Chest Boxes

Chest boxes are key components of two important climbing systems. Single channel boxes are used for various rope-walking systems (although a few of us still prefer the old shoulder Gibbs). Double channel boxes are used for the Mitchell System and its extension, the Cuddington 3-Phase. I use the Cuddington for almost all of my vertical caving. It requires more time to learn well than some other systems, but it is extremely versatile and well worth the effort. I use Fritzke's Alpine Box and am quite pleased with it. Previously I used a modified Gossett Box (specifically, Darrell Tomer's Custom Gossett #12) which also worked well for me, but the Alpine Box allows faster mode changes and rigging. The double-rope Flash Bar deserves very serious consideration as well.

In the ID column, I used a red background for single channel rollers and a blue background for double channel rollers.

[ Before you make your own... ]

ID Device Description Acquired Weight Height Width Thickness Std. volume

631 Alpine Box Solid plate, two rollers, swing gate with latch Mike Fritzke, 1992 293 203 51 42 435

704 Bassett Metal Studios Solid plate, single roller, side entry, button-activated gate Inner Mountain Outfitters, 1997 273 190 70 49 652

632 Blue Water Solid plate, extruded channel, two rope, 1 straight roller, bolt closure 1970s 330 131 76 74 737

824 British Solid plate, bent channel, two rope, 2 cylindrical rollers, bolt closure Brian Trevelyan, 2005 283 128 77 69 680

739 Cam Box Solid Plate, 2 rope grooves, 1 /w Jumar cam, hinged front, screw-knob closure Bob Danielson, 2000 504 172 89 35 536

722 Flash Bar, double rope Rod frame /w roll pins, double roller, side entry, pull-knob activated gates Inner Mountain Outfitters, 1999 160(?) 215 51 54 592

718 Flash Bar, single rope Rod frame /w roll pins, single roller, side entry, pull-knob activated gate Inner Mountain Outfitters, 1999 118 215 51 54 592

633 Gossett, Version A Extruded frame, two rope, 4 shaped rollers 1978 328 84 64 41 220

634 Gossett, Version B Extruded frame, two rope, 4 straight rollers Speleoshoppe, 1982 367 84 64 41 220

648 J. E. Weinel Inc. Milled solid plate, screw-mounted Simmons Roller John E. Weinel, Inc., 1991 288 102 86 61 535

635 John Blum, Version A Cast frame, 2 rope, nylon rollers on common shaft, swing-open Inner Mountain Outfitters, 1988 256 127 77 44 430

636 John Blum, Version B Cast frame, 2 rope, brass rollers on common shaft, swing-open Bob & Bob, 1993 327 175 64 43 482

637 Landau, Version A Milled frame, single pulley, small sides, QR pin for side pivot Robert Landau, 1985 99 57 57 57 185

638 Landau, Version B Milled frame, single pulley, large sides, QR pin for side pivot Robert Landau, 1985 108 57 63 60 215

639 Ledbetter Double Solid SS frame, dual rope, nylon pulleys on single QR pin Inner Mountain Outfitters, 1991 404 100 77 57 439

669 Mainstruck (prototype) Carbon fiber frame, two rope, rollers on QR pins Geary Schindel, on loan, 1993 272 151 76 60 689

640 Neil Box, Version A Extruded frame, two rope, 2 rollers, swinging side gates Speleoshoppe, 1979 248 77 63 69 335

823 Neil Box, Version B Extruded Al frame, soft anodized, two rope, 2 rollers, swinging side gates, 3 harness slots Brian Trevelyan, 2005 208 76 76 61 354

693 On Rope 1, Standard Double Solid plate, dual captured Simmons Rollers, sewn shoulder strap buckles On Rope 1, 1996 465 200 77 54 832

694 On Rope 1, Lightweight Single Skeletonized plate, captured standard Simmons Roller On Rope 1, 1996 195 201 76 54 825

706 On Rope 1, Lightweight Double Skeletonized plate, dual captured standard Simmons Rollers On Rope 1, 1997 315 200 76 54 821

819 PMI, double rope Milled plate, milled post, double roller, wire safety PMI, 2005 353 197 75 54 792

818 PMI, single rope Milled plate, milled post, single roller, wire safety PMI, 2005 301 197 75 54 792

641 R. C. Schroeder, Version A SS sheet metal frame, single roller, button-activated hinged opening R. C. Schroeder, 1992 135 85 37 48 151

684 R. C. Schroeder, Version B Skeletonized plate, single roller, side entry, button activated gate R. C. Schroeder, 1995 167 240 38 51 465

770 R. C. Schroeder, Version C Solid plate, single roller, side entry, button-activated gate R. C. Schroeder, 2002 191 177 45 49 388

789 R. C. Schroeder, Version D Solid plate, two rollers, side entry, button-activated gate R. C. Schroeder, 2003 389 215 53 50 564

651 Russian, Alpine Box Copy Solid plate, two rollers, swing gate with latch 1994 287 210 55 53 612

649 Russian, Simmons Roller Copy Pressed U frame, straight roller mounted on QR pin 1994 114 63 48 63 191

650 Russian, Double Simmons Roller Copy Solid plate, two rope, screw-mounted U frames, pulleys on QR pins 1994 412 210 55 69 797

642 Simmons Compact Double Solid plate, dual screw-mounted asymmetrical Simmons Rollers Ron Simmons 244 72 51 53 195

643 Simmons Double Solid plate, dual screw-mounted Simmons Rollers Inner Mountain Outfitters, 1991 326 113 51 64 369

644 Simmons Racing Solid plate, screw-mounted Simmons roller Ron Simmons 314 241 51 61 750

645 Simmons Single Pressed U frame, straight roller mounted on QR pin, one of first 5 Ron Simmons, 1981 82 51 57 47 137

686 Speleoshoppe Solid plate, extruded channel, two rope, 2 straight rollers, bolt closure Inner mountain Outfitters, 1995 305 126 76 73 699

652 Storrick Solid plate, bent channel, two rope, 1 shaped roller, bolt closure, noncommercial Robert W. Storrick 229 108 64 80 553

653 Tomer Custom Gossett #10 Extruded frame, two rope, 2 shaped rollers (modified #633) Darrel Tomer, 1984 178 84 32 41 110

654 Tomer Custom Gossett #11 Extruded frame, two cable, one shaft, disassembles to rig (modified #633) Darrel Tomer, 1984 173 59 33 41 80

655 Tomer Custom Gossett #12 Extruded frame, two rope, 2 shaped rollers (skeletonized #634) Darrel Tomer, 1984 166 86 66 41 233

656 Tomer Custom Gossett #13 Extruded frame, one rope, roller on screw knob (modified #634) Darrel Tomer, 1984 72 39 31 41 50

657 Tomer Custom Gossett #14 Extruded frame, one rope, roller & cam on screw knobs (modified #634) Darrel Tomer, 1984 231 58 66 41 157

658 Tomer Custom Gossett #15 Extruded frame, one rope, roller & cam on QR pins (modified #634) Darrel Tomer, 1984 215 58 65 42 158

647 Vertical Supply Solid plate, captured Simmons Roller, bungie pulley on accessory cord Vertical Supply, 1993 268 202 77 54 840

ID	Device	Description	Acquired	Weight	Height	Width	Thickness	Std. volume
631	Alpine Box	Solid plate, two rollers, swing gate with latch	Mike Fritzke, 1992	293	203	51	42	435
704	Bassett Metal Studios	Solid plate, single roller, side entry, button-activated gate	Inner Mountain Outfitters, 1997	273	190	70	49	652
632	Blue Water	Solid plate, extruded channel, two rope, 1 straight roller, bolt closure	1970s	330	131	76	74	737
824	British	Solid plate, bent channel, two rope, 2 cylindrical rollers, bolt closure	Brian Trevelyan, 2005	283	128	77	69	680
739	Cam Box	Solid Plate, 2 rope grooves, 1 /w Jumar cam, hinged front, screw-knob closure	Bob Danielson, 2000	504	172	89	35	536
722	Flash Bar, double rope	Rod frame /w roll pins, double roller, side entry, pull-knob activated gates	Inner Mountain Outfitters, 1999	160(?)	215	51	54	592
718	Flash Bar, single rope	Rod frame /w roll pins, single roller, side entry, pull-knob activated gate	Inner Mountain Outfitters, 1999	118	215	51	54	592
633	Gossett, Version A	Extruded frame, two rope, 4 shaped rollers	1978	328	84	64	41	220
634	Gossett, Version B	Extruded frame, two rope, 4 straight rollers	Speleoshoppe, 1982	367	84	64	41	220
648	J. E. Weinel Inc.	Milled solid plate, screw-mounted Simmons Roller	John E. Weinel, Inc., 1991	288	102	86	61	535
635	John Blum, Version A	Cast frame, 2 rope, nylon rollers on common shaft, swing-open	Inner Mountain Outfitters, 1988	256	127	77	44	430
636	John Blum, Version B	Cast frame, 2 rope, brass rollers on common shaft, swing-open	Bob & Bob, 1993	327	175	64	43	482
637	Landau, Version A	Milled frame, single pulley, small sides, QR pin for side pivot	Robert Landau, 1985	99	57	57	57	185
638	Landau, Version B	Milled frame, single pulley, large sides, QR pin for side pivot	Robert Landau, 1985	108	57	63	60	215
639	Ledbetter Double	Solid SS frame, dual rope, nylon pulleys on single QR pin	Inner Mountain Outfitters, 1991	404	100	77	57	439
669	Mainstruck (prototype)	Carbon fiber frame, two rope, rollers on QR pins	Geary Schindel, on loan, 1993	272	151	76	60	689
640	Neil Box, Version A	Extruded frame, two rope, 2 rollers, swinging side gates	Speleoshoppe, 1979	248	77	63	69	335
823	Neil Box, Version B	Extruded Al frame, soft anodized, two rope, 2 rollers, swinging side gates, 3 harness slots	Brian Trevelyan, 2005	208	76	76	61	354
693	On Rope 1, Standard Double	Solid plate, dual captured Simmons Rollers, sewn shoulder strap buckles	On Rope 1, 1996	465	200	77	54	832
694	On Rope 1, Lightweight Single	Skeletonized plate, captured standard Simmons Roller	On Rope 1, 1996	195	201	76	54	825
706	On Rope 1, Lightweight Double	Skeletonized plate, dual captured standard Simmons Rollers	On Rope 1, 1997	315	200	76	54	821
819	PMI, double rope	Milled plate, milled post, double roller, wire safety	PMI, 2005	353	197	75	54	792
818	PMI, single rope	Milled plate, milled post, single roller, wire safety	PMI, 2005	301	197	75	54	792
641	R. C. Schroeder, Version A	SS sheet metal frame, single roller, button-activated hinged opening	R. C. Schroeder, 1992	135	85	37	48	151
684	R. C. Schroeder, Version B	Skeletonized plate, single roller, side entry, button activated gate	R. C. Schroeder, 1995	167	240	38	51	465
770	R. C. Schroeder, Version C	Solid plate, single roller, side entry, button-activated gate	R. C. Schroeder, 2002	191	177	45	49	388
789	R. C. Schroeder, Version D	Solid plate, two rollers, side entry, button-activated gate	R. C. Schroeder, 2003	389	215	53	50	564
651	Russian, Alpine Box Copy	Solid plate, two rollers, swing gate with latch	1994	287	210	55	53	612
649	Russian, Simmons Roller Copy	Pressed U frame, straight roller mounted on QR pin	1994	114	63	48	63	191
650	Russian, Double Simmons Roller Copy	Solid plate, two rope, screw-mounted U frames, pulleys on QR pins	1994	412	210	55	69	797
642	Simmons Compact Double	Solid plate, dual screw-mounted asymmetrical Simmons Rollers	Ron Simmons	244	72	51	53	195
643	Simmons Double	Solid plate, dual screw-mounted Simmons Rollers	Inner Mountain Outfitters, 1991	326	113	51	64	369
644	Simmons Racing	Solid plate, screw-mounted Simmons roller	Ron Simmons	314	241	51	61	750
645	Simmons Single	Pressed U frame, straight roller mounted on QR pin, one of first 5	Ron Simmons, 1981	82	51	57	47	137
686	Speleoshoppe	Solid plate, extruded channel, two rope, 2 straight rollers, bolt closure	Inner mountain Outfitters, 1995	305	126	76	73	699
652	Storrick	Solid plate, bent channel, two rope, 1 shaped roller, bolt closure, noncommercial	Robert W. Storrick	229	108	64	80	553
653	Tomer Custom Gossett #10	Extruded frame, two rope, 2 shaped rollers (modified #633)	Darrel Tomer, 1984	178	84	32	41	110
654	Tomer Custom Gossett #11	Extruded frame, two cable, one shaft, disassembles to rig (modified #633)	Darrel Tomer, 1984	173	59	33	41	80
655	Tomer Custom Gossett #12	Extruded frame, two rope, 2 shaped rollers (skeletonized #634)	Darrel Tomer, 1984	166	86	66	41	233
656	Tomer Custom Gossett #13	Extruded frame, one rope, roller on screw knob (modified #634)	Darrel Tomer, 1984	72	39	31	41	50
657	Tomer Custom Gossett #14	Extruded frame, one rope, roller & cam on screw knobs (modified #634)	Darrel Tomer, 1984	231	58	66	41	157
658	Tomer Custom Gossett #15	Extruded frame, one rope, roller & cam on QR pins (modified #634)	Darrel Tomer, 1984	215	58	65	42	158
647	Vertical Supply	Solid plate, captured Simmons Roller, bungie pulley on accessory cord	Vertical Supply, 1993	268	202	77	54	840