New HITCH HIKER XF Impressions/review!!!!

[@billsims974]

Thanks Jman. Bought one 6 mos ago and love it. Glad to see it getting the recognition that it deserves. Won't disappoint and won't break the bank.

[@sebvaughan6149]

For crane work, can you use srt for it to???

[@Billster1955]

Good review Josh. It's been a while. I was happy I stumbled across this video.

[@RichardMumford1]

Just one comment, and I know it's an adjustment and most people would have a hard time making it because they are so accustomed to using a caribbeaner. If you get use to using that slick pin it's really easy, it removes it removes that possibility of a caribbeaner coming open, It makes for so much more of a compact system and it leaves more room for an extra connection. I too like a swivel but I use it on my secondary system. I get some extra control out of my friction hitch by twisting it to control the friction and speed I can't do that when it's on the swivel. Thanks again great video.

[@Joshman5000]

Oh you mean use a quickie on the eye in place of a carabiner when running MRS? That’s definitely a change but I really like that idea, I must try this next climb! Thanks for you’re hard work and dedication to innovation Richard! Also thanks for watching, that means a lot, I love the HH XF and don’t have a desire to use anything else(except on sappy conifers lol)!

[@RichardMumford1]

@@Joshman5000 No I was just referring to getting used to leaving that swing arm on the bridge and using the slick pin as a substitution for a carabiner connection.

[@leeo712]

If you already aren't aware, the DMM director used in the video to attach the XF to the bridge is under a product recall along with the other DMM products which use this swivel. One swivel separated while under load and the climber averted a nasty fall by being double tied in.

[@Joshman5000]

Yes sir I’ve taken mine out of commission. Thank you for looking out though, very kind!

[@Joshman5000]

Thanks for watching!

[@Sethhaun78]

Love blue moon .seems be best rope ivevtryed .bought some ivy haven't tried it.yet for small trees 120ft

[@InDisTREETV]

looks good Jman....Excellent job on the review, I have been eyeballing the hitch hiker xf for a while now and I am definitely going to get one soon stay safe stay healthy

[@Joshman5000]

Thanks my brother! I think you’d love it, I’m glad you didn’t get a uniscender, this device here I can safely say you’d much rather soar through the canopy on rather then scratch and claw around on the uni lol. Nah the uni is pretty nice in MRS natural crotch crane work and SRT down the spar it’s fine but normal shit like you do, it ain’t for you son! Thank for keeping me in Buisness 👍🤘🤜🤛✊🏻🤟

[@tholi1052]

Thanks for the video. You have convinced me buy one. I use a Rope Runner Pro and love it but have admired the work that Richard Mumford did with the previous HHX but was unable to obtain one. This one looks even better. Can't wait to try it.

[@Joshman5000]

Yeah no problem, glad I could be helpful! A word of warning that slick pin and dog bone hate pine pitch, i found out the hard way and got a rope super sappy and it doesn’t like it at all! Thanks for watching!

[@tholi1052]

@@Joshman5000 Just took down a big pine yesterday. Was able to use a lift. Hate getting the resin in my rope, prusiks, caribeners, gloves, pants, shirt, etc, etc, etc,

[@Joshman5000]

@@tholi1052 I know, and it don’t take much before everything is covered in sap. I ended up breaking out my zigzag out of retirement, put it on the rope I got all sappy and will have that be my conifer set up, put my ART positioner on a lanyard too so I can just switch to that when it’s pines and then switch back to my main lanyard and HH XF for all other trees and climbs.

[@tntshuffle-9799]

I've got the HHX and love it. Ive always been amazed that it hasn't gotten more support from arborist supply companies. I think its a little better than the rope wrench. This new one looks good and I may have to upgrade!

[@w8stral]

How does this behave with pitch? Jumpy? Rope binding? Doesn't engage? Locks up? I was just about to Jump for one and saw this comment. Sorry is over a year old, but as I live out here in the PNW... I NEED to know pronto! Thanks! @@Joshman5000

[@tuberider1171]

nice .. from the title I didn't know there was a comparison to the Rope Wrench .. that was an unexpected bonus ..I wonder how many more hits you'd get by renaming it as such or perhaps reposting another video with the comparison parts eg set up and switching between DRS and SRS along with some extra footage of actual climbing comparisons tending and descending given that you say it's buttery smooth

[@PoplarMechanic]

Thanks for the video jman, I may have to get that hh xf, it looks really nice and versatile 💯🤙

[@Joshman5000]

You’re welcome brohiem, it sure has a unique feel being half mechanical half cord so to speak, for me it finally feels right and made for my style. Unicender had it half right, just that damn rope wrap for SRT was a bummer to have to do. Thanks for watching my guy!

[@groundpounder24365]

Excellent review, appreciate the info jman.

[@Joshman5000]

Hey thanks a lot, and thanks for tuning in!

[@groundpounder24365]

@@Joshman5000 yeah man...how's things down in cut er ville?

[@Joshman5000]

@@groundpounder24365 shit, it’s going good I love it, everyday! Other then currently it’s slow compared to what the work load normally would be this time of year but as far as over all me personally I’m having a blast.

[@Joshman5000]

How are things up your way?

[@groundpounder24365]

@@Joshman5000 busy busy, business is good. Certainly can't complain, just placed my order with Richard for my xf. Really appreciate the content bro..good shiot. I really like the idea of the hybrid hitchhiker still having hitch cord.. I've always had mixed feelings about the mechanical devices so I've refrained from buying one but your video here just pushed me to order it.

[@shawneetree1440]

Wasn’t that dmm director carabiner recalled? The swivel failed

[@scotttam7491]

I’ve Ben looking at one of these for awhile now I’m getting used to the zig zag now but tbh I just never trust it as much as a knot yeah it runs smoothly an I really haven’t had a problem with it but for srt I don’t have a Chicain so I’ve used a wrench ant once again have little problems besides the length an the non mid line attachment part anyway lol after all that bs my question is in your opinion how this stack up against the the fully mechanical devices cause I’d love to go back to hitch’s an not have run a rope wrench.

[@Joshman5000]

Hey Scott thanks for checking out the vid! I have 2 zig zags and haven’t had a desire to use either of em in a year or more, partly it was because I was getting more and more into SRT and went through a few devices, the rope runner original, rope runner pro, akimbo, and uniscender. I myself prefer this new HH XF over all the mechanicals, basically I like how trustworthy the cordage feels and I don’t zip around the canopy like the guys on that spider jack video running through the trees like spider monkeys, I’m a little more on the slow and steady side so I don’t need high speed low friction as much. And to be honest I feel like this can give em a run for their money, not beat the zigzag or runner in performance but could hang. It’s a fast device if you want it to be, I mean regardless they all get hot if you burn down the rope far and fast

[@Joshman5000]

I ran a wrench on a zig zag briefly and that was a sweet sweet ride but I liked the rope runner better because it was one device and technically midline attachable even though the OG one was a bitch to disassemble and I basically treated that device the same as the zigzag and would stuff the rope through it instead of mess with the slick pins.

[@Joshman5000]

The set up process of the HH XF i prefer way better then setting up a rope wrench and hitch climber also. You can get a hitch climber to tend pretty great with the right rope and cord combo but there was still something lacking and this HH XF let’s you know what it was once you ride on it, in my opinion anyways, take it with a grain of salt I suppose. Alls I can say is I love the device, it’s most definitely my favorite over all, and it is pretty simple to use. A real blue collar workin man’s device I say lol

[@RichardMumford1]

Good video review, thanks.

[@iwontbebeat7111]

Damn good great review on both. Thank you .

[@Joshman5000]

Thank you, and thanks for watching! Have a good one!

[@sebvaughan6149]

For crane work can use use srt for it to,???

[@Joshman5000]

I mean if you tie into the tree SRT sure but generally we use MRS (double rope) when you ride the crane up so you can pull your rope back to you and tie into the tree when making a cut. I still use the HH XF a lot it’s a great device

[@sebvaughan6149]

@@Joshman5000 You mean the hitch hiker, what's the KF

[@Sethhaun78]

Hey man I got mine in mail thanks

[@dan-dan-da-treeman]

Awe yeah joshman!

[@Joshman5000]

🫵

[@Joshman5000]

You get up early yo, but thanks for coffee and ciggin with the Jman in the morning WMS201tc radio

[@gregbrown9271]

Great review jman 💪

[@Joshman5000]

Thanks Greg, always appreciate your continuing support!

[@Sethhaun78]

Question they install rock exotica swivel biner from Mumford s store innovation s.why couldn't I buy the rock exotica swivel biner myself .wouldn't it slide over the peice?????

[@Joshman5000]

Yeah if you got the traditional swing arm version you could use the swivel biner, or the swing arm with the eye you could run the rock exotica swivel biner on your saddle with it mounted semi permanently on your rope bridge and then clip into the eye of the HH with the biner end.

[@Sethhaun78]

@@Joshman5000 I got same one as you

[@Sethhaun78]

@@Joshman5000 so if your not running thecddmm biner anymore what are you useing on your hitchhiker. With eye?

[@Sethhaun78]

@@Joshman5000 reckon I will have to use the Rock,o swivel

[@Joshman5000]

@@Sethhaun78 I bought the non eye swing arm and just clip that directly to my bridge ring on the saddle

[@jeffschroeder9089]

Rock on 🤘

[@texas-linemangaming731]

What hitch cord were you using? And where could I buy it in bulk. I have the same system

[@Joshman5000]

Teufelberger Epicord 9.3mm. I think most any arb suppliers will sell hitch cord by the ft. Like for example Arbsession you could call them and order multiple pieces cut to your desired lenght.

[@Joshman5000]

Epicord is extremely heat resistant and I attempted to burn the end I had cut when I ordered a 10 ft piece and even an oxy acetylene torch struggled to singe it in a clean manner, it would mushroom up so you couldn’t pass that end through the dog bone so I made that end my the side that stays knotted and pass the end that they cut using a rope knife through the dog bone, so it’d be wise to just order em cut to length from the supplier so the ends are clean cut, I tried for over an hour to get a clean singe and couldn’t so I know now for future buys at least.

[@texas-linemangaming731]

Thanks so much. I will be calling them soon