Since I started climbing several months ago I have been in search of some knots that I could advance with a tending pulley. This came after several climbs using the sit stand method with Prusik and Klemheist. So my search began. I have tried every one I could get my hands on and with every one there was something just not right. It would bind or slip or I would lose to much ground (tails to long).....etc. I heard mention of the Knut so I researched it, tried it, liked it but still something about it. (sorry Moss) In my quest I came across the TK hitch. Very similar to the Knut, The only difference between the Knut and the TK is, in the last step of tying these hitches, the bight is not twisted when the Knut is formed, but it is twisted when the TK is formed. The bottom leg of the Knut forms a half hitch around the climbing line and the top leg, while the TK forms an overhand knot around the climbing line and the top leg. I terminate both ends to my biner on the opposite side of the climbing line that I tied it on. It just tends to work better for me. The TK hitch is also like the Knut in that it is a self tending knot. Has anyone else ever climbed this hitch? Also is there a knot that can be used as a self advancing foot loop? Right now I am using a Bachmann hitch and it just takes too long to tie and untie. it doesn't bind or slip though.

No offense taken, I haven't used a Knut in at least 3 years. Distel for my lanyard and XT for my main hitch. TK looks perfectly fine. I think what happens is climbers try a bunch of different hitches, find one or two they really like for their rope and hitch cord combination and they stick with it. I haven't found anything better performing for my system and the way I climb. That's good you found something that works for you. I've never climbed on a TK. I just tied it up 4-coils with a 28" Beeline split tail and the legs were too long, 5-coils is too tight. That's the other reason many climbers stick to what they like, they've got their hitch cord length tuned just right for their setup, a different kind of hitch will throw things off.
-AJ

Like Moss says, there are lots of variables affecting how hitches will perform. I prefer the Knut to the TK, as I find the TK binds too hard and doesn't release as well. However, I have the tails of the hitch way shorter than yours, the Beeline cord I use is probably a little stiffer than the stuff illustrated (is that Icetail?), and I wouldn't be surprised if I was somewhat heavier than you!

It's good that you have found a hitch that works well for you. However, keep researching and practicing other hitches, because all it can take is a change of climbing line, cord type, or cord length, and you have to go through the process all over again. Of course, the experimenting with hitches can be a lot of fun!

Have you tried the XT hitch. It is my primary climbing hitch and it works great on Tachyon with 8mm Beeline. When I first started climbing I did the same thing you are doing now. Trying them all to see which one I liked best. The problem was there were so many.

Then I got smart and learned what the more experienced climbers were using. I noticed that Moss and some others were very fond of certain ropes, hitch cord and certain knots. I got lucky and tried the Tachyon and Beeline combo and loved it immediately. It tends well, grabs well and is smooth as silk.

A question for you now. What kind of climbing rope is that? I have some old rope lying around the garage that looks similar. I have been trying to identify it ever since I bought it off craigslist. (To the powers that be, I dont use it for climbing. It is about 17 to 18 years old with a known history of little use. It still looks brand new but I am not confident using it.)

Happy learning,

BKS

It is Icetail. I don't actually use it as my hitch cord though. It was the only piece of cord I had that would show up in a picture well. My Ultra Tech just kept showing up in pictures as a big black clump on my rope. Thanks for the feedback on the TK though. I will keep an eye out for it binding on me.

I haven't tried the XT my thought is that it would be to similar to VT. I tried VT and I felt like I was loosing a lot of ground when I sat back into it. I may have to try it on my next climb.




That Is a piece of rock climbing dynamic kernmantle I bought up in GA. I used to climb on it. It I know was rated for 7500lb. I am not sure the brand. It was the hank that was left on the end of a roll (uncommon length) so it was cheap by the foot.

XT self-sets better than a VT. VT is a high performance hitch for a daily working climber, not a great hitch for just getting around a tree for a rec or occasional climber, you have to get it tweaked just right and baby it during the climb.

If you like to sit back on every pull a Blake's either trad or on a split tail is really the superior system. Closed hitches like the VT, Knut etc. etc. give the most advantage when they ride the rope as you climb, you don't sit back per pull, you only sit back when you rest during ascent. When you stop ascending to rest simply push the coils up with your hand and there will be no sit back no matter what kind of closed hitch you're on.

I think rec climbers should be cautious about automatically accepting many arborist climbing techniques as the way you should be configuring your gear and climbing. Pro work climbing is such a different animal, requirements and expectations are much different than climbers who are not on the clock and who don't have to climb sketchy trees. I've talked about this before, a glaring example is a rec climber that I facilitated who showed up for the climb with a brand new wire core lanyard. I can come up with many examples where standard work climbing gear or technique doesn't make a lot of sense for even serious rec climbers.

A good rule of thumb is climb simple gear and technique-wise, make changes to your gear and technique to solve problems you encounter, not because someone told you it's the right or best way to climb.
-AJ