Petzl Zigzag

The popular Petzl ZIGZAG allows you to climb in a Moving Rope System (MRS) with improved consistency of friction, precision, and control. The friction links work like a classic prusik and hitch-tending pulley, but in one compact device. The Zigzag can also be used in Stationary Rope Systems (SRS) when paired with the Petzl Chicane (sold separately).

The Zigzag friction chain provides precision and fluidity when positioning in the tree. A touch of the fingers on the release lever is all that is needed to allow movement with smooth rope feed and great precision. Adjusting the pressure on this lever controls the speed of movement. Adjust pressure for slower or faster travel, with smooth transitions. Tend slack with the integrated pulley mounted on sealed ball bearings.

The Zigzag's upper attachment hole has a flexible positioning ring that helps keep your carabiner oriented along the major axis. A fixed lower attachment hole ensures alignment of the device with the axis of the worker and optimizes grip. (The Zigzag Plus with swivel is available if you prefer a swivel attachment.) The fixed attachment on the Zigzag makes it better for use with the Chicane in SRS.

Petzl's Zigzag has been through many improvements since its release, and this is the best version to date. The Zigzag is easy for new tree climbers to use. Experienced climbers will appreciate the precision and smoothness of adjustment. There are now several ropes with slim eyes, like Petzl Flow and Control, Courant Komora,or Yale Blue 32 which can be threaded through the friction rings. This eliminates one of the only drawbacks of the Zigzag, which is that ropes with sewn or larger spliced eyes have to be fed through from the tail end.

Specifications

• For ropes from 11.5mm to 13mm
• Material(s): aluminum, steel, nylon
• Weight: 365 g
• Rope compatibility: EN 1891 type A low stretch kernmantle ropes
• Working load limit: 140 kg
• Certification(s): CE

Features & Benefits

• Intuitive to use:
  - technique identical to classic Prusik pulley system
  - the device locks automatically on the rope once the friction chain extends
• For efficient movement within the tree:
  - rope feed is smooth and precise thanks to the release lever, allowing the user great control over his/her movements. Adjusting the pressure on this lever controls the speed of movement
  - easy to take up slack, thanks to the pulley mounted on sealed ball bearings and the separated and curved side plates
  - lower attachment hole is fixed to ensure alignment of the device with the axis of the worker and optimize grip
• Versatile:
  - for use on either doubled ropes or a single rope, thanks to the CHICANE accessory, which offers more friction on the descent, and the KNEE ASCENT assemblies, which facilitate the ascent
  - upper attachment hole for the rope end when using a doubled rope or for the CHICANE auxiliary braking device when using a single rope. It has a flexible positioning ring that helps keep the connector oriented along its major axis
  - auxiliary attachment hole for adding a ZILLON lanyard or connecting a second system
• Durability:
  - steel construction for improved durability
  - separated and curved side plates for better wear resistance
• Rope compatibility: 11.5 to 13 mm diameter
• ZIGZAG allows the user to work in compliance with the ANSI Z133 standard