Top-rope solo setup

Hey everyone! Im new to TRS and wondering if there is a alternative to a camp lift and petzl micro trax in combination that is a bit cheaper. Thanks!

Ben, short answer is yes. However there are many options.

Check out the TRS FB Group for an absurd amount of banter on this topic.

https://www.facebook.com/share/EokHFCQf2XRVXztH/?mibextid=L0MuaQ

Camp lift and roll n lock is bomber. Wouldn't go cheaper than Camp Lift-- you're starting to get into knockoff Chinesium territory there.

Grigri and backup knots. Simple and you can lower easily without faff. Feeds well if you get the weight right too

Seth Bleazard wrote:

Grigri and backup knots. Simple and you can lower easily without faff. Feeds well if you get the weight right too

Too bad you can't ascend without faff with that rig.

Ben Bamford wrote:

Hey everyone! Im new to TRS and wondering if there is a alternative to a camp lift and petzl micro trax in combination that is a bit cheaper. Thanks!

There are clones of the original Petzl Basic that work just fine and are cheaper than the MT. The Lift ( or its generic clones) make a good backup on the second rope. But there are MANY alternative ways to go that won't kill you.

In anything climbing, each climber has to find the compromise between cheap and safe that they are comfortable with. The climber has to also factor risk into the equation. Anything solo (TRS/LRS) by default means considerably more risk. In my opinion, as risk increases, the climber should lean away from cheap and more towards safe. When soloing, the climber is up there alone. No one to catch their fall, no one to lower them off when things go bad… and no one to rescue them but themselves.

Stick with quality gear, recommend by the TRS community. Buy it used off MP if you cannot afford it new, nothing wrong with that. But don’t go for the cheap knockoff clones you can get off Amazon. 

Most importantly, don’t do anything solo without the gear and knowledge to self rescue. I fell off one of my earliest TRS attempts. Was stuck 6 feet below a roof, and couldn’t touch the wall for a terrifying half hour. Got exhausted and panicky before sorting out a way to ascend the rope with the gear I had on my harness.

Make sure you have the rescue skill set sorted out, the rescue gear with you, and go for quality gear. Also, make damn sure someone knows you are soloing and will come looking for you if you don’t return by sunset. Good luck!

I use two grigris on separate fixed lines. Also common is just one grigri with slip knots in the rope, and something clipped into the loop of the knot.

I really like having a short runner to extend a chest ascender up off the belay loop, then keep it upright with elastic, a purpose made strap, etc... then whatever other device below on the belay loop. Typically a Roll n Lock since I have so many of them. Check with local friends, it isn't unusual for someone to have a petzl basic or other chest ascender that they don't actually use anymore.

The chest ascender feeds easily and as it is attached, you don't have to worry about dropping it. As well, switching over to GriGri to rap is easier due to the vertical separation between devices.

Out of your price range, but I intend to test the new Petzl Mini Traxion soon as not having to remove it from the carabiner to load the rope can eliminate the potential to drop another thing. I have a feeling that its heavier weight than the micro traxion will make it not feed as smooth as a Roll n Lock... but we will just have to see.

You used to be able to get 2x Roll n Locks for about $100 and shipping, but that isn't the case anymore.

Here's my personal favorite TRS setup.

DIY on Instructables