New CT rollnlock

Anybody have any experience with the new Climbing Technology Rollnlock?  

Specifically, how does the cam release/lock function work?  

Anything else notable?

How new are we talking?  I have the version on their website currently that I use as my primary device for top rope soloing and I often carry it for rescue purposes if I'm not carrying a microtrax. The cam release and lock is easy to use, it holds the cam open easily and I haven't had any experience with it releasing or locking itself open so no worries there. To lock the cam open, you have to first manually open the cam, hold it open, and then use 2 fingers, one on each side of the device on the locking mechanism to engage the mechanism that would hold it open.

No complaints from me, it's a good little progress capture device.

Don't purchase for TRS. On 2 of the newer ones ( 1 a replacement from ct) I was able to easily make the RNL fail by taking a few times while lifting the rope up. eventually, the rope will rub the lock and move it to the unlocked position. Only use it for backup with a microtrax now.

@ Chris--thanks for the reply.  That's generally been my experience with the old version.

@ Greg, that doesn't sound good.  Do you think the problem is unique to the new version?

My use is as a backup to a Taz Lov for TRS and sometimes as a progress capture device/pulley for glacier travel. 

I like how one can easily and reliably lock out the cam on the old version, but I don't know of the new version functions the same way.

Versions:

Here is a picture of the old one

And here is a picture of the new one

My apologies Bruno, I'm definitely talking about the older one

Woah, that's a sexy upgrade. I'm definitely talking about the old version then

Guess I'll have to get one to play with--I'll report back here :)

What is better about the new one?  I used the old one today to back up my Taz, worked great! 

Brad Johnson wrote:

What is better about the new one?

That's exactly what I'm trying to find out!  

It's possible that the new cam orientation or some other feature makes it easier to place/remove with one hand (the marketing copy claims this is the case)  

It's possible that the new cam catch/release is less succeptible to interference but also perhaps less easy to operate. 

It definitely doesn't look like eveyrbody with the old one should rush out and buy the new one. 

But I'm curious and it's not too expensive so I will probably try to find one to play with of just buy one and see. 

Maybe hopefully they eliminated the failure mode.  

Video of failure

Yeah to me looks like a makeover and really no reason to upgrade.  But I’m also a sucker for gear so I’ll probably order one hahaha

Thought I'd resurrect this to add some notes.  

I was using the old style CT rollnlock for some light haiuling recently, and the device disengaged, or switched from progress capture to pulley, twice.  I was surprised how easily this happened.

I handled the new design.  The old and new devices look identical, except for a critical change to the shape of the tabs that operate the cam release. On the new device, the tabs are much smaller,and somewhat recessed.  This makes it harder to switch the device between modes, but it should also make it much less likely to disengage at the wrong moment. 

If anybody is considering one of these, I would absolutely go with the new device, especially if it was for crevasse rescue or something like that.

Re: the old one.  I've had mine fail to engage when the rope enters slightly off center and rides on the untoothed part of the cam mechanism.  Doesn't look like the new one addresses this issue.

That failure mode is why I switched to microtrax. Hopefully the new version avoids this, but looks similar to me.

I used to TRS with a roll n lock primary and microtrax backup, but have switched to dual micro and prefer it. I’ve never had the roll n lock fail on me in real use, but I’ve managed to produce the failure modes discussed in this thread in on-the-ground testing, so it just doesn’t give me the warm fuzzies the way the micro does. That, combined with the fact that I’d never choose the CT device over a micro for hauling/progress capture/simple pulley use, has relegated my CT to my spares bin.

I have no compunction about using dual toothed devices. Testing by HowNot2 has shown that fear of toothed devices shredding the rope is vastly overstated. Desheathing occurs at or around the same forces on a toothed device as on a cam-only device. It makes sense if you think about it—on a microtrax or the like, the teeth are providing initial bite, but it’s the camming action that’s really doing the work. 

Dave G · Aug 28, 2024 

Re: the old one.  I've had mine fail to engage when the rope enters slightly off center and rides on the untoothed part of the cam mechanism.  Doesn't look like the new one addresses this issue.

Greg Sidberry wrote:

That failure mode is why I switched to microtrax. Hopefully the new version avoids this, but looks similar to me.

Looking at pictures, it looks like the new one changed both issues.  1.  Less exposed release pin and 2. the teeth are more exposed so the rope won't ride on the untoothed part.