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. The Cuddington is extremely versatile and not terribly sensitive to sling lengths. It requires more time to learn well than some other systems, but taking the time to learn it well is well worth the effort. For many years, I used Fritzke’s Alpine Box and was quite pleased with it. Previously I used a modified Gossett Block (specifically, Darrel 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 deserved very serious consideration as well, it was quite light, but its strength was an issue (even though a chest box should not be rigged as life support equipment). Today I prefer the double rope PMI box, which is exceptionally well made, very smooth, easy to use, and surprisingly light.

ID ⇓	Device ↓	Description	Acquired	Weight ↓	Height ↓	Width ↓	Thickness ↓	Std. volume ↓
3925	Barhar	Solid plate, single Al roller, side entry, pin-activated gate, sewn harness	Barhar, 2024	607 (including. harness)	78	175	55	751
3855	Bassett Metal Studios, Prototype	Solid plate, single nylon roller, side entry, button-activated gate	Bassett Metal Studios, 2023	217	69	191	44	583
704 2608	Bassett Metal Studios, Version A	Solid plate, single roller, side entry, button-activated gate	Inner Mountain Outfitters, 1997 Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	273	70	190	49	652
2877 on 2876	Bassett Metal Studios, Version B	Solid plate, single roller, side entry, button-activated gate	On Rope 1, 2021	224	70	190	48	630
2874	Bassett Metal Studios, Version C	Solid plate, single roller, side entry, button-activated gate	On Rope 1, 2021	276	70	190	49	655
2975	Bassett Metal Studios, Version D	Solid plate, double roller, inside entry, button-activated gates	On Rope 1, 2021	395	70	190	49	655
1831 2603	BlueWater, Version A	Solid plate, extruded channel, two rope, 1 straight roller, bolt closure	David Jones, 2017 Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	316	76	127	74	712
632 1797 3793	BlueWater, Version B	Solid plate, extruded channel, two rope, 1 straight roller, bolt closure	≈1976 Barbara Anne Am Ende, 2012 (Given to Артём Бабин) Emily Davis, 2022	330	76	131	74	737
824	British	Solid plate, bent channel, two rope, 2 cylindrical rollers, bolt closure	Brian Trevelyan, 2005	283	77	128	69	680
739	Cam Box	Solid Plate, 2 rope grooves, 1 /w Jumar cam, hinged front, screw-knob closure	Bob Danielson, 2000	504	89	172	35	536
1706	Dave Lester	Nylon box containing Simmons roller and Karst Works Harness. Weight is approximate.	Dave Lester, 1920	280	67	279	65	1206
1663	Dave Stoltz	Milled Al plate /w 2 Simmons Rollers	Howie’s Harnesses	389	51	227	62	720
3789	Debert Province	Solid plate, extruded channel, two rope, straight rollers, bolt closure	Kelley Deem, 2022	254	70	83	66	385
722 2712	Flash Bar, double rope	Rod frame /w roll pins, double roller, side entry, pull-knob activated gates	Inner Mountain Outfitters, 1999 Bill Liebman, 2017	150	51	215	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	51	215	54	592
631 2605	Fritzke Alpine Box	Solid plate, two rollers, swing gate with latch	Mike Fritzke, 1992 Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	293	51	203	42	435
3899	Geary Schindel	Solid plate, extruded channel, two rope, 1 straight roller, 2 rollers each side, bolt closure	Geary Schindel, 2023	414	75	145	75	816
2655 2747	Gossett Block, Version A	Extruded frame, two channel, 4 straight rollers, sharp corners, male knurl.	Bob Thrun Collection, 2017 Rick Banning, 2019	328	64	84	41	220
633	Gossett Block, Version A (Modified)	Extruded frame, two channel, 4 straight rollers, sharp corners, male knurl. Modified to mount on a Gossett Plate.	Darrel Tomer (?), 1978	328	64	84	41	220
2707	Gossett Block, Version B	Extruded frame, two rope, 4 straight rollers, rounded corners, male knurl.	Bill Liebman, 2017	328	64	86	41	225
1611 2878	Gossett Block, Version C	Extruded frame, two channel, 4 straight rollers, sharp corners, female knurl.	Gene Clinger, 2008 On Rope 1, 2021	368	64	85	41	223
2841	Gossett Block, Version D	Extruded frame, two channel, 4 straight rollers, sharp corners, wide knobs, male knurl.	Gary Storrick, 2021	365	65	85	41	229
1784 2684 3763	Gossett Block, Version E	Extruded frame, two channel, 4 shaped rollers, sharp corners, male knurl.	Charlotte Phillips, 2012 Bob & Bob, 2017 Carol Veseley, 2022	370	65	86	41	228
2708	Gossett Block, Version F	Extruded frame, two channel, 4 shaped rollers, sharp corners, male & female knurls.	Bill Liebman, 2017	372	66	86	41	231
1833	Gossett Block, Version G	Extruded frame, two channel, 4 shaped rollers, sharp corners, female knurl.	James Thompson, 2014	376	65	85	41	231
634 2601	Gossett Block, Version H	Extruded frame, two channel, 4 shaped rollers, rounded corners, female knurl.	Speleoshoppe, 1982 Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	367	64	84	41	220
2709	Gossett Block, Version I	Extruded frame, two rope, 4 shaped rollers, sharp corners, female knurl, no slots, drilled for Gossett Plate.	Bill Liebman, 2017	399	66	86	41	231
3764	Gossett Block, Custom 1	Extruded frame, two channel, 2 straight rollers, sharp corners, male knurl.	Carol Veseley, 2022	276	63	85	41	220
3765	Gossett Block, Custom 2	Extruded & milled frame, one channel, 2 shaped rollers, sharp corners, female knurl.	Carol Veseley, 2022	182	66	58	38	146
3766	Gossett Block, Custom 3	Extruded frame, two channel, milled for quick rollers.	Carol Veseley, 2022	366	66	86	41	230
3767	Gossett Block, Custom 4	Extruded frame, one channel, milled for quick rollers.	Carol Veseley, 2022	186	66	58	41	155
653	Gossett Block, Darrel Tomer Custom #10	Extruded frame, two channel, 2 straight rollers, sharp corners, male knurl. (modified #2655)	Darrel Tomer, 1984	178	32	84	41	110
654	Gossett Block, Darrel Tomer Custom #11	Extruded frame, two channel, one shaft, for cable slings. (modified #2655)	Darrel Tomer, 1984	173	33	59	41	80
655	Gossett Block, Darrel Tomer Custom #12	Extruded frame, two channel, 2 shaped rollers (skeletonized #634)	Darrel Tomer, 1984	166	66	86	41	233
656	Gossett Block, Darrel Tomer Custom #13	Extruded frame, one channel, roller on screw knob (modified #634)	Darrel Tomer, 1984	72	31	39	41	50
657	Gossett Block, Darrel Tomer Custom #14	Extruded frame, one channel, roller & cam on screw knobs (modified #634)	Darrel Tomer, 1984	231	66	58	41	157
658	Gossett Block, Darrel Tomer Custom #15	Extruded frame, one channel, roller & cam on QR pins (modified #634)	Darrel Tomer, 1984	215	65	58	42	158
2602	Gossett Block, Darrel Tomer Custom /w QR Pin	Extruded frame, two rope, 2 roller pairs each on QR pin.	Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	312	85	64	40	217
2842	Gossett Block, Storrick Custom Version A	Extruded frame, two rope, 2 shaped rollers (modified #1833)	Gary Storrick, 2021	350	65	86	41	229
2843	Gossett Block, Storrick Custom Version B	Extruded frame, two rope, 2 shaped rollers (modified #1833)	Gary Storrick, 2021	311	66	85	41	232
3730	Gossett Block, Storrick Custom Version C	Extruded frame, one rope, 2 shaped rollers (modified #1833)	Gary Storrick, 2022	196	66	58	41	156
3731	Gossett Block, Storrick Custom Version D	Extruded frame, one rope, 1 shaped roller (modified #1833)	Gary Storrick, 2022	113	65	58	41	154
3863	I Climb (元鴻興有限公司) #965	Solid plate, one roller, swing gate with latch	I Climb via Kevin M. Mai ZhongJie, 2023	≈270	58	156	78	707
3769	Jim Gossett Prototype Box #1	Milled Al, 2 channel, no gates	Carol Veseley, 2022	264	75	102	53	403
3768	Jim Gossett Prototype Box #2	Milled frame, two channel, metal rollers on 2 QR pins, straight slotts	Carol Veseley, 2022	339	70	77	39	207
3770	Jim Gossett Prototype Plate	SS sheet metal plate, no mechanism (incomplete)	Carol Veseley, 2022	(66)	63	98	19	116
648	J. E. Weinel Inc.	Milled solid plate, screw-mounted Simmons Roller	John E. Weinel, Inc., 1991	288	86	102	61	535
1806	Joe Flansburg	Cut aluminum plate, bolted angles, nylon roller on QR pin, noncommercial	Thomas Flansburg, 2013	465	87	178	52	799
635 1897	John Blum, Version A	Cast frame, 2 rope, nylon rollers on common shaft, swing-open	Inner Mountain Outfitters, 1988 Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	256	77	127	44	430
1879 2710	John Blum, Version B	Cast frame, 2 rope, nylon rollers on common shaft, swing-open	CarolJo Rushin-Elron, 2020 Bill Liebman, 2017 (Given to Артём Бабин)	254	76	125	44	415
3788	John Blum, Version C	Cast frame, 2 rope, nylon rollers on common shaft, swing-open	Galen Hekhuis, 2022	239	77	127	44	428
636 1898	John Blum, Version D	Cast frame, 2 rope, brass rollers on common shaft, swing-open	Bob & Bob, 1993 Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	327	64	175	43	482
1899	John Blum, Version E	Cast frame, painted, 2 rope, brass rollers on common shaft, swing-open	Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	332	66	177	44	507
2711	John Blum, Version F	Cast frame, painted, 2 rope, brass rollers on common shaft, swing-open	(2) Bill Liebman, 2017	327	65	176	43	489
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	63	57	60	215
639	Ledbetter Double	Solid SS frame, dual rope, nylon pulleys on single QR pin	Inner Mountain Outfitters, 1991	404	77	100	57	439
2604	Ledbetter Single	Solid SS frame, single rope, nylon pulley on QR pin, bungie pullie connected with small maillon	Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	325	76	100	57	433
669	Mainstruck (prototype)	Carbon fiber frame, two rope, rollers on QR pins	Geary Schindel, 1993	272	76	151	60	689
640	Neill Box, Version A	Extruded frame, two rope, 2 rollers, swinging side gates	Speleoshoppe, 1979	248	63	77	69	335
823 2600	Neill Box, Version B	Extruded Al frame, soft anodized, two rope, 2 rollers, swinging side gates, 3 harness slots	Brian Trevelyan, 2005 Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	208	76	76	61	354
694	On Rope 1, Lightweight Single	Skeletonized plate, captured standard Simmons Roller	On Rope 1, 1996	195	76	201	54	825
706	On Rope 1, Lightweight Double, Version A	Skeletonized plate, dual captured standard Simmons Rollers	On Rope 1, 1997	315	76	200	54	821
1664 2652	On Rope 1, Lightweight Double, Version B (a.k.a. Stealth II)	Skeletonized plate, dual captured standard Simmons Rollers	On Rope 1, 2009 Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	326	76	203	55	841
2713	On Rope 1, Lightweight Double, Version C (a.k.a. Stealth II)	Skeletonized plate, dual captured standard Simmons Rollers (quality control reject: mismatched rollers & shells)	Bill Liebman, 2017	317	76	203	55	857
693	On Rope 1, Standard Double	Solid plate, dual captured Simmons Rollers, sewn shoulder strap buckles	On Rope 1, 1996	465	77	200	54	832
1705	Paul Stovall	Solid plate, two rollers, swing gate with latch	John Woods, 2010	334	57	203	39	456
818 2653 3777	PMI, single rope	Milled plate, milled post, single roller, wire safety	PMI, 2005 (2) Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	301	75	197	54	792
819 1708 2607	PMI, double rope, Version A	Milled plate, milled post, double roller, wire safety	PMI, 2005 Cargo Largo 2011 (2) Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	353	75	197	54	792
3926	PMI, double rope, Version B	Milled plate, milled post, double roller, spring-loaded safety	PMI, 2024	886 (including. harness)	76	192	55	803
2739	R. C. Schroeder, Version A	SS sheet metal frame, large single roller, button-activated hinged opening	On Rope 1, 2018	157	36	75	57	155
641 2609 2737	R. C. Schroeder, Version B	SS sheet metal frame, single roller, button-activated hinged opening	R. C. Schroeder, 1992 Bob Thrun Collection, 2017 On Rope 1, 2018	135	37	85	48	151
2738	R. C. Schroeder, Version C	SS sheet metal frame, single roller, button-activated hinged opening	On Rope 1, 2018	128	31	81	49	121
2740	R. C. Schroeder, Version D	SS sheet metal frame, large single roller, button-activated hinged opening	On Rope 1, 2018	237	63	96	56	339
2610	R. C. Schroeder, Version E	SS sheet metal frame, single roller, button-activated hinged opening	Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	211	98	63	48	297
2611	R. C. Schroeder, Version F	SS sheet metal frame, single roller, button-activated hinged opening	Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	485	255	63	74	1189
684	R. C. Schroeder, Version G	Skeletonized plate, single roller, side entry, button activated gate	R. C. Schroeder, 1995	167	38	240	51	465
770 2651	R. C. Schroeder, Version H	Solid plate, single roller, side entry, button-activated gate	R. C. Schroeder, 2002 Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	191	45	177	49	388
789	R. C. Schroeder, Version I	Solid plate, two rollers, side entry, button-activated gate	R. C. Schroeder, 2003	389	53	215	50	564
651	Russian, Alpine Box Copy	Solid plate, two rollers, swing gate with latch	Vladimir Kisseljov & Ilia Alexandrov, 1994	287	55	210	53	612
649	Russian, Simmons Roller Copy	Pressed U frame, straight roller mounted on QR pin	Vladimir Kisseljov & Ilia Alexandrov, 1994	114	48	63	63	191
650	Russian, Double Simmons Roller Copy	Solid plate, two rope, screw-mounted U frames, pulleys on QR pins	Vladimir Kisseljov & Ilia Alexandrov, 1994	412	55	210	69	797
642 2617	Simmons Compact Double	Solid plate, dual screw-mounted asymmetrical Simmons Rollers	Ron Simmons Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	244	51	72	53	195
643 2616	Simmons Double	Solid plate, dual screw-mounted Simmons Rollers	Inner Mountain Outfitters, 1991 Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	326	51	113	64	369
3895	Simmons Racing Single, Version A	Solid plate, screw-mounted Simmons roller	Bru Randall, 2023	313	51	241	60	733
644 2618	Simmons Racing Single, Version B	Solid plate, screw-mounted Simmons roller	Ron Simmons Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	314	51	241	61	750
2714	Simmons Racing Single, Version C	Solid plate, screw-mounted Simmons roller	Bill Liebman, 2017	303	51	242	64	783
2619	Simmons Racing Double	Solid plate, two screw-mounted Simmons rollers	Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	428	241	51	64	778
645 3896	Simmons Single, Version A	Pressed U frame, straight roller mounted on QR pin	Ron Simmons, c. 1981 Bru Randall, 2023	82	57	51	47	137
2613 2749	Simmons Single, Version B	Pressed U frame, straight roller mounted on QR pin	Bob Thrun Collection, 2017 Bob Elron, 2019	82	57	51	47	136
646 1672 (2) 2614 2615 2715	Simmons Single, Version C	Pressed U frame, U-groove roller mounted on QR pin	Geary Schindel, 1992 (2) Howie’s Harnesses, 2009 (2) Bob Thrun Collection, 2017 Bill Liebman, 2017	94	51	57	55	158
2612	Simmons Single Prototype	Gibbs ascender frame, straight roller mounted on QR pin	Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	89	73	57	49	200
686	Speleoshoppe, Version A	Solid plate, extruded channel, two rope, 2 straight rollers, bolt closure	Inner mountain Outfitters, 1995	305	76	126	73	699
1820	Speleoshoppe, Version B	Solid plate, extruded channel, two rope, 2 rollers, bolt closure	John Woods, 2014	309	76	127	74	720
652	Storrick, Version A	Solid plate, bent channel, two rope, 1 shaped roller, bolt closure, noncommercial	Robert W. Storrick, 1976	229	64	108	80	553
2885	Storrick, Version B	Solid plate, two rope, SS bearing rollers, swinging gates, noncommercial	Gary Storrick, 2021	333	66	152	49	489
2865	Storrick – Peter Hamilton, Croydon Caving Club Rig 3	Threaded rod, needle bearing roller, harness tabs, noncommercial	Gary Storrick, 2021	146	38	204	38	294
2854	Unknown Box	Extruded frame, two rope, two QR pins, no rollers	cptnamerica2003, 2021	268	80	98	41	316
2748	Unknown Plate #1	Plastic plate,screw-mounted Simmons roller	Bob Elron, 2019	455	53	205	67	736
3890	Unknown Plate #2	Al plate,harness-mounted Simmons roller	Boulder Sports Recycler via Tom Leahy, 2023	460	69	305	10	214
3883	Unknown Roller	Homemade, U frame, straight roller mounted bolt	Barry J. Rousey, 2023	86	58	42	66	163
647	Vertical Supply	Solid plate, captured Simmons Roller, bungie pulley on accessory cord	Vertical Supply, 1993	268	77	202	54	840