Shopping Time

[mikienorth]

Hello Everyone, I've done a search and every topic that came up was rather old, so here we go again.

 

I need to buy new harness, y-split with shock absorber and positioning bits.

 

And everything else.

 

I used to have a troll Ibex? and liked it, and also used a harness sold by darkside, back when they existed. Also liked that.

 

What would folks be sugesting, for all the kit, and, anybody know any good stockists of the troll harness?

[cedd]

I'm not going to recommend individual items, because it's not my area of expertise and I spend too little time in one to care, but a couple of names that don't come up very often but do seem to have a decent range of products are;

 

Heightec

 

and

 

SAR

 

I spent a couple of weeks working alongside a professional aerial rigging team on one of my masts and they all had Heightec stuff and swore by it. I've no idea which ones they had, but it seemed well made. My own harness at work is an SAR Kestral and it does the job perfectly fine. It's a cheap harness but has front attachment and I've spent a few hours in it without any problems.

 

Sorry I'm not much more help, but it isn't my thing like I say!

[trussmonkey]

Petzl Bod Harness

Petzl Vertex helmet

Petzl Grillion for work positioning

Petzl Absorbica Y (with or without MGO scaf hooks) for Fall Arrest

Your choice of karabiner

Petzl Asap if you need a back up rope device

A couple of sewn slings of various lengths are always a useful addition to the kit.

 

 

BTW I love petzl if you hadnt guessed!! Its not cheap kit but it will last you a long time if kept in good condition and looked after.

 

TM

 

I find that Hitec's kit looks like it wants to be Petzl but only cheaper. Cheaper is not what I would buy if my life depends on it !!

[Seano]

Petzl! Petzl! Petzl!

(I'm paraphrasing a bit ;))

 

Bod harness - very nice indeed. But I still prefer the Troll Ibexx (OP please note spelling with two x's, for googling purposes. Also, bizarrely, the gear loops and side 'D' rings are an optional extra - the variant you want is the Ibexx-2R) A 2-second google reveals a stockist here.

 

Vertex helmet - Ugh! Its *horrible*. The should never have stopped doing the Ecrin Roc based BEST imo. There are much nicer helmets available - my current favourite is the Stein 'Plasma'. (Available from agricultural places - tree surgeons love 'em.) The Kong 'Mouse' is also very comfy - UK Rigging stock those.

 

I find that Hitec's kit looks like it wants to be Petzl but only cheaper. Cheaper is not what I would buy if my life depends on it !!

Outrageous thing to say! More expensive does not necessarily mean safer. (It may not even mean higher quality, better finish or anything else).

Lets be clear about this - however you may feel about the finish or whatever, Heightec's is *totally* reliable. To suggest otherwise might even be libellous if it wasn't so silly.

 

I know what you mean though, some Heightec kit does have a slightly less sophisticated feel about it than the Petzl equivalent. Some of their gear is actually a bit nicer imo. I have the Heightec equivalent of a short double-tail absorbica with MGOs and its very good indeed. I like the Pirhana too (Grillon style work positioning thingamabob).

 

Petzl aren't great at karabiners imo. Foin are the way forward for cheap & cheerful steel screwgates, Péguet for genuine Mallon Rapides and for ally karabiners I think you have to buy British - DMM are pretty unbeatable, other than for the twistlock with integral swivel type thing where the ISC version is just a bit nicer (also stocked by UK Rigging).

[brainwave-generator]

Petzl! Petzl! Petzl!

(I'm paraphrasing a bit ;))

 

Bod harness - very nice indeed. But I still prefer the Troll Ibexx (OP please note spelling with two x's, for googling purposes. Also, bizarrely, the gear loops and side 'D' rings are an optional extra - the variant you want is the Ibexx-2R) A 2-second google reveals a stockist here.

 

Vertex helmet - Ugh! Its *horrible*. The should never have stopped doing the Ecrin Roc based BEST imo. There are much nicer helmets available - my current favourite is the Stein 'Plasma'. (Available from agricultural places - tree surgeons love 'em.) The Kong 'Mouse' is also very comfy - UK Rigging stock those.

 

Bod Fast is my preference. Yes, I know. It's like "£20 because you can't be bothered to put your feet through the leg loops". But it's less like that, and more for the fact that, on days when you're in and out of the picker all the time or in and out of the roof, you can undo the leg loops and clip them back together but not around your legs. This is a bit more comfortable, especially on your manly regions!

 

Vertex Helmet... I got a new-type Vertex Vent today. I don't like it as much as my old-style Vertex Best, the old one seems to sit better on my head when the fastener isn't done up. But unfortunately, the best doesn't have vents, so anywhere hotter than the antarctic means if you work, you sweat. Ecrin Roc is a good helmet and the MRT choice. However, it is not EN397 compliant and as such, shouldn't be used on site. In reality, a lot of people do and you'll likely get away with it. However, THERE IS A REASON it's not EN397, and as such, I choose to work with helmets designed with industrial site use in mind, not with climbing up mountains in mind.

 

I find that Hitec's kit looks like it wants to be Petzl but only cheaper. Cheaper is not what I would buy if my life depends on it !!

Outrageous thing to say! More expensive does not necessarily mean safer. (It may not even mean higher quality, better finish or anything else).

Lets be clear about this - however you may feel about the finish or whatever, Heightec's is *totally* reliable. To suggest otherwise might even be libellous if it wasn't so silly.

 

I know what you mean though, some Heightec kit does have a slightly less sophisticated feel about it than the Petzl equivalent. Some of their gear is actually a bit nicer imo. I have the Heightec equivalent of a short double-tail absorbica with MGOs and its very good indeed. I like the Pirhana too (Grillon style work positioning thingamabob).

 

Petzl aren't great at karabiners imo. Foin are the way forward for cheap & cheerful steel screwgates, Péguet for genuine Mallon Rapides and for ally karabiners I think you have to buy British - DMM are pretty unbeatable, other than for the twistlock with integral swivel type thing where the ISC version is just a bit nicer (also stocked by UK Rigging).

 

Agree with Seano here, Heightec are knowledgable people and their kit is good. Their sales tactics can be a bit annoying (go on a Heightec course, they will tell you at every opportunity why Petzl products are flawed and theirs are better, it's interesting first time, irritating the second, annoying thereafter. I would also agree that DMM are the brand to buy your carabiners from. As said too, Foin are great for your little general purpose things, they're about £4 each and there's nothing at all wrong with them. DMM do a really good range though, from the enourmous Boa carabiners to the roller carabiners which, whilst designed for climbing use, are really good as temporary pulleys when hauling points if you're on a time budget where your harken is going to slow you down.

[mikienorth]

Thanks everyone, especially Seano.

 

UK Rigging hadn't crossed my mind as a seller of PPE, now they have, and they seem very well priced.

 

Great to know the Ibexx seems to be findable and buyable, I did like my old one, and wanted to replace it like for like.

 

Don't cast aspersions on brands because they aren't what everyone uses. Some of these trades (Cedd, masts?) use harnesses a LOT more than anyone here normally does and they choose theirs for a reason.

 

If you like it and would trust it, wear it. The name stitched to it matters naught if it doesn't catch you that one time you need it to. Personally, I just 'dont like' the Petzl Bod. No solid reasons, just don't. I prefer the troll ibexx, I've just chucked an old one out. I also like the old darkside harness, I think Ridgegear still make it? Sat in both a fair bit before, and liked them.

 

Please keep suggesting, I'm shopping the end of this week, once I know what exactly I'm liable to actually need, I start a new job today needing one, I have a loan from a trusted source for a few days until I know what I need in addition to the harness. I chucked everything out, it had gone mouldy in two years of not being used, and was 7 years old.

[Riddle]

It is heightec, if you are going to make libelous comments in a public forum at least get the spelling right!

 

heightec is a UK manufacturer of work at height and rescue equipment and provides specialist training for professionals in the work at height and rescue industry, via its national network of height safety centres.

 

Part of the reason for having a competitive price to other manufactures is because everything is made in Kendal and our clients are able to purchase direct from us, this allows us to control the pricing structure more closely.

 

heightec only makes equipment for industrial use, we are more concerned with making people safe to carry out their jobs rather than the cosmetic appearance of an item.

 

Trussmonkey, if you would like to try our products please feel free to get in touch, samples are available. If cost is your main objection then you may be interested know that heightec products can be used for 10 years from date of manufacture.

 

In fact if anyone would like to try out heightec equipment please feel free to drop me a line. I am based at the London training centre.

 

Blue skies always

 

Roger Hamilton-Smith

07590 048545

 

Petzl Bod Harness

Petzl Vertex helmet

Petzl Grillion for work positioning

Petzl Absorbica Y (with or without MGO scaf hooks) for Fall Arrest

Your choice of karabiner

Petzl Asap if you need a back up rope device

A couple of sewn slings of various lengths are always a useful addition to the kit.

 

 

BTW I love petzl if you hadnt guessed!! Its not cheap kit but it will last you a long time if kept in good condition and looked after.

 

TM

 

I find that Hitec's kit looks like it wants to be Petzl but only cheaper. Cheaper is not what I would buy if my life depends on it !!

[trussmonkey]

ok ok lets put the brakes on a mo. I never for once suggested that Hitec (dont care about the spelling........ ;) ) is in any way substandard or not fit for purpose. to say that I did is just reading something into a sentence that just isnt there. and I never once suggested that it wasnt reliable. I only gave an indication on my purchasing preferences and how I choose my ppe.....

 

end of !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Seano]

But it's less like that, and more for the fact that, on days when you're in and out of the picker all the time or in and out of the roof, you can undo the leg loops and clip them back together but not around your legs. This is a bit more comfortable, especially on your manly regions!

Egad. You don't go into catering dressed like that do you? :D

 

Sounds to me like your harness isn't actually all that comfy after all, or maybe your "manly regions" are more manly than mine, ha ha.

For picker work, or for fall-arrest-but-not-work-positioning type stuff a bulky harness like the Ibexx or Navaho range is prolly way OTT anyway. Something lighter and cheaper may be more appropriate, such as a Petzl Newton. (Still relatively expensive for a 'scaffer' type harness, but very well made, light and comfy.)

 

 

However, it is not EN397 compliant and as such, shouldn't be used on site. In reality, a lot of people do and you'll likely get away with it. However, THERE IS A REASON it's not EN397, and as such, I choose to work with helmets designed with industrial site use in mind, not with climbing up mountains in mind.

 

This is too dogmatic and your block capitals on this ARE NOT JUSTIFIED imo.

In most cases a helmet to EN12492 would be entirely satisfactory for use in our industry, as ever it comes down to risk-assessment. Making an informed choice is not the same as "likely getting away with it". You're hinting at hard and fast rules that simply don't exist.

There is no obligation under any law or regulations to select PPE that protects against risks that similarly don't exist. The bits of EN397 that prevent a fully compliant helmet from having ventilation holes, for example, are to do with molten metal splash and electrical discharge (at voltages *much* higher than 400-415V).

 

roller carabiners which, whilst designed for climbing use, are really good as temporary pulleys when hauling points if you're on a time budget where your harken is going to slow you down.

'Time budget'?

Being pushed for time is a very poor criterion to be basing your choice of tools on imo, and like as not a false economy anyway in a "more haste less speed" kind of a way. If a large hexaratchet is the right tool for the job use that. If the load is light and you want to keep the fannying around to a minimum sometimes its better to dispense with the pulley altogether and just pull up hand over hand. KISS.

 

 

Great to know the Ibexx seems to be findable and buyable, I did like my old one, and wanted to replace it like for like.

For now at least - I'm not sure whether or not they're still making them, so who knows if it'll stay that way.

 

I'm not even sure who Troll are now - you probably know they were bought out by a big international PPE firm in the early '90s and the Uppermill factory was closed down. Later the name seemed to disappear altogether. Now it looks like they're back (or at least their name and logo are), and based in Wales. No idea what, if any, plans they have for the Ibexx harness, but they are making their (in)famously funky Omni trousers again. Woo. ;)

 

In a way I guess SAR are probably as much the successors of the 'old' Troll as the 'new' Troll.

 

 

I never for once suggested...

to say that I did is just reading something into a sentence that just isnt there

Er.. yes, you kinda did suggest though I'm sure that wasn't your intention. It's more that you wrote something into a sentence that you didn't really mean imo, can't really blame Roger for getting the hump about it.

 

Roger is a top bloke, btw, and knows his stuff. If anyone is wondering whether its a good idea to take up his offer and check out some Heightec kit - it is, do. :)

[Riddle]

Cheers Sean,

 

I just didn't want trussmonkey to end up buying footwear instead of a harness!;)

[knotted]

my current favourite is the Stein 'Plasma'.

 

out of interest how heavy would you say it is compared to an 'Ecrin Best' helmet? Good tip though, looks very nice

[Seano]

out of interest how heavy would you say it is compared to an 'Ecrin Best' helmet?

Hang on a sec, I've got a brand new one kicking about somewhere... <rummage> According to the packaging, it weighs 380g.

Not sure about the old 'Best' but I'd guess it weighed about the same as the Roc at somewhere around 450g ish.

[knotted]

out of interest how heavy would you say it is compared to an 'Ecrin Best' helmet?

Hang on a sec, I've got a brand new one kicking about somewhere... <rummage> According to the packaging, it weighs 380g.

Not sure about the old 'Best' but I'd guess it weighed about the same as the Roc at somewhere around 450g ish.

 

many thanks, will see if I can get my grubby mitts on one before placing an order then :)