Tubers

Tubers predate belay tubes, but function nearly as well. The rope runs smoothly, they dissipate heat, they wear well, they are small, and they don't cost very much. Most of my tubers have external ribs to improve heat transfer to the air without adding excessive weight. Still, these are belay devices, not long drop rappel devices.

I use the following criteria to decide whether to call something a Tuber:

  • The devices that I placed in this category have one main rope channel that is split into two halves by a rod.
  • The rod splitting the rope channel also forms an attachment for the keeper.

Although most of my tubers have external ribs, I do not use this as a deciding criteria, so the Simond Cubiks are tubers. The examples that I use for comparison when I consider placing a device into this category are the Latok Tuber and the Lowe Tuber.

ID Device Description Acquired Weight Length Width Height Std. volume
701 Advanced Base Camp Decelerator Forged Al, hard anodized, square, cable keeper Inner Mountain Outfitters, 1996 76 85 49 86 359
840 Koola (Florsheim) Milled Al, hard anodized, round, pivoting rod keeper Florsheim Consultants, 2006 85 74 57 96 405
787 Koola (Megagrip) Milled Al, unfinished, round, pivoting rod keeper Ian MacNab, 2003 76 68 55 108 407
612 Latok Tuber Milled & forged Al, unfinished round, cable keeper L.L. Bean, 1987 53 78 49 72 276
664 Lowe Tuber Milled & forged Al, soft anodized, round, cord keeper Ragged Mountain Equipment, 1994 49 50 50 38 94
613 Lowe Tuber II Milled & forged Al, soft anodized, round, cord keeper Ragged Mountain Equipment, 1994 61 55 55 38 112
724 Simond Cubik, Version A Forged Al, unfinished, V grooves, cable keeper Climb Max, 1999 72 60 50 117 350
853 Simond Cubik, Version B Forged Al, painted, V grooves, cable keeper Barrabés.com, 2007 73 60 50 108 322
673 Trango Pyramid Milled & forged Al, hard anodized, square, cable keeper Exkursion, 1994 66 84 51 92 393


Tubers.html/080224
©2008, Gary D. Storrick