Mini Traxion / Micro Traxion ???

Hi All,

Got introduced to the dark arts yesterday... rope soloing.

The person who showed me said he was using a Mini Traxion and that they're no longer manufactured. I was extremely comfortable with the system as it was shown to me for TR rope soloing.

Do I just go buy the micro traxion? Is it the same? Can I file off 'the piece' to eliminate the potential to lock the cam open for simple pulley? I can't tell the scale from the website. Is this thing essentially the same?

Really don't want this to go off into a 20 page debate on what system is proper. I'm looking to find the answer of: If I'm happy with that setup, do I ebay search for the MiniTraxion or what is the modern equivalent?

Thanks all,

The micro traxion works great.  No need to file the tab for pulley mode.  I have been tr soloing with them for 5 years and never accidentally hit the opening tab.  Use two traxions.  One is a back up if something bad ever happens.

listen to Jay....two micros!!

I just purchased two of them as well. Have not tried them outside yet. There are a bunch of videos on YouTube with people using them.

I am going to use the bungee cord around the neck trick for the top Microtraxion, and the lower one run free.

the bungee around the neck works great...hang some weight on the rope and they both will run free

back up knot can add some safety...seems to me most do not add knots ( i also do not )

double and triple check too make sure  both devices are rigged correctly...have fun be safe

If you don't want to buy two micros but you have an ascender laying around you can also use an ascender as the lower device and a micro on top with the elastic cord and it works just as well. Slightly more bulky but works just fine.

Since I am cheap, and already own a couple GriGri's, I was contemplating using the GG as a backup, but a member here kindly steered me away from that because it is a PITA.  I have seen someone use a Mini Traxion and a quick-link and a stopper know at the local crag, and that looks valid as well.

I did have my micro trax lock open (pulley mode) one time, so I filed the tab off.

With all respect, is the double traxion advice fear mongering or is there some reason/ something inherent to the micro (different than the mini) that I should know about?

I don't want to buy one Micro at that price tag let alone two.....

Tom Sherman wrote: With all respect, is the double traxion advice fear mongering or is there some reason/ something inherent to the micro (different than the mini) that I should know about?

I don't want to buy one Micro at that price tag let alone two.....

Petzl doesn't make the Mini anymore.  I don't see how the cam can be locked open. Not that I don't believe that it has happened, I just don't see how it can happen.  I am not an expert by a long shot though, I just started to learn how to do it.

Micro Traxion works great file the tab off with a little dremal wheel. I also dont recomond using two of the same devices. Check this out. petzl.com/US/en/Sport/Appen…

Alex Drew wrote: Micro Traxion works great file the tab off with a little dremal wheel. I also dont recomond using two of the same devices. Check this out. petzl.com/US/en/Sport/Appen…

Is the tab you are referencing the end of the toothed cam?  I'm sorry, but it seems like that would be really hard to lock that open. I'm not saying it can't happen, but what contortion would you have to be in to get that to lock open?

I had it open its self once while rope soloing not ideal. its not like something would keep it open more like the mechanism itselt does what its desigened to do and locked it open with out me knowing.

i have a mini traxion and micro traction. i rope solo a lot.

The minitraxion  is the better device for rope-soloing, mostly because it better for the sort of rope diameters typically used in rope-soloing (eg. relatively thick static ropes). The micro-traction is a better device for hauling.

Keys to making the system work:
1) File off the tab so that the mini-traxion can never be locked open
2) Swage a metal cable to the mini-traxion; use this as the connection point for your chest harness system.
3) add some sort of weight to the bottom of your rope to keep the device feeding smoothly.

mpech wrote: i have a mini traxion and micro traction. i rope solo a lot.

The minitraxion  is the better device for rope-soloing, mostly because it better for the sort of rope diameters typically used in rope-soloing (eg. relatively thick static ropes). The micro-traction is a better device for hauling. 

So short of altering the device with a file, how does one keep the device closed? Or is that the quick and dirty fix?

Does someone have a photo of what exactly should be removed?

thanks

I've never had the mini-trax ever lock open, but have had lots of debris get in there and the only time it ever concerned me at all was when there was a bunch of snow/ice in there. If you are paranoid about somehow having both get locked open at the same time - just use a microscender as your bottom device. They feed even more easily than the mini-trax (can't compare to micro, don't own one) - especially as the bottom device - and are about $50 cheaper if buying new.

Buck Rio wrote:

So short of altering the device with a file, how does one keep the device closed? Or is that the quick and dirty fix?

Does someone have a photo of what exactly should be removed?

thanks

The mini-traxion uses a spring to push the toothed rope-grabbing mechanism tight against the rope. 

A metal tab on the device enables the user to lock the toothed rope-grabbing mechanism in an open position, enabling the rope to move freely in both directions.

Filing off the tab off prevents the device from ever being accidentally knocked into the open-moving position. 

I have been using the mico traxion for top rope solo for about a month now. I havent had any issues so far and haven't had it lock open. 

Double check that the teeth are locked and ready before setting off.  I was wearing a glove when I rapped to the base and supposedly engaged the device, but the loss of sensitivity from the glove kept me from noticing that despite going through the action of engaging it, it was still open.  I climbed the route and arrived on the ledge at the anchor before noticing that the micro-Traxion allowed rope to move both ways through the device.  Haven't made that mistake since.

Sorry to get off topic, but I have a question of my own:
Some background: I will be TR soloing only a very small portion of my time, so a moderately efficient set up will be great and I want every piece of gear to be as multi-use as possible. I don't need the absolute most ideal TR solo specific gear. All set ups will be on a single, thick diameter dynamic rope (at least until I can find a static line at a good price). I recently picked up a grandwall uascend (pics below). It slides up and down the rope with ease, (catches well with a fall, but definitely not a progress capture device). 2 questions:

Does anyone have experience with a full handheld ascender (like the petzl ascension)  as a TR belay device? Is it too bulky? Feed well?

If I were to go with the ascension, which device would you use as the top or bottom device, the ascension or the uascend?

Tom Sherman wrote: With all respect, is the double traxion advice fear mongering or is there some reason/ something inherent to the micro (different than the mini) that I should know about?

The objective is to use two devices on the rope, whether they are two of a kind or not makes no difference. For a brief period I used only one device some years ago and had it mysteriously lock open for an eye-popping experience but two is my standard. Emphatically recommend always using two devices.