A high-quality pulley is the heart of a good doubled-rope climbing system. Using a pulley to tend your hitch frees you up for one-handed slack-tending. A pulley with multiple anchor holes like the Hitch Climber can also neaten up your climbing system and make it more compact, or open up uses for hauling and mechanical advantage. Some climbers like to install a high-efficiency, ball-bearing pulley on the rope bridge of their harness, as this reduces wear on the bridge and lets the climber's tie-in point traverse the bridge more easily. (The Hitch Climber is not to be used in this way.) Using pulleys throughout your climbing system can help reduce overall friction and improve the efficiency of your climbing.
The Hitch Climber Pulley has many uses! It can be used for slack-tending and generating mechanical advantage for rescue and gear hauling, not to mention improving work-positioning systems. With three carabiner holes, the Hitch Climber can be the center of many great SRT and DdRT climbing systems. Should only be used with spliced-eye climbing lines.
Breaking strength 5,400 lb, 1/2” capacity, 3.75” tall by 2.75” wide, weighs 3.4oz.
Video Overview by Niceguydave.
Rated: Excellent Review by: JT
“It's a little pricey for a micro pulley, but there are good reasons for that. The build quality is top of the line. If you've used other pulleys and thought, "I wish this edge was curved," on the hitch climber, it's curved. If you've thought, "I wish the cut was a little cleaner on this edge," on the hitch climber, it spotless. If you've thought, "You'd think they woulda made the holes a little smaller so my 'biners aren't flopping all over place while I'm trying to climb".....well you get the picture. It can be used 500,000 different ways (or I'm convinced it can be as I seem to imagine up a new one every week). My recommendation: Buy two of them. You'll end up using the second one sooner rather than later and not because the first one wore out either. This pulley is just too handy to only have one on hand (pun intended). ”
Rated: Excellent Review by: TheHerring
“I was weary of the price at first, but after watching Nice-Guy Dave's video demonstration it became obvious to me that the Hitch Climber is the way to go.
“The way your friction hitch and climbing line connect to the pulley allows the tension in your climbing line to straight line the pulley and keep it from flopping all over the place. This makes for a much cleaner and more efficient setup.
“I was also pleased to discover that the Hitch Climber is highly effective at self-tending when foot locking the tail on a DdRT ascent, there is no need to use your hands to advance the friction hitch. Because climbing line tension holds the hitch climber in position the friction hitch gets sucked into the hitch climber all on its own as you advance. The fit and finish are excellent, the pulley runs smooth, the edges are all rounded, and there is very little free play when you open the pulley to install it on your climb line.
“One additional consideration that is not advertised as much as it should be, is that the hitch climber requires a spliced eye climbing line, a large connection knot at the carabiner could interfere with the operation of the friction hitch (a rather dangerous situation). ”
High performance geometry! This redesign of the classic Hitch Climber advances your friction hitch earlier and fairleads your rope better for greater efficiency. For friction hitch work positioning systems, whether with moving or stationary rope, it is the epitome of refinement.
Breaking strength 6,744 lb, 1/2" capacity, 3.77" tall by 2.5" wide, weighs 5oz.
A beefed-up version of the triple-attachment pulley from DMM!
The Rigger Pulleys feature a new axle construction with stronger axle/side plate interface for increased longevity. The newly developed side plates combined with the axle construction means a hugely increased MBS to 44kN. The side plates boast increased fairleads and tuned angles for more efficient prusik minding.
44 kN MBS, 8 kN WLL. 28mm sheave. Rope capacity 7-14mm (35/64"). CE, NFPA 1983 (2017) G, EN12278:2007. Made in Wales.
This unique hitch-tending pulley from ISC Is the perfect match for your Rope Wrench and works great in MRS as well! The sideplates work seamlessly with a twin-leg Rope Wrench tether, for a super clean setup.
The Phlotich has the top-quality, precision manufacturing you've come to expect from ISC, with a unique 'kidney' aperture for attaching one or more carabiners. This opening will accept a wide variety of carabiners, allows multiple connections, and permits the carabiner to self-center to the load. Also allows for attaching an SRS tending device for optimum positioning. The Phlotich can also be used effectively for double crotching or mechanical advantage systems.
Max Rope Size: 13mm (1/2") • MBS 30 kN (6,744 lbf) • Weighs 145 g (5 oz) • Bushing • Made in Wales.
Rated: Excellent Review by: JB Holdway
“The new ISC Wales Phlotich Hitch-minding Pulley, a new multi-aperture device specifically designed for SRT and DdRT Climbing systems. The 'Kidney' aperture will allow self alignment to the most efficient spot.IMO, the PHLOTICH has some advantages over the HCP. I particularly like the self-aligning aspect of the "kidney aperture". As expected, the new Roller Bearing ISC Wales Phlotich Hitch-minding Pulley really is smoother in operation. ”
ISC pulley built this pulley to work with the stiff tethers used with the Rope Wrench ZK-2. The wide spacing between the swinging side plates provides plenty of room for various tethers. The Rope Wrench pulley will work with spliced or hand-tied prusik cords.
Rock Exotica's new triple-attachment swivel pulley combines swivel, rigging plate, and pulley into one great tool. The Hydra can be used on your rope bridge for a sliding connection point which also eliminates rope twisting, or even as a lanyard adjuster or to tend your friction hitch (though the swivel won't come into play in that setup). We're sure you'll find many other uses for this great new pulley.
The Hydra can be loaded at any of the three rubber-lined carabiner holes on the swivel top, and has a maximum rope diameter of 1/2” (13mm), breaking strength of 28kN (6294 lb), and a WLL of (5kN 1124 lb).
The SMC Crevasse Rescue (CR) Pulley's diminutive size and featherweight belies its solid strength. Tests to greater strengths than other pulleys in the same range of size and price. Makes an excellent slack-tending pulley for your prusik, which is why you'll find it in our rope climbing kits.
A smooth running 1.20'' nylon sheave runs on a stainless steel rivet axle, and the color-contrasting aluminum side plates rotate for easy rope insertion and removal. Easy to use, easy to carry.
4,950 lb. breaking strength, 1/2” capacity, 2.85” tall by 1.75” wide, weighs 2oz.
Rated: Excellent Review by: DReagan
“My first pulley, initially used for 'hitch tending' a Blake's hitch; always on my belt for use when needed. ”
This little purple guy is one of our best-selling Micro pulleys. Anodized swivel side plates make it easy to install, and it makes an excellent slack tender in a split tail climbing system. 1 1/4” aluminum sheave.
7,000 lb breaking strength, 1/2” capacity, 2.75” tall x 1.85” wide, weighs 2.4oz.
CMI's Tri Tie pulley is built to work in arborist applications where two or more tie-ins are desired. The Tri Tie is built with swinging, aluminum sideplates, a 1.25" aluminum sheave, bronze bushing, and aluminum axle.
1/2" rope capacity, 7,000 lb MBS, 2.75" x 3.75", weighs 4 oz.
A double-sheaved version of the micro snatch pulley, this rescue model features the same Anodized side plates, 1 1/4” aluminum sheave, lower becket.
7,000 lb breaking strength, max capacity 1/2”, 3.5” tall x 1.75” wide, weighs 4 oz.
Ideal for arborist rigging where two independent tie-ins are required. Also great for use as a floating D! Purple Anodized Aluminum side plates, 1 1/4” aluminum sheave, bushing, and stainless steel axle.
7,000 lb breaking strength, max capacity 1/2”, 2.75” tall x 2.75” wide, weighs 3.2 oz.
High-quality, fixed-sided aluminum pulley with 1/2” (13mm) maximum rope capacity and 6,294 (28 kN) MBS. This strong, compact pulley weighs only 3 oz (90 g). Bushing.
Versatile, ultra-compact pulley from Petzl.
3,375 lb breaking strength, 1/2” capacity, 2 5/8” long by 1 3/4” wide, weighs 2.65 oz.
The Petzl fixed micro pulley is a compact pulley with fixed side plates Makes a great redirect and is highly efficient due to the sheave being mounted on self-lubricating bushings.
5,175 lb breaking strength, 1/2” capacity, 3” tall x 1.75 ” wide, weighs 3.2oz.
These dog-leash style swivel snaps are great for your split tail climbing set up. They have a number of other uses as well, and are great for making tool straps. Available in three sizes. Not load-rated.
Incredibly high strength in this compact and sleek micro pulley. Rounded anchor holes work great with custom spliced terminations or carabiners. Fairlead flares and rounded cheek plate edges help maintain high working efficiency, and attachment holes reduce the probability of carabiner rotation.
Breaking strength 11,250 lb, 1/2” capacity, 3.75” tall by 1.75” wide, weighs 4.oz.
This spacer is designed to be used with the DMM Pinto Pulley to keep the side plates from pinching together when used with ropes at the suspension point.
High strength and sleek design make the DMM Pinto Rig Pulley a great addition to your gear bag. Rounded anchor holes work great with custom spliced terminations or carabiners. Fairlead flares and rounded cheek plate edges help maintain high working efficiency, and attachment holes reduce the probability of carabiner rotation.
Breaking strength 11,250 lb, 5/8" capacity, 4.25” tall by 2” wide, weighs 4.4oz.
This spacer is designed to be used with the DMM Pinto Rig Pulley to keep the side plates from pinching together when using textile products.
