fully extended in the top step.

Yeah if you don't already have a Skot's Alfifi then you are doing it wrong.  Mark Hudon would be ashamed. (me too!) :) 

Cameron Jwrote: Kyle Pereirawrote:

that won’t solve the issue, the too short cord of the adjust will bottom out before your leg is fully extended in the top step.

I believe the alfifi would actually solve the issue because with the alfifi you're never cinching your daisies tight and "bottoming them out" 

Matt Heinenwrote:

I believe the alfifi would actually solve the issue because with the alfifi you're never cinching your daisies tight and "bottoming them out" 

It would not.

The issue is that the stock connect adjust, FULLY EXTENDED, doesn't let you fully top step and stand tall. It's pretty short compared to a proper daisy.

Joshua Brownwrote:

2. Some people in the other forum posted above said they use 5mm cord… crazy?

It does seem thin, but as far as I know hasn't been the cause of any incidents. Not sure I'll ever go that thin, but maybe one day I'll be inspired.

3. Are you guys using this 7mm without a backup? Like when setting up a rappel hanging at the anchor. That’s how I’ve been using mine, maybe that’s not proper.

I use a 7.5mm dynamic rope and trust that at the anchor e.g. when setting up abseils and not connected in any other way. This is (hopefully obviously) no longer approved by Petzl as a Connect Adjust and I am almost certain it would fail the relevant UIAA belay lanyard standard. I am also almost certain that the various 5-7mm cords that people use would not pass the belay lanyard standard or the sling standard*. All that said, I am not worried about it breaking.

Petzl themselves used to sell the Evolv Adjust (a double armed version of the Connect with the same metal piece but longer arms to avoid the very problem you are having with your connect) which they supplied stock with a rope too thin to pass the belay lanyard standard**. It was obviously not realistic that people would carry and use an Evolv Adjust for aiding and then switch to a 'proper' lanyard for attaching to the anchor, so Petzl were at least turning a blind eye to the fact they were supplying a product that almost every user was going to use as a lanyard when it wasn't certified as one.

*Dynamic PAS are normally certified on UIAA 109 Belay Lanyards. Static PAS (e.g. the multiple full strength loop daisy's such as Metolius PAS 22 or Sterling Chain Reactor) are normally certified against UIAA 104 Slings.

**I think when the original Evolv Adjust was released the belay lanyard standard didn't exist yet, but they did keep selling it a long time after the belay lanyard standard was released. Petzl now seem to sell the Dual Evolv Adjust, which looks like they've increased the rope diameter and it now passes the belay lanyard standard. Info from Petzl explaining the difference between the new version and the pre 2025 version which they are very clear isn't to be used as a lanyard at an anchor because it's not certified m.petzl.com/GB/en/Sport/Usi… They did used to include that info in the paperwork with the old version, but didn't highlight it as obviously as that page does. In my view the old version was fine to use as a lanyard and loads of people did without incident.

Edited to correct my language on lanyard standards.

OP:

Fell Over, you are too kind to do all that research. Thank you.

Also yeah I have my friend’s Al-Fifi for now but will buy one eventually.

 I think I’m satisfied with this thread.

See you guys on the wall >:)

Jacob Wardwrote:

The 7mm Armadillo cord from hownot2 is sick. You'll never go back.

How much cord are y'all buying for your daisies? Snagged some of the adjust knockoff metal pieces (IGD) and planning on doing the petzl open or some bowline knot 

Joe Chenwrote:

How much cord are y'all buying for your daisies? Snagged some of the adjust knockoff metal pieces (IGD) and planning on doing the petzl open or some bowline knot 

I bought 15ft of 8.5mm beal opera for my knock off adjusts and had a little bit extra. This is with a butterfly tied to a petzl cock ring, and double fishermans on the ends. Also... I just beat mine up on El Cap for 4 days and I'm still alive!

Thanks! Saw your viral vid, crazy whip!!! Glad to hear they are working well

Fell Overwrote:

It does seem thin, but as far as I know hasn't been the cause of any incidents. Not sure I'll ever go that thin, but maybe one day I'll be inspired.

I use a 7.5mm dynamic rope and trust that at the anchor e.g. when setting up abseils and not connected in any other way. This is (hopefully obviously) no longer approved by Petzl as a Connect Adjust and I am almost certain it would fail the relevant UIAA belay lanyard standard. I am also almost certain that the various 5-7mm cords that people use would not pass the belay lanyard standard or the sling standard*. All that said, I am not worried about it breaking.

Petzl themselves used to sell the Evolv Adjust (a double armed version of the Connect with the same metal piece but longer arms to avoid the very problem you are having with your connect) which they supplied stock with a rope too thin to pass the belay lanyard standard**. It was obviously not realistic that people would carry and use an Evolv Adjust for aiding and then switch to a 'proper' lanyard for attaching to the anchor, so Petzl were at least turning a blind eye to the fact they were supplying a product that almost every user was going to use as a lanyard when it wasn't certified as one.

*Dynamic PAS are normally certified on UIAA 109 Belay Lanyards. Static PAS (e.g. the multiple full strength loop daisy's such as Metolius PAS 22 or Sterling Chain Reactor) are normally certified against UIAA 104 Slings.

**I think when the original Evolv Adjust was released the belay lanyard standard didn't exist yet, but they did keep selling it a long time after the belay lanyard standard was released. Petzl now seem to sell the Dual Evolv Adjust, which looks like they've increased the rope diameter and it now passes the belay lanyard standard. Info from Petzl explaining the difference between the new version and the pre 2025 version which they are very clear isn't to be used as a lanyard at an anchor because it's not certified m.petzl.com/GB/en/Sport/Usi… They did used to include that info in the paperwork with the old version, but didn't highlight it as obviously as that page does. In my view the old version was fine to use as a lanyard and loads of people did without incident.

Edited to correct my language on lanyard standards.

The knots that fill the loops created by the sewn and plastic-protected ends on the new Dual Evolve seem to be one of the major updates… I find the knotted ends can get slotted in cracks unless stowed real well.   Are people cutting these knots off? 

I came to make a completely different post about how my 8.2 Starling protect pro dry didn't work and to to ask for help finding a yellow cord featured in this video...  But after closer inspection and some "Beautiful Mind" maths, I realized I had things jacked up.  Lots of great examples of replacement cords at the time stamp here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyCrDck4-is&t=73s (And go watch Tyler's video if you haven't it's amazing!)

Anyone know what yellow cord that is there on the left?  It's a bit thicker.