Sherrill 2 in 1 - Must-have item, only way to fly.,  Monday, 10 December 2007 Sherrill 2 in 1 - Must-have item, only way to fly.

Hey - all 5's.

To be accurate and honest, I made one of these on my own from looking at the picture.
I got the Sherrill 2007 Master Catalog after I ordered something, noticed this, read what they had to say, and immediately fashioned one. So even though it's close to the same thing, since I did not purchase the exact above item, it's up to you if this counts as a real review. (I love the W.T. Sherrill 2007 Master Catalog. My original copy is in tatters. I learned SO MUCH, and this flipline is maybe the best lesson of them all.)

I think they call it "2 in 1" because it's not only a safety lanyard, it also aids in progress to your next critch.

Mine is about 15-16' long. I made it with a steel rope snap, a DMM single locking Fat Boy, a wire rope trap, a micro pulley, some lifeline (yes, it's hard to sacrifice a piece, just do it, it's WORTH IT) and an eye to eye prusik tied in a Schwabisch. I did not use the typical purple CMI micro-pulley, I used the yellow one that only goes on from the end. The pulley orientation is 90* different. I tied the ends with DFL's.

The rope trap keeps the eye-to-eye tail in the same place all the time.

Once you work with this, you will never, ever, go back to what Sherrill refers to as a "buckstrap". (A buckstrap is the old-fashioned lanyard with the prusik knot that moves halfway around the tree as you adjust it. And it's rarely long enough when extended to make meaningful progress up a tree.)

When not using, I clip both to the my left side ring, daisy chain the big loop as a bight, and clip the final loop into the 'biner.

My homemade 2 in 1 flipline makes all the difference in fast ascents to the TIP of choice. Whereas I used to have to use a throwline for each successive crotch, now, in most cases, this thing is long enough to get to the next strong branch and gain altitude. (I was going to say ground.) The biggest thing about this is, you can pull yourself up right next to the branch with it when you have it attached to your side rings. So when your center D lifeline becomes useless for further ascent because you are up as high as you can go, you throw this around, clip in, and pull up. Yeah, it's a kind of lopsided affair because the pulling action is on one hip ring only, but you swivel back into facing position when you have to. If you have the strength, it works, really well.

The free exchange of ideas and my learning experience from the Sherrill 2007 Master Catalog has endeared WT Sherrill to me as a company. Yes, they are sometimes a little more expensive, but they are an awesome resource and I buy from them a lot.

If you are still using a "buckstrap", go out and buy this immediately if you have not already made one of your own. This is a must-have item, categorically and hands down, IM(not so)HO.
It will open up many new possibilities in your climbing and you will enjoy ascending even more than you do now.

I look at this one, and my own, and there are pluses and minuses.
I like the Sherrill 2 in 1 because:
a) My DFL's at each end are lumpier than the Sherrill spliced ends. It still works great, but the smoother the better, usually.
b) This Sherrill uses two rope snaps, not a carabiner on one end. Snaps are a good choice because they're slim and once again, pass thru and over obstacles better.

I like my homemade one because:
a) I have a micropulley and a carabiner, which allows me to self-tail and do the "pull myself up by my buckstraps" thing I described before. (No, it's not a buckstrap.) Without the 'biner/pulley combo I don't think I would be able to do it without a hassle.
b) I use a steel rope snap, not the aluminum pictured here. I toss this thing about all the time. I have heard bad things about alu-min-i-um, as the Aussies say, taking regular concussions.
c) I can replace and/or re-size at will, because it's just tied. (But realistically, you're gonna get a lot of use with any good lifeline, even rubbing against the bark.)

Apologies if this "review" is considered off-topic.

 Leather Sleeve - if you only have one, this is it.,  Monday, 10 December 2007 After reading the two previous reviews. it's all Yes's.

All I can add is, when both it and the line get wet, it does not glide nearly as well. More than once I have started a climb and then bagged the whole thing for a different tree because of the resistance.

Other than wet weather, this thing rocks. Easy and fun.

 Vinyl "Bullet" throwbag,  Monday, 10 December 2007 I haven't had this long enough to comment on durability - but the attachment point is nice. I have already done a multiple throw line placement where I appreciated having the loop to pull it through. Overall for that one placement I'm glad I bought it. Yes I could have done without it but convenience is kewl.

 Zing It throwline- 2.2mm,  Monday, 10 December 2007 This yellow Zing works well. It ties on great with a slipped clove to your bag.

Make sure you burn and fuse the ends.

After reading the other reviews, I guess it's fair to mention that I always use a way oversize container to flake this stuff in. Usually a dairy crate, but small plastic buckets work well too. You won't get too many tangles, but the ones you do get will become hellish. The only time I deploy it from anything "small" is aloft from a line mug. The wider your opening to flake into, the less of a chore it is.

A good trick when you take it in, if it's all on the ground, is to walk away from the other end before you start flaking. It is less likely to tangle if there is even a little dragging resistance while you take it in. If you can get 100 or 200ft away, flaking goes like a breeze and it untwists itself. (Unless you're silly enough to leave the throwbag on it.)

I also like dairy crates because you can easily tie a small length of line to the bottom, and then use a slipped bowline to attach the Zing to the tied piece. Great for when you don't have as much as you need - it doesn't get away from you.

Technical Skill? No, it's a piece of string. Ease of Use? Ahhh, something different. It's fair to say that if you know how to tie a few knots and have some experience this stuff will be more of a friend to you than if you are a total novice.

It's so very strong - I love the fact that I can "dead" small branches without having to place a real line up there. And this durability comes in really handy when there is a problem getting your lifeline up and around the crotch, or of it becomes tangled in a branch. You can realy beat the hell out of this line and it takes it like a champ. I give it a 5 for durability and safety because it is very strong for what it is.

I have so many throw lines around, and almost all of them are the yellow Zing 2.2. - The price is right.
I keep 4 or 5 dairy crates with flip lines, this way I can place several throwlines and just have them waiting until the day when I have time to pull a lifeline through and climb. Or, if I have tree work and I have to grab a recreational line, I put a Zing in its place so I don't have to re-throw.
It's good to have lots of throwlines. When you are climbing a tree that is near the one you want to get into next, you toss it in and then wait as long as you need until you use it. (I have maybe 20 climbing trees on my property.)

 Petzl Am'D" Ball Lock carabiner,  Monday, 10 December 2007 I have had these 'biners since my first gear purchase in 1993. Even though the locking collars on mine are made of plastic, and I was tempted to rate 4 for durability, in my own personal experience, they rate a 5. They are awesome for a number of reasons. (They make 'em with metal collars too now - I cannot tell by the image which one is pictured.)

The ball lock system works beautifully, is easy, and also safe.

The plastic collars themselves are smooth and are less likely to snag a rope or strap. The smooth nose, which is kind of a "given" with Petzl 'biners, makes routine clipping and unclipping a little easier than a wire-gate carabiner.

There is a "thumb print" molded into the plastic depression where your thumb goes on the ball. I just think that's cool.

I have had these up in trees for months as part of false crotch rigs, and they come down (not by themselves) after wintering up there and they're no worse for the wear.

Great 'biner! Was not aware that Sherrill contracted a custom one with a larger ball. The next set I order I am going to try the all-metal ones. I wonder if they are going to phase out the plastic ones now?