Debate: Rope wrench vs traditional MRS setup after 3 years in the canopy

I started climbing with a traditional MRS system back in 2019. Did everything on a Blake's hitch and friction hitch cord. Last year I switched to a rope wrench setup and it changed how I work. But here's the thing. I'm not totally sold it's better for every job. On removals with lots of limb walking the wrench feels smoother. But for pruning where I'm hanging in one spot for a while, the old MRS felt more solid and less finicky. What do you all lean toward? And when did you make the jump if you did? Or do you still run a standard hitch and think the rope wrench is overhyped?

2 comments

2 Comments

sageburns10d ago

...and honestly that's the part that doesn't get talked about enough. The wrench is great for moving around but when you're just hanging there making fine cuts, having to mess with that extra mechanical thing in your hand gets old. My question for you though is what length tether are you running? Because I see a lot of guys online running super short tethers and I wonder if that changes how finicky the wrench feels compared to just running a longer one.

the_miles10d ago

Wait, you're saying there are people running super short tethers on purpose? I mean, that sounds like a nightmare for any kind of fine pruning work, your hand would be right up in the wrench the whole time. Maybe it's just me but a longer tether makes the whole setup feel way less fiddly when you're just hanging there trying to make clean cuts on a branch.