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deuce4
climber
Hobart, Australia
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 23, 2017 - 11:31am PT
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Belay seats! I used to find them suitable, perhaps when I had good core strength. But on my first wall in 20 years last March (Mt. Buffalo with Simon Mentz), I was in agony after a couple hours in one. We actually had both of the standard designs, the two-point like the one shown above, and the Chouinard 3-point system which had a strap come under the crotch. I couldn’t get comfortable in either of them. One of my motivations to design a new lightweight belay platform, I suppose!
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Batrock
Trad climber
Burbank
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Nov 23, 2017 - 11:41am PT
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I still have my Buttermilk Mountain Works belay seat and BMW haulbag.
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Nov 23, 2017 - 12:08pm PT
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I'll tell you what ....
No other ledge "flags" like a D4.
The rounded corners are brilliant, and allow the ledge - which is attached to the haul line above the load like a flag - to pass around roofs and other obstructions with ease.
This allows you to keep the ledge fully deployed for the entire wall, allowing for comfortable belays in the sun to drink your beer, and watch your partner suffer above you on lead.
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deuce4
climber
Hobart, Australia
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 23, 2017 - 12:56pm PT
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^Pete doesn’t need a belay seat as he just uses his whole ledge every belay.
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anita514
Gym climber
Great White North
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Nov 23, 2017 - 06:42pm PT
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Haters gonna hate
Plus it matches my top
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deuce4
climber
Hobart, Australia
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 23, 2017 - 07:02pm PT
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^the best part of the story is how you and Pete got bold and hacked the ledge to a whole different configuration. For a while there, I thought Pete was going to get cold feet. Thanks also to the ever-mellow and super-cool John Verbeck for instrumental help with the D4 prototype process!
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deuce4
climber
Hobart, Australia
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 23, 2017 - 10:26pm PT
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Hi Jim, I am thinking that because future models will weigh just over a pound, and the way it folds relatively flat and would fit in the pack against the back not taking much room (and stiffening the pack) it might be something ultra light purist might consider. I think one could sleep in it sitting up and legs curled up on the ledge—probably better than a single point hammock, anyway.
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drljefe
climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
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Nov 24, 2017 - 09:01am PT
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Bigwalls LOL!
Can you geniuses design a better suspension system for my pads please?
Kthxbye.
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Lambone
Big Wall climber
Ashland, Or
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Nov 24, 2017 - 10:35pm PT
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Could this design be expanded to the size of a single portaledge?
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deuce4
climber
Hobart, Australia
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 24, 2017 - 11:22pm PT
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Lambone, yes, I have made a couple versions of single ledges using this concept, but have something even better up my sleeve that I am working on now. Based on some good feedback from Rob Miller, I might work on a 1.5 person ledge with some slick new tricks.
Compact folding, easy to setup, and light are the focus parameters.
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deuce4
climber
Hobart, Australia
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 29, 2017 - 11:31pm PT
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another happy MiniMe tester in the Fisher Towers.
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deuce4
climber
Hobart, Australia
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 18, 2017 - 08:34pm PT
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Another test Report:
The Mini-Me Ledge – a test report by Anna-Veronique Lhoest
I took the D4 MiniMe ledge on a two-day ascent of Ozymandias Direct at Mount Buffalo.
What I liked about the ledge:
Unfolding the ledge was almost ridiculously easy. After taking it out of the bag, you can just shake it a bit and the straps and tubes pull themselves into place. The single point anchoring system and the buckles on the straps were very easy to use – no need for an instruction manual for this one!
The amount of comfort for the tradeoff in weight and time used for setup and breakdown was totally worth it. I would definitely want to take it on future bigwalls –it was great to be able to sit down and relax.
The bag for the mini-me was good, not too small. Nothing worse than trying to stuff something into a stuffsack that is way too small, especially when hanging on a wall trying not to drop anything. I appreciated having a bag that fit the mini-me easily.
Things that could possibly be improved / ideas / suggestions:
There was a wee bit of initial confusion about which side of the fabric went up. I thought it was the side from which the straps would wrap around the supporting bars then lead up to the anchor point, as it seemed to add more stability. Rose thought it was the other way round. I set it up the way I deemed best, figuring that if it wouldn't work for whatever reason, it would provide valuable feedback. Maybe some sort of “this way up” sign would be helpful?
Packing the ledge up was slightly less easy than the setup, because the line inside of the bars was quite tight. While that made setting up very easy, it was a bit harder to pull the bars apart. Nonetheless that improved with practice as I figured out the most efficient way to fold the ledge up.
Final Thoughts:
The D4 MiniMe ledge was amazing. It was really worth the small amount of extra weight. I really appreciated it on the hanging belays.
PS: Andy gave me your laminated, handwritten topo of Ozymandias. It was a great help, as the Mount Buffalo guidebook topo was extremely confusing on pitch 7 (through the roof) and with your topo we had no problem figuring out where to go. It also helped on the second last pitch, where I simply linked into the chimney and kept going to the plaque as you described. Otherwise I would've stopped at the double bolt belay and we would have added another belay and wasted time and probably would not have topped out before dark. Much appreciated.
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deuce4
climber
Hobart, Australia
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 2, 2018 - 04:23pm PT
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^ not yet, but perhaps there will be, when more people come to understand the total revolution of hanging bivouac technology that is collaboratively taking place. The proof will be in the pudding, that is, the wilder adventures that will be achieveable with lighter and more compact weatherproof technology than ever before. It’s about making the possible more visible via better tools...
It’s just starting...
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