THE TACO Inflatable Big Wall Hammock! Videos, tutorials and review link in description.

Fan Y wrote:

I meant the former. It's not a very useful ledge for free climbing imo if it can't comfortably accommodate 2 people. 

Most things aren't useful when you want them to do things they aren't built for or marketed to do. This isn't built to act like a rigid frame ledge nor is anyone claiming that it's a replacement for rigid frame ledges in any situation besides biving at the end of the day or chilling in it like a belay seat. 

Fan Y wrote:

One thing I appreciate about the G7 is that you can take one pod with you as you push for higher ground and want to have a comfy belay at all the hanging belays. For free climbing it's a relatively great hang for 2 people who are working a crux pitch and trading belays, or just resting between tries. I don't see that really being an option on your taco. Am I wrong? 

You can’t stand on the Taco. It does have the ability to become an entire belay chair with the webbing loops and two quick draws.

Personally I don’t climb routes hard enough that justify needing to stand in between belays or pull the rope between attempts. I don’t think I have ever been on a route that required standing, it’s just not what I am into. I don’t climb grades, I climb lines. 

The main strengths of the Taco (and Supertaco) are:

1.A route with ledges, but maybe not sure you’ll reach them. The Taco is still great in a full overhang, it just takes a little bit more work since you can’t stand on it. On the Nose we didn’t make it to Dolt, so we bivyed in a corner and it was pretty nice.  

2. If you already have a pad, they are 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of any other system, and you aren’t going to need to share the ownership of it with anyone.

3. Paired with a full length Uberlite Thermarest the Supertaco system is 780 grams, 1/2 the weight of the G7. Smaller haul bag, less stuff, less food, etc. The ultralight backpackers circle of perpetual lightness. It’s also stiffer and more rigid than the regular Taco. That’s the weight of 3 cups of water.

Most people so far have used the Tacos for bigwalling, but I specifically make the Taco for bigwall alpinism. Being it’s first season, I expect some 1st-2nd ascents of previously sieged alpine bigwalls will happen this season. Bigwalling is vertical mountaineering, and all the added features of the Taco are mainly for people to be more comfortable and enjoyable. I would prefer the function of the Taco as a sun/rain tarp over needing to stand on it because that’s what I’m into. If you’re MO is taking rest days on free hanging belays to let the skin heal, making margaritas, and bringing an Ipad, the Taco is not the ideal ledge. But with the saved weight you could bring the Ipad OR more Margaritas. Just think, if you brought a Taco instead of a D4 you  could bring 1.5 gallons of margaritas, or an entire box of Franzia. 

Flava Flav wrote:

You can’t stand on the Taco. It does have the ability to become an entire belay chair with the webbing loops and two quick draws.

Personally I don’t climb routes hard enough that justify needing to stand in between belays or pull the rope between attempts. I don’t think I have ever been on a route that required standing, it’s just not what I am into. I don’t climb grades, I climb lines. 

The main strengths of the Taco (and Supertaco) are:

1.A route with ledges, but maybe not sure you’ll reach them. The Taco is still great in a full overhang, it just takes a little bit more work since you can’t stand on it. On the Nose we didn’t make it to Dolt, so we bivyed in a corner and it was pretty nice.  

2. If you already have a pad, they are 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of any other system, and you aren’t going to need to share the ownership of it with anyone.

3. Paired with a full length Uberlite Thermarest the Supertaco system is 780 grams, 1/2 the weight of the G7. Smaller haul bag, less stuff, less food, etc. The ultralight backpackers circle of perpetual lightness. It’s also stiffer and more rigid than the regular Taco. That’s the weight of 3 cups of water.

Most people so far have used the Tacos for bigwalling, but I specifically make the Taco for bigwall alpinism. Being it’s first season, I expect some 1st-2nd ascents of previously sieged alpine bigwalls will happen this season. Bigwalling is vertical mountaineering, and all the added features of the Taco are mainly for people to be more comfortable and enjoyable. I would prefer the function of the Taco as a sun/rain tarp over needing to stand on it because that’s what I’m into. If you’re MO is taking rest days on free hanging belays to let the skin heal, making margaritas, and bringing an Ipad, the Taco is not the ideal ledge. But with the saved weight you could bring the Ipad OR more Margaritas. Just think, if you brought a Taco instead of a D4 you  could bring 1.5 gallons of margaritas, or an entire box of Franzia. 

I just love how you quickly jump in to insult a whole genre of climbers (bigwall free climbers) while trying to promote your product. Some bigwall free climbers climb for grades, some climb for the freedom. Some aid climbers climb for grades, some climb for the freedom. Some ____ climbers climb for Jesus, or puppies, or the ice cream at the end of the day. I was curious about the product, that's all. 

Kevin DeWeese wrote:

Most things aren't useful when you want them to do things they aren't built for or marketed to do. This isn't built to act like a rigid frame ledge nor is anyone claiming that it's a replacement for rigid frame ledges in any situation besides biving at the end of the day or chilling in it like a belay seat. 

I was just curious about the product, that's all. No need to get all heated and hoohah about it. Basic hammocks weren't designed for bigwalling either and they were used plenty. Just another scenario to consider is all. 

Fan Y wrote:

I was just curious about the product, that's all. No need to get all heated and hoohah about it. Basic hammocks weren't designed for bigwalling either and they were used plenty. Just another scenario to consider is all. 

Take a look at the framing of the language in your post. Do you think there's a possibility that all the heated hoohah was in response to your negative framing of the product for something it's not even meant to be used for? Or is the heated hoohah definitely just a response to your curiosity? You're obviously able to discern how framing can change the perception of a message considering how much your interpretation of OP's “lines vs grade” line caused you need to get all heated and hoohah about it. 

And don't correlate regular hammocks being used plenty to mean that they were a product that created a good experience for the situation. When there's nothing else available, or when the product costs too much, people make do. "Making do", though "useful," is seldom a great experience. What's next, make a thread regarding being curious if tennis shoes are good for climbing? After all, they weren't designed for climbing either and they were used plenty back in the day. Just another scenario to consider is all. 

Lurking Taco 

Quinn Hatfield wrote:

Lurking Taco 

Looks like this is from the first batch of Tacos where I used green Cordura as the reinforcements for the straps! Glad you finally got out to use it Quinn!

Flava Flav wrote:

Looks like this is from the first batch of Tacos where I used green Cordura as the reinforcements for the straps! Glad you finally got out to use it Quinn!

We already used ours on Squeeze Play a few seasons back. This was the second wall that Quinn has his taco on.