New Petzl Ascenders and headlamp

[Scott McCrea]

At the Outdoor Retailer Summer Expo, Petzl displayed their new re-designed ascenders. Due out in April '09. The Basic and Croll will also be updated.

Click here for larger image.

There is also mention of a new Myo headlamp that will be programmable and regulated, $99.

See this article for more details, scroll about half way down, on page 2, for the Petzl stuff.

[NZcaver]

Very cool link, Scott.

I'd like to check out the redesigned cam and teeth on the new Petzl ascenders, and the recessed "trigger" (I assume he means the safety). A couple more nice tiny lightweight carabiners are coming out, including a internal locking non-screw gate style one which looks interesting. The bamboo socks look nice too.

A little scary that the guy usually climbs without a helmet just because he hates trying to cram it in his pack. Any reason why he can't clip it on the outside like the rest of us?

[fuzzy-hair-man]

I'd like to check out the redesigned cam and teeth on the new Petzl ascenders, and the recessed "trigger" (I assume he means the safety). A couple more nice tiny lightweight carabiners are coming out, including a internal locking non-screw gate style one which looks interesting. The bamboo socks look nice too.

GEARFREAK!!!

Presumably Petzl's redesign on the safeties was because of people using them in the wrong hand and grinding them against the rock? if it shows how sensitive petzl and other gear companies are to safety even if the concerns were the result of misuse.

Yeah those DMM non screw gate lockers look like a really cool idea, I think usage wise they'll be less secure than a standard screw gate because the leverage at the end of the gate has to significant and there are already problems/concerns about how easy it can be to defeat the locking sleeve on screw gate carabiners. So I'm guessing it's an attempt to make spring gate carabiners a little more secure and probably get rid of gate flutter.
I doubt they could be used in place of screw gates though. Cavewise I'm guessing the locking mechanism will get clogged with mud, pity because I reckon they would have made a good compromise option between screw gates and non lockers on cowstails.

DMM does seem to make some pretty cool and innovative gear though!!

[NZcaver]

GEARFREAK!!!

Guilty.

Presumably Petzl's redesign on the safeties was because of people using them in the wrong hand and grinding them against the rock?

Perhaps so.

it shows how sensitive petzl and other gear companies are to safety even if the concerns were the result of misuse.

Yeah those DMM non screw gate lockers look like a really cool idea, I think usage wise they'll be less secure than a standard screw gate because the leverage at the end of the gate has to significant and there are already problems/concerns about how easy it can be to defeat the locking sleeve on screw gate carabiners. So I'm guessing it's an attempt to make spring gate carabiners a little more secure and probably get rid of gate flutter.
I doubt they could be used in place of screw gates though. Cavewise I'm guessing the locking mechanism will get clogged with mud, pity because I reckon they would have made a good compromise option between screw gates and non lockers on cowstails.

I was thinking of those carabiners for cowstail use too, but you're probably right about them losing functionality when clogged with mud.

[incavenow]

I gotta get some of those bamboo socks!!

[graveleye]

Think they'll redesign their croll in a similar fashion?

[Scott McCrea]

Think they'll redesign their croll in a similar fashion?

From the article I linked previously, "The new cam/trigger assembly will also find its way onto the Basic and the Croll."

[graveleye]

Cool... i must have missed that while I was drooling over the pictures.

[quinoa]

I was told that the only lights PETZL certs for caving is the DUO and LAZER carbide electric which they don't make any more.
Replaced by the explorer which has the duo.
I had a MYO lite style with twisting bezel switch (not the XP) completely fail within 2 months and never took it underground!
I do use a blade mount mini under my carbide kinda like the old lazer. Works great.