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3cclimber
Feb 16, 2006, 5:54 PM
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Registered: Sep 18, 2004
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Has anyone ever used a snowtube? wouldn't they be lighter than packing snowpickets on a climb.
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3cclimber
Feb 16, 2006, 9:52 PM
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Registered: Sep 18, 2004
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Does anybody know anything about snowtubes?
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nevenneve
Feb 17, 2006, 12:56 AM
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Registered: Jul 15, 2004
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If this is anyhow and attempt to lure someone into a remote location to play with your snow tube..... :x
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nevenneve
Feb 17, 2006, 12:57 AM
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Registered: Jul 15, 2004
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wtf are you talking about?
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bkalaska
Feb 17, 2006, 1:37 AM
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Registered: Feb 16, 2005
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It looks like petzl made a picket out of an axe shaft. I couldn't find a weight. I can't see how much lighter then a picket it could be, and there seem to be fewer places/choices to attach to. It may limit possibilities.
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toml
Feb 17, 2006, 2:53 PM
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Registered: Feb 6, 2004
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I have both snowtubes and T-shaped pickets of various models, both a nice Coyote and a nasty something else.
The snowtubes are, in fact, substantially lighter. I did measure them on a digital scale and they are a lot lighter - I don't have the figures to hand but the difference is very real, like 30% lighter than a 2' Coyote or something. Somewhere on the net I saw some weight data on them suggesting they were quite light, and I didn't believe it, so I checked myself.
They work a lot like sticking an ice axe into the snow. You can't clip the middle if you place them as a deadman (though you could girth hitch it).
The hole where you sling them is much more rounded than regular T-beam pickets, so one can put in thin cord or slingage (Mammut 8mm?) without any fear of it being sliced.
While I have packed them in on a couple of climbs, I have yet to place a snowtube in anger. (I've had a couple for maybe 2 years now.) The tip seems pretty sharp, so I have faith it'll go in nicely. Maybe this weekend?
Also, I'm not sure this is a side benefit unless you're a doofus like me, but I've put my 3' Coyote in 'upside-down' once or twice because both ends are squared off - not sure this is the case in newer models. (Unlike some other pickets where one end is 'sharp' or cut at a 45 degree angle, say). Anyway, so instead of one end hammered to sh*t and one sharp end, now I have a slightly 'blunted' sharp end and a very blunted 'hammer end', where the metal is splayed out a bit.
The snowtubes, like some other pickets (Yates?) are angled at one end so you'd have to be a real moron to put them in upside-down.
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