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Nut tool tethers?

Original Post
Old lady H · · Boise, ID · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 1,374

Assuming I will be doing some trad following and cleaning very soon, I just bought my first nut tool, which will live on my climbing harness. What do you folks like for a tether, that's useful otherwise but still let's the tool function? Thanks! I didn't find any threads about such a small thing in any sort of search.

fromtheestuary · · North Carolina · Joined Sep 2014 · Points: 60

I use one of those key chain bungies that has a key ring on one end and a plastic clip on the other. Bought it at Home Depot.

T340 · · Idaho · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 5

Small diameter(4mm) bungee cord works great.

Ryan7crew · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 485

Just don't drop it like the rest of your climbing gear.

MichaelChad · · Broken Arrow, OK · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 20

I use a universal auto shutoff tether from a boat/jet ski. The coils are bigger, don't twist into knots when you extend/retract, can go more than full arm length, and barely hang below the tool when racked. Just cut off the plastic adapters, and swage/stitch a loop through your nut tool.

walmart.com/ip/Shoreline-Ma…

Dale K · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2015 · Points: 0

I use enough 4 mil cord so I can extend my arm fully with the cord attached to a biner on my harness gear loop, with a loop tied in the end, and one midway. The loop midway helps the excess cord stay out of the way. The 4 mil cord is strong enough to use as an aid device with the nut key if needed ( a nut key makes a great A0 anchor) or a spare (but scary) last ditch runner if needed. I don't put nothing on my harness, biners or cords, that are not climbing related, such as decorative biners for my chalk bag or the above mentioned key fobs.

Jay Eggleston · · Denver · Joined Feb 2003 · Points: 21,326

Just really small chord.

Paul-B · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 115

I just cut apart one of those old flip phone car chargers. Works perfectly.

Colonel Mustard · · Sacramento, CA · Joined Sep 2005 · Points: 1,241
Ryan7crew wrote:Just don't drop it like the rest of your climbing gear.
That's my solution as well. I've considered adding a tether, but never had a problem just not dropping the nut tool.
Optimistic · · New Paltz · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 450
Ryan7crew wrote:Just don't drop it like the rest of your climbing gear.
That's what I'd recommend as well...does it not have a little wiregate on it or whatever? Unclip from harness, clip to rope or whatever, clean nut, unclip tool from rope and put back on harness. Nothing to get caught on stuff, tangled, etc.
William Kramer · · Kemmerer, WY · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 935

One of those really short and skinny BD Dyneema slings. You can run your wrist through the sling when using it if you worry you might drop it.

FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276

This is what I use and it works well:

Your best option

Bill Kirby · · Keene New York · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 480

I got one of those fancy Wild Country nut tools for my wife. She was afraid of dropping.

I stole that joint. It's kinda heavy but it works..

Scottmx426 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2014 · Points: 0

Just don't drop it. Like Optimistic said. Clip it to the sling that's on the piece while cleaning. Less stuff is better.

rocknice2 · · Montreal, QC · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 3,847

No tether needed. Do you tether any of your other gear. It just gets clusterfucked with everything clipped to your harness. Learn to not drop your gear, is not that hard.

In certain instances it is convenient but in those your already hanging on the rope working hard to extract the gear. Simply clip an alpine draw to the nut tool.

Paul-B · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 115

I disagree with those saying "just don't drop it." No other piece of gear do you use in the same way as a nut tool, tapping, jamming, pulling on cam lobes, etc. I like the safety of the tether. The ounce it adds effects no one. I like that i can just drop it while working on a piece and not worry. I also Like that I can let my second use it if they are a noob and feel safe.

Colonel Mustard · · Sacramento, CA · Joined Sep 2005 · Points: 1,241
Paul-B wrote:I disagree with those saying "just don't drop it." No other piece of gear do you use in the same way as a nut tool, tapping, jamming, pulling on cam lobes, etc. I like the safety of the tether. The ounce it adds effects no one. I like that i can just drop it while working on a piece and not worry. I also Like that I can let my second use it if they are a noob and feel safe.
It's a matter of preference, not a right or wrong thing. For those considering it, I'd say to weigh a little more clutter on your harness depending on how you rig it, but I've run into climbers of all stripes who either do or do not use the keeper cable. No big deal.
Tombo · · Boulder · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 410

Get the Wild Country tool which has a coiled leash attached. The leash is long enough to reach placements across the body and I found that it doesn't hand up on things if you leave it dangling while climbing.

wildernessx.com/pro-key-nut…

Old lady H · · Boise, ID · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 1,374

Thanks, everybody!

All I've got is a flat piece of metal, so clearly I have to do something. Since I have to come up with a clip anyway, my thought is that could someday be a bail biner, and a sling seems reasonable as part of that, and also useful. An Alpine draw appeals a lot too, as I'm quite short and a longer draw would be useful.

I'll maybe try it with just a biner, if one will work with it, and isn't annoying right where my hand would be, or something. Thanks again!

Optimistic · · New Paltz · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 450
Old lady H wrote:Thanks, everybody! All I've got is a flat piece of metal, so clearly I have to do something. Since I have to come up with a clip anyway, my thought is that could someday be a bail biner, and a sling seems reasonable as part of that, and also useful. An Alpine draw appeals a lot too, as I'm quite short and a longer draw would be useful. I'll maybe try it with just a biner, if one will work with it, and isn't annoying right where my hand would be, or something. Thanks again!
Switching to the type with the integrated biner would be good no matter what you do tether wise. A real biner will be in the way when you're trying to clean something. Maybe our pro-tether friends can weigh in, but to me unless you use a 4' draw it'll be too short, you'd want to be able to get from your waist to full extension over your head, no?
Tom Sherman · · Austin, TX · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 433
MichaelChad wrote:I use a universal auto shutoff tether from a boat/jet ski. The coils are bigger, don't twist into knots when you extend/retract, can go more than full arm length, and barely hang below the tool when racked. Just cut off the plastic adapters, and swage/stitch a loop through your nut tool. walmart.com/ip/Shoreline-Ma…
Why didn't this thread stop when this guy hit the nail on the head? This was a great idea, we all know what it is you need, he called it out as a product. It's cute to say "do or don't use one" but regardless, that's the item. I was fortunate enough to find mine, it's a keeper cord for a casino card, apparently the ladies at the slots can clip it to them and still swipe....

Anyway I have the keeper so I can intentionally drop my tool. Used a spare lightweight nano here, cuz otherwise your wasting weight. If your bail biner isn't light you'll notice it feels stupid on your harness pretty quick. Last useless criticism I have to offer: nut tool with wiregate clipper, and wiregate biner, you can attach keeper keyring to the gates, that way theres no chance of them coming off. Cuz if your keeper pops off while your doing your thing, than its even more useless. Can pics if you want...

Thread over
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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