Vertical caving terminology and methods > Personal SRT gear
For the frog system or the another prusiking system when using a chest jammer, this is a low strength ascender that is strapped to your foot, helping to pull the rope cleanly through a chest jammer. Allows feet to be used independently in a step-like motion, and helps keep you more upright when prusiking, increasing efficiency. Gets in the way when passing deviations, and can be unusable for the first metre after passing a rebelay, but can be disconnected to allow both deviations and rebelays to be passed, then reconnected afterwards. The most common design is the Petzl Pantin. Intentionally disconnects from the rope with great ease (sometimes unintentionally). Because of this, and because it is connected far below your centre of gravity where it could not support you if all other ascenders are removed, it cannot be PPE rated, but it still needs to have a high enough minimum breaking strength to cope with the forces it will be subjected to. Considered optional for the frog system, but highly beneficial.
For rope walking, or the another prusiking system when using a chest roller, this is a PPE rated ascender that is strapped to your foot, used as one of the main ascenders. Allows feet to be used independently. If it is not a lever cam ascender, then it is configured as a floating cam, pulled upwards by a bungee cord connected to the chest harness. Makes it difficult to pass deviations and rebelays because it is so far from your hands.
For the inchworm system, this is a handled ascender that is connected to a mar-bar. The handle is used only to get a bit of height above the feet. The ascender has to have a single hole in just one side of the frame at the top, and it is best to have a frame that is made from straight lines, with a thick, rectangular cross section to the backbone of the frame. Very few modern ascenders are compatible with these requirements. Because of its position, and because of how it is not connected safely to anything at all, it makes no difference if it is PPE rated, since it cannot be used for safety purposes.
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