Jumar Ascender | Aid Climbing Equipment

2 items

4 reviews

Petzl

Ascender Ascension Droite Jaune

Recommended price

£57.11

-23%

£43.91

Colour

4 reviews

Petzl

Ascender Ascension Gauche Noir

Recommended price

£57.11

-23%

£43.91

Colour

When is a Jumar ascender useful?

Ascending a rope when mountaineering or travelling on glaciers, particularly when escaping from a crevasse after a fall.

Cliff rescue to assist a climber in difficulty: quickly ascending the rope to reach someone who is stranded or injured on the route.

Setting or re-equipping routes at an indoor climbing wall: ascending a fixed rope to install or inspect anchor points.

How to choose a Jumar ascender

Compatible rope diameter is the first factor to check, as it varies between models and not every ascender can be used with all ropes on the market. The Petzl Ascension, however, is compatible with a broad range of ropes measuring between 8 and 13 mm in diameter. Jumar ascenders are available in left- and right-handed versions. A two-ascender rope-climbing system therefore requires one of each, which are generally sold separately. For a basic set-up supplemented by a harness-mounted assisted-braking device such as a Grigri, however, a single handled ascender is sufficient.

An integral or optional foot loop makes a significant difference in use. Without one, the ascender primarily provides an occasional hauling point; with one, it can form part of a complete rope-ascent system comprising a handled ascender and foot loop. There is no need to buy a ready-made foot loop: a 120 cm Dyneema sling and a carabiner are sufficient to create an effective one, adjusted to suit your leg length. See our selection of climbing slings.

Safe use

Like a progress-capture pulley such as the Micro Traxion, a Jumar ascender is not a fall-arrest belay device. The toothed cam is designed to hold a gradually applied load, not absorb an impact. A severe fall onto the ascender could therefore cause it to cut through the rope. This type of rope clamp must always be kept under tension and used for controlled upward progression, never with slack in the system that could generate an impact load on the device.