Does climbing gear pulling out soften the blow on the next piece?

Putting in climbing trad gear that might not hold you can sometimes make you feel better, but it also can wear you out to put it in. Does that gear help absorb some of the fall if it blows??? We did 6 tests on the drop tower and here were the results:
►Test 1 - Dog bone only - Dummy 4.08kN
►Test 2 - 2 Catnips - Dummy 3.18kN / Catnip 1.79kN (it reduced it by 0.9kN)
►Test 3 - 2 Catnips - Dummy 2.93kN / Catnip 1.92kN (it reduced it by more than 1kN)
►Test 4 - Dog bone only - Dummy 4.42kN / Dog bone 7.64kN
►Test 5 - 2 Catnips - Dummy 3.07kN / Dog bone 5.95kN (it reduced it by 1.53kN)

Videos I found whippers on:

00:00 The failed attempt
01:43 The experiment
02:36 Test 1 - Dog bone only
03:23 Test 2 - 2 Catnips
04:27 Test 3 - 2 Catnips
05:06 Test 4 - Dog bone only
05:43 Test 5 - 2 Catnips
06:19 Is it worth it?

[FallLineJP]

0:01 - Decking definitely helps soften the blow on the next piece.

[fabian]

What a great video! Thank you very much! In Germany there is a saying "Was nicht hält, bremst wenigstens." -- Literally translated: "What doesn't hold, at least brakes.". ;-)

[nunniabidnets]

These drop tower tests are the bomb! I wish I had them 20yrs ago. This channel, with the pull tests and drop tests have definitely changed how I see trad climbing and climbing gear in general. Love this channel! I tell everybody I get to know who climbs about this channel.

[bonefishboards]

Outstanding tests. I like placing gear and this makes me feel much better on sketchy leads.

[macsinger]

This is exactly the kind of testing on your channel that helped push me from sport into trad climbing. Thank you so much!
Trust gear not rocks!

[francescocorriero]

There is a wave interacting with the first catnip. You can see it at 3:40. Observe the elongation of the catnip. It stretches (first peak), shrinks, stretches again, then breaks (second peak).

[jimf]

Placing rubbish gear is a subject that is particularly close to every Scottish winter climber's heart! I feel validated!

[adomasvysniauskas]

Starting from 5:59 it's clearly visible that the rope "falls down" through the catnip's carabiner until the steel piece falls below and starts pulling the rope down. I believe that's when the first (smaller) spike is generated. If you had your steel dummy further away (horizontally) from the catnip to let it fall, the spike would not be generated. The swing would, though. 😁

[bennettpearce]

You should test screamer dog-bones now that you have the drop tower. It would be super interesting to see how much they reduce the load on the bolt by.

[maximilianbraun]

Maybe you could redo the test with half ropes to simulate the half rope climbing technique. Because a mountain guide told me that one of the main benefits of half ropes and always only clipping one of them is that the forces in a fall get reduced.
Greetings from Italy

[alexstarr]

That's a great idea putting the LineScale in the hard case. Looks really slick. Keep up the great work :)

[enjii]

Yo Ryan. It's actually gotten to the point that I'll have a random question and wake up and google it, and you'll have tested it. Keep up the great work!

[Slab_Justice_Warrior]

For any physics instructors out there, this is a great and fun example of the conservation of energy principle. Ryan even supplies all the numbers!

[roamerreed]

Ryan, I really got to say I appreciate all that you do man. Always informative and fun. 🤘😎 keep up the good work man.

[jibblehardicardi]

Agree with below, first spike is the beginning of slack being pulled back through.
Nice vids, certainly new format is a style improvement with the 'location' shots on intro etc in different place instead of entire video of you in a shed xD. Keep up the good work asking the questions that people hadn't thought to ask.

[rkindervater]

I love these vids. You learn so much. Just subscribed to patreon last week to support them. I hope lots of others do too!

[haroldslawter]

I'm not even a climber but been watching his stuff for a year now for some reason I really like the drop tower over the

[jonathangonzalez]

It would be pretty cool to be able to measure the acceleration, velocity, and position of the "dummy". It could give further insight into what's going on in the drop tower tests. Not familiar with those systems, but an accelerometer could be up to the task, or maybe some kind of video software. Stoked to finally see these drop tests! Thanks for all the work guys

[nickvehive]

Asking the real questions! Great stuff!

[redpakiu]

The tower and the LS3 are portal to a new dimension. The way HN2 is evolving is sexy.