What's in a Daisy Chain?

Why are "experienced" climbers so down on daisy chains? If you tighten it properly and thong it, it really doesn't get in the way. If you don't tighten it properly and thong it, then yes you can hurt your balls or vagina with a big fall. 

Are they really a sign of inexperience? Or just another way for "elite" (read: egotistical) climbers to separate themselves from the shelf road masses? Another way for people who think their shit don't stink to put others down to elevate themselves? I think they are very useful for multipitch. Is the argument that something else that's better (the rope, an extra sling) can be used instead? What's all the fuss? 

I think they are useful and convenient. Change my mind! 

No Face wrote:

Why are "experienced" climbers so down on daisy chains? If you tighten it properly and thong it, it really doesn't get in the way. If you don't tighten it properly and thong it, then yes you can hurt your balls or vagina with a big fall. 

Are they really a sign of inexperience? Or just another way for "elite" (read: egotistical) climbers to separate themselves from the shelf road masses? Another way for people who think their shit don't stink to put others down to elevate themselves? I think they are very useful for multipitch. Is the argument that something else that's better (the rope, an extra sling) can be used instead? What's all the fuss? 

I think they are useful and convenient. Change my mind! 

Yeah.

Daisy chain or PAS, two different things, very different.  

I don't really like using a dedicated PAS because it adds clutter on the harness. While climbing I clove myself in. While rapping I use a runner as my tether.

That said, do whatever you prefer, and forget about what other people think. My buddy uses a Petzl Connect Adjust, and he is a big fan of it. Sometimes I see him use it in a way that is really slick and convenient, and I catch myself reconsidering.

From metoliusclimbing.com/pdf/PA…

Standard daisy chains only maintain their full strength if used end-to-end. The individual pockets in daisy chains are for body weight only and typically fail around 2 kN. Monster Webbing™ and chain-link construction mean the PAS 22 and Ultimate Daisy Chain maintain their 22 kN strength whether they’re used end-to-end or clipped in any of the intermediate links.

Personally I just used the rope for multipitch anchoring, or slings/quickdraws when cleaning sport routes.

I bought a metolius PAS when I began climbing but it's been sitting at the bottom of my gear bin for a while now.  There are two advantages of using the rope to anchor on multipitch climbs in my eyes. The primary advantage being that you can make the tether much longer to allow for a more comfortable belay position and better view of the follower. The second advantage being that you don't need to bring an extra piece of gear.  I just use a locker and draw to clean sport climbs now.

When I plan on doing multiple rappels, I like to bring the PAS because you can easily clip both bolts and be redundant at the rap station without needing to build a quick anchor.