RE Akimbo setting and rope

I just want to say ... I used the akimbo today in a nasty grand fir removal... I used it in MRS for which it worked surprisingly beautifully. Very close to a zigzag
Although within an hour it had accumulated so much pine that I had to swap out to a hitch climber ...

This isn’t anything wrong with the device, but just a notice to keep it away from pitch and sap

Note: for those wondering it was run through a pinto at the top, damn near isolated
 
CanadianStan said:
I just want to say ... I used the akimbo today in a nasty grand fir removal... I used it in MRS for which it worked surprisingly beautifully. Very close to a zigzag
Although within an hour it had accumulated so much pine that I had to swap out to a hitch climber ...

This isn’t anything wrong with the device, but just a notice to keep it away from pitch and sap

Note: for those wondering it was run through a pinto at the top, damn near isolated
Click to expand...
but its spring... and a grand fir.. and a removal... you could have just dropped all the life support gear all together, the shit is better than a velcro suit
 
evo said:
but its spring... and a grand fir.. and a removal... you could have just dropped all the life support gear all together, the shit is better than a velcro suit
Click to expand...

True... it was absolutely disgusting. 42” DBH, one of the stems previously failed at about 24” diameter ... all in all nasty tree, tucked into the corner of a yard41DE6B49-706E-45CC-B328-66D3A3BFC8F1.webpC4A4C298-66F9-4A5F-B940-DC03AE29BBFA.webp
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Steve Connally said:
Just wait. I'm in the same boat. Jamie has a video coming out on the finer points of adjustment. Don't sell before it comes public. I'm not. I don't wanna sell because I'm too stupid to understand this thing called the Akimbo. I'll be sorry I did when its finally clicks then I'll have to wait another 3 years to get one. LOL
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Steve, x-static is the choice rope. Works like a dream. The difference between that and blue moon is night and day. I’m running a1 and I’m 180lbs.
 
Dragonfly is now my new favorite, it was km3max, but did my first climb on a new hank of fly and it was fantastic. I was weary because some said it was bouncy but it wasn’t and base tied 60’ tip. 175, new rope, D3.
 

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Acerxharlowii said:
Dragonfly is now my new favorite, it was km3max, but did my first climb on a new hank of fly and it was fantastic. I was weary because some said it was bouncy but it wasn’t and base tied 60’ tip. 175, new rope, D3.
Click to expand...
Base tied at 60’ is very different than base tied at 110’ or more. Good to hear it works well for you
 
Ran a few up and downs on a well loved Hank of km max. E/5 is pretty damn good. Felt alot like the bulldog bone, which is a match made in heaven for the km3.
Better than any settings I've found for the drenaline ( a/1 was as good as it got).

165lbs, gemini, likes long walks on the beach.
 
With all the variables like rope diameter, construction, and age, on to other things like climber weight, etc, there’s one thing I haven’t seen discussed. That is tree height and rope tail weight.

If you’re on a Petzl Rig/I’D, and work near the end of your tail, control is MUCH different than working with 100’ of tail. With enough tail weight below the device, you may actually have to feed rope INTO the device just to descend.

Also, take the Rope Wrench/Hitch or even the Rope Runner and try working with different tail lengths/weight. The difference is incredible. I’ve done countless climbs on my Runner on which 10’ or 15’ of tail made all the difference...for real. Near the ground it creeps and requires manual engagement of the Bird. I manage that with diligence because once I’m in the crown it’s perfect.

Bottom line...the one thing that will help consistency on any Multiscender is using a BRAKE HAND. With all the settings available, trying to dial a device in to work with one hand at any height is like finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It just doesn’t exist, and you can take that to the bank.

Adjust your device for proper grab and think less about how hard it is to break open the upper arms. Your brake hand will make all the difference.
 
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Excellent advice, Eric. I have noticed the same thing with all multisenders except the HH. Getting out of the, "does this setting work perfect for me" mode and getting to work will often have a similar effect as most climbers instinctively use a break hand more often than they think.
 
DSMc said:
Excellent advice, Eric. I have noticed the same thing with all multisenders except the HH. Getting out of the, "does this setting work perfect for me" mode and getting to work will often have a similar effect as most climbers instinctively use a break hand more often than they think.
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Agreed, though there are caveats that I think go hand in hand with climber experience. Many new climbers I see trying to incorporate a brake hand into the mix do so with said hand just below the device. The experienced climber will work it more like a hip belay with said hand well away from the device. In my opinion, the later is the most effective technique, and should be used before operating the device for proper effect.
 
dsptech said:
@evo, What's working best for you now?
Have you had a chance to climb on HTP again?
@Z'sTrees I like Geminis but you're too heavy and I don't do beaches, sorry. :(
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Just sticking with Drenaline. As the rope started to break in I opened it it up a smidge and it worked super duper buttery only to start creeping on a flat spot. Snugged it back up and the creep never went away. That was the last climb so haven’t played with it. The 12mm htp feels more like 12.5 or greater and I really don’t like the rope as it’s a pain to deal with the wireyness
 
evo said:
Without wading through what is currently 140+ pages of the akimbo thread, let’s talk deets!
What works, what doesn’t

Weight
Rope
Rope condition
Settings
Tips
Click to expand...

175#
Sterling Scion
Mid life, not too fuzzy
E5 all day
 
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evo said:
Just sticking with Drenaline. As the rope started to break in I opened it it up a smidge and it worked super duper buttery only to start creeping on a flat spot. Snugged it back up and the creep never went away. That was the last climb so haven’t played with it. The 12mm htp feels more like 12.5 or greater and I really don’t like the rope as it’s a pain to deal with the wireyness
Click to expand...
Yeah my HTP is 12.5.
Will get a chance later this week depending on weather to finally give it a try.
 
Finally had my first climb on my Akimbo yesterday.
First job of the year and had 7 Black Walnuts to remove and a prune on another.
Didn't want to mess around playing with it on the removals so I saved it for the prune so I didn't spend allot of time on it.
Using a spanking new hank of 12.5mm HTP and had the Akimbo opened all the way up.
Started a couple of feet off the ground and gave it a few good bounces.
Zero creep and took allot of pressure to pull the beak down so I just went for it.

Took a break about 20 feet up (not in shape yet) and the first thing that got me was the tending point releasing.
Knew it was going to happen so no big deal but a liittle surprised when it happened.
I wear a chest harness with a swivel snap hook normally when on the HH2.
On this climb I kept the swivel hook in place and added an XSRE to tend the Akimbo.
Hooked back up and climbed another 20 feet or so till I hit the first limb I could stand on.
So far so good, tending well without any noticeable drag.

Advanced my tie in point a couple of times wile trimming limbs and then did a limb walk to pull off a hanger.
Things got a bit interesting here.
I used a smaller limb that was above the limb I was walking out on for balance as I advanced.
My bridge and akimbo was off to my right side at this point with the tail of the rope behind me.
I had a difficult time letting out rope because of the odd angle (from tip behind me to tail behind me) and needed two hand to compress the beak and pull out rope while trying to keep my balance.
Had to let go of the limb I was using for balance, quickly try to let out a few inches of rope, and grab the limb again to keep from falling.
Had to repeat this several times till I reached the hanger.
The return trip was manageable.

Another issue I had when moving around the canopy.
Without any tension on the rope the top beak would drop and the rope would just go slack.
At times I would have up to a foot or two of slop with my adjustable bridge extended.
The Akimbo would just be hanging down at the end of my bridge and biner due to the tail of the rope resting on limbs below me.
I had to keep mindful of this and tend the slack often or pull the beak up so it would grip the rope.
Taking a fall with this slack would probably hurt on the HTP.
It seemed the the settings were a little lose at this point so I tightened up the top one setting.

Another thing I noticed when climbing up.
If I moved around the backside of the tree and stretched out to take a limb it was difficult to clip back into the tending point when I wanted to climb again. With the rope wrapped around the tree to the tip I had to pull the rope towards me and it was awkward to clip in.
I would get it clipped in and as I tried to step up the XSRE would pop right out.
This happened a couple of times and then I clipped in with the snap hook.
This worked much better at the hook was thicker.
It stayed in better but would still release when it was supposed too.

The ride down was better than I thought it would be.
At first I pulled the beak down real hard and it was jerky.
It was really hard to pull the beak down, took allot of effort.
Then I pulled down slowly till it started creeping and then had a real smooth ride down.

Experience with the 12.5mm HTP.
It is a firm and wirey rope as evo said before.
It was a new rope so it hockled a bit.
I climbed with a CT foot ascender and SAKA knee ascender and a rolled up chunk of rope for weight.
The SAKA advanced just fine but the CT wouldn't pass rope till I was a good 7 feet off the ground.

I just shy of 6' and weigh 175 lbs.
Climb with a Buckingham Ergovation Sit harness, Echo 355T, and a 13ft lanyard on my side.

I'm going to stick with the HTP for now to see how it and the Akimbo breaks in together.
I'll report back later.
 
175#
All Gear Rocket line
Mature, not too fuzzy
E5 all day

Slapped the Akimbo on my All Gear Rocket line today without changing any settings from my Scion.
 

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