Version A	Version B

Overview

---

[ Top | Version B | Return to Foot Ascenders ]

Version A
(#234, 2236)

Front	Rear

Open for Rigging

Technical Details

I acquired my TSA Economy, Version A from Bob Thrun in 2007, but it dates from the 1990s. I acquired another in 2017 as part of Bob Thrun’s collection.

The TSA Economy, Version A is 120 mm. tall, 119 mm. wide, and 36 mm. thick. Mine weighs 229 g.

Version A consists of a Kong-Bonaiti Modular ascender with added straps to form a foot ascender. A 20 mm. wide, 1 mm. thick stainless steel under-foot strap fastens to the bottom of the ascender with a 4 mm. delta maillon. The other end of the metal strap is riveted to an a 14 mm. web strap with an adjustment buckle attached to its end. Another web strap passes through the two upper holes in the ascender shell, and is held in place with another web piece riveted to the first.

The ascender has the markings typical of the Kong-Bonaiti Modular ascender. TSA added a sticker with the TSA logo and the following text:

Réf. 632
Bloqueur de pied
Economy
(pied gauche)
(por droitier)

BP5 F - 38680 Pont-en-Royans

There is also a tag with "tsa" sewn to the webbing.

Comments

The TSA Economy was one of the earlier practical foot ascenders. Of course, to take full advantage of the TSA, you need to use a climbing system designed for a foot ascender.

The straps hold the ascender close to the foot, reducing the torque on the ankle. One thing I don't like is that the strap/maillon/asender arrangement tends to turn the ascender perpendicular to the side of the foot.

---

[ Top | Version A | Return to Foot Ascenders ]

Version B
(#2237)

Front	Rear

Open for Rigging

Technical Details

I acquired my TSA Economy, Version B from Bob Thrun in 2007, but it dates from the 1990s. I acquired another in 2017 as part of Bob Thrun’s collection.

The TSA Economy, Version B is 120 mm. tall, 119 mm. wide, and 36 mm. thick. Mine weighs 229 g.

Version B also consists of a Kong-Bonaiti Modular ascender with added straps to form a foot ascender. The metal underfoot plate was eliminated. The underfoot strap is 14.5 mm. webbing sewn directly to the ascender shell. A stiff 14.5 mm. webbing ankle stap is sewn to the underfoot look near the ascender shell, and passes through a buckle loop at the other end of the underfoot strap.

Version B has the same markings as Version A.

Comments

The new underfoot strap eliminatees the tendency to twist the ascender shell perpendicular to the foot. The underfoot strap is narrow and, unlike the plate, completely flexible. With some footwear, it may dig into the foot enough to be uncomfortable.

---

[ Top | Version A | Version B ]