After spending several months playing with Wild County’s new Ropeman 3, I began to wonder if I was using it incorrectly. Should it really be this hard?, I wondered. When Alpinist was contacted recently to help spread the word of the recall, I felt relieved that it wasn’t just me. I had used the Ropeman 3 as an alternative to jumars several times when trying to go light on long, single day routes that only involved a few pitches of aid. While ascending the fixed line, I noticed the Ropeman begin to slide down the rope before ultimately gripping. Needless to say this was slightly alarming when ascending an overhanging pitch, and my being gripped didn’t seem to help my Ropeman 3 grip. Quickly I determined that if I set the ridged cam of the device into the rope before weighting it, it held just fine, though it took a while for my nerves to release.
–Larry Goldie, Mountain Standards Reviewer
VOLUNTARY RECALL NOTICE: Wild Country Ropeman 3
by Excalibur Distribution
For the safety of all of our customers we are issuing an immediate recall of the Wild Country Ropeman 3.
If you own a Wild Country Ropeman 3 please read this notice carefully and follow the instructions “How to Return the Product.”
Reason for the recall:
The Ropeman 3 ascending device meets the requirements of EN567 (Mountaineering Equipment. Rope Clamps), however it has come to our attention that in certain circumstances, rather than locking on the rope as expected, the Ropeman 3 may slip when initially loaded.
This slippage is more likely to occur when the rope is under significant tension and the cam of the Ropeman 3 has not been specifically set in position on the rope by the user.
Once the cam has been properly located on the rope and the Ropeman 3 loaded without slippage the device will perform as expected. Never-the-less we recognize that there may well be scenarios particularly in difficult conditions such as poor weather, extreme fatigue or during the course of an accident where the Ropeman 3 may not in our opinion be fully relied upon to meet the reasonable expectations of the user.
Our first priority is the safety of our climbing and mountaineering colleagues and customers, therefore we have taken the decision to recall the Ropeman 3 with immediate effect. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
How to identify the product
Stock Code: 14ROPE3B, 14ROPE3R, 14ROPE3BSET, 14ROPE3RSET
Product Description: Wild Country Ropeman 3 Blue / Red OR Wild Country Ropeman 3 Red / Blue Synergy Lite Set.
EAN Barcode: 14ROPE3B = 5033286040458 / 14ROPE3R = 5033286040472 OR 14ROPE3BSET = 5033286040465 / 14ROPE3RSET = 5033286040489
Batch Codes Affected: LAL, LBL, MBA, MMA, MMB, MMC, MMD, MME, MMF, MMG, MMH, MMJ
The products marked with the batch codes listed above can be identified by their aluminum ridged cam. Following product modification future Ropeman 3 will have a stainless steel toothed cam.
Product not affected
Please note the Ropeman 1 and Ropeman 2 are NOT affected by this recall.
How to return the product
Please return the Wild Country Ropeman 3 either:
1. To the retailer where you purchased the Wild Country Ropeman 3.
2. Directly to Wild Country Headquarters in the UK.
3. To EXCALIBUR – only if you are in the USA.
Contact Information – Please make sure you securely attach your name, UPS delivery address (no PO Boxes), your email and telephone number to any unit returned.
Return Address for USA based consumers, only:
Excalibur
9715 Kelly Brook
Sandy UT 84092
Ph. 801.942.8471
xcalibur@mindspring.com
Return address info for all other countries:
Wild Country UK
Meverill Rd
Tideswell
Nr Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17 8PY
UK
What will happen with my returned product?
We will deal with your product as quickly and efficiently as possible.
We will replace your Ropeman 3 with your choice of Ropeman 1 or Ropeman 2 together with locking carabiner.