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Climbing Ascender

An ascender is a cammed mechanical device that allows a climbing type rope to slide through the ascender one direction but not the other. This makes ascenders great tools for either climbing up a fixed rope, or pulling gear up a rope with out it being able to slide back down the rope.

 

The ascender in the picture below is a Jumar brand that was made in the 80's and still used today. This Jumar's body is made of cast aluminum.

You can see the rope passes through a little trough, and is held in place by a spring loaded cam. The ascender can be moved up the rope, but when pressure is put on the ascender, the cam will not allow the rope to travel up through the ascender.

 
Below are a couple of styles and brands of ascenders for sale.
 
Black Diamond nForce Ascender Bd Orange, Left

Black Diamond nForce Ascender Bd Orange, Left

The Black Diamond nForce Ascender uses a unique four-bar pivot system that places your entire body weight on the cam for excellent grip, even on muddy and icy ropes. The result is 33% better grip than a standard ascender. This same system also reduces cam pressure when you slide the ascender up the rope, which makes the nForce Ascender efficient for jugging long pitches. Because it fits ropes from 8 to 13mm in diameter, this Black Diamond ascender provides a solid choice for everything from big wall climbing to expedition routes on big mountains.



 
 
Petzl Ascension Handled Ascender

Petzl Ascension Handled Ascender

The Petzl Ascension Handled Ascender is an indispensable piece of gear for jugging fixed lines, big wall climbing, and aid routes. Redesigned with a more ergonomic rubber handle and a self-cleaning steel cam, the Ascension grips your rope firmly and slides up smoothly even in nasty conditions, something you'll definitely notice after several hundred meters of jugging. The recessed trigger opens with one hand and features a safety catch to prevent the cam from opening too far.



 
Petzl Tibloc Ultralight Emergency Ascender One Color, One Size

Petzl Tibloc Ultralight Emergency Ascender One Color, One Size

The Petzl Tibloc Ultralight Ascender serves so many purposes that it has a place on nearly any long rock climb, aid climb, or alpine climb. This simple 1.4-ounce ascender pairs with an oval-stock carabiner to create a self-locking pulley for bag hauling, crevasse rescue, or aiding a partner up a pitch. It can also be used as an ascender if you need to climb a rope to free a rappel or just can't follow a burly pitch. The Petzl Tibloc Ultralight Ascender also serves a multitude of uses in self-rescue situations.



 
 
Wild Country Ropeman Ascender

Wild Country Ropeman Ascender

The Wild County Ropeman Ascender is an indispensable piece of gear for multitude of climbing and crevasse rescue situations. This 3oz silver-dollar-size ascender replaces your prussic to make ascending and hauling faster and easier. The Mk1 uses an aluminum cam and is gentle on your rope's sheath, but it only works for ropes from 10-11mm. Take advantage of the aggressive stainless steel cam on the Mk2 if you're using ropes down to 8.5mm.



 

 
Wild Country Ropeman Ascender Gold (Steel), 8.5-11mm

Wild Country Ropeman Ascender Gold (Steel), 8.5-11mm

The Wild County Ropeman Ascender is an indispensable piece of gear for multitude of climbing and crevasse rescue situations. This 3oz silver-dollar-size ascender replaces your prussic to make ascending and hauling faster and easier. The Mk1 uses an aluminum cam and is gentle on your rope's sheath, but it only works for ropes from 10-11mm. Take advantage of the aggressive stainless steel cam on the Mk2 if you're using ropes down to 8.5mm.


 
 

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