RE Akimbo setting and rope

[DSMc]

I have used all the multisenders. Believe me when I say, rope tools have come a long way. They are all good!
Having spent a lot of time on a Uni, maybe I can shed some light on their differences.

Though they both go on and off the rope equally fast, the Akimbo captures the rope more securely. That is just an observation. I never had any problems with the Uni losing the rope, but I did watch situations where it would have been possible.

The Akimbo's contact patches for friction control are more robust. This will show up if you like taking fast, one-handed swings or bombing out of the tree from height. I could wear out a Uni very quickly. The Akimbo has held up much better.

This brings up the last, and for me, the biggest difference. Being able to do the above!

 

[Tuebor]

I have used all the multisenders. Believe me when I say, rope tools have come a long way. They are all good!
Having spent a lot of time on a Uni, maybe I can shed some light on their differences.

Though they both go on and off the rope equally fast, the Akimbo captures the rope more securely. That is just an observation. I never had any problems with the Uni losing the rope, but I did watch situations where it would have been possible.

The Akimbo's contact patches for friction control are more robust. This will show up if you like taking fast, one-handed swings or bombing out of the tree from height. I could wear out a Uni very quickly. The Akimbo has held up much better.

This brings up the last, and for me, the biggest difference. Being able to do the above!

What about limb-walking? I was under the impression that the Uni was lousy in that respect, compared to other mechanicals.

 

[samsquatch]

Thanks for the input, definitely helps to hear how the positives of the unit are not compelling enough to make me go out & purchase the Akimbo.
I am of the Keep It Simple Stupid approach; 1) because that approach has value in "grab-n-go" situations where you don't want to worry about a finicky product and 2) because more people have used the simplest form of any given device than any number of permutations or customizations - and therefore those experiences are most relevant and helpful.

For that reason, the Unicender is still my go-to. It didn't perform well on my very seasoned Teuf Lava 11.7mm. But it NEVER slipped on my weight.
And more importantly for me, I got to see what would happen if the Uni were ever used in a fall arrest situation, and I'm relieved to see it did great:

 

[samsquatch]

What about limb-walking? I was under the impression that the Uni was lousy in that respect, compared to other mechanicals.

I've not experienced difficulty in limb-walking, but I do so in the ddrt "climbing in a loop" style akin to @oldfart's excellent video series.

 

[rico]

Here is my perspective so far. Please keep in mind that I have yet to run it through the paces due to weather shut down and a few nights in the ER for a life threatening situation for our 16month old.

Sending good thoughts Evo.

 

[evo]

Sending good thoughts Evo.

We are out of the weeds and in the forest. (Doing very well, still recovering but very well)

 

[John@TreeXP]

For limb-walking on the Uni, a RAD system helps a lot. Also using a micro-pulley under the Uni helps keeps things well oriented when tending line and helps prevent the rope from unintentionally unraveling from the lower fixed arm when the rope isn't completely vertical and under tension. When used properly, I don't imagine the Akimbo ever coming off the climbing line, unintentionally.

 

[DSMc]

I never had anymore trouble limb walking with a Uni than with any other SRS device.

I will clarify that though the Uni works well and I am proficient with its use, it is not what I am climbing on now. The Akimbo is a step up and a joy to use.

 

[rico]

We are out of the weeds and in the forest. (Doing very well, still recovering but very well)

Good news brother!

 

[samsquatch]

helps prevent the rope from unintentionally unraveling from one or more of the Uni's arms when the rope isn't completely vertical and under tension

This is the second time this was mentioned in here, about the rope coming out of the Uni. Are you referring to the rope coming out of the arm(s) at top or bottom of the Uni?
Before you answer that, this is off-topic. so.. sorry for threadjacking

 

[Merle Nelson]

Anyone interested in the Akimbo and thinking it's finicky, it's not at all for me. If you go and climb on someone else's just to try it out see if you can use the devise for days not minutes. Put it through a lot of varied use, with varied rope, weight, and especially technique.

 

[John@TreeXP]

This is the second time this was mentioned in here, about the rope coming out of the Uni. Are you referring to the rope coming out of the arm(s) at top or bottom of the Uni?
Before you answer that, this is off-topic. so.. sorry for threadjacking

It doesn't come out, but when tending slack it can misalign, or fall outside of the bottom's fixed arm. This is when using a micro pulley can come in handy and help keep the rope properly aligned when tending slack, especially if you're using the Uni more like a lanyard adjuster, or during a limb walk.

 

[JMerritt]

i still use a rope wrench quite often. the akimbo is not the solution to every climbing situation and it was never intended to be. the hype kind of grew legs and started running on its own after a while .

when i started working on it i was only making something for myself. i was trying to take all the things i liked (and that fit my style) about all the other SRS devices and put them all together into one package. it grew from there. is it perfect? not at all. does it work for everything? no, and not everyone will love it either. i dont want anyone to run out and buy this thing thinking its going to outperform every other device in every way.

the adjust-ability of it, in my opinion, is both a good thing and a bad thing. i have spent so many hours and gone through so many design changes and tweaks trying to make the adjustment system work easily and on a wide range of ropes/weights. i think i did OK, but it could be better. you would think that a rope is a rope and if it works well for one 11.5mm rope then it should work well for all 11.5mm ropes, but it doesn't. the adjustment aspect takes getting used to. after a while it gets to be second nature and i find myself tuning it constantly, like i tune my hitch cords.

as to weight limits, evo made a good post above. they are based on slippage and stopping distance on a dynamic fall, not slippage at a static climbing weight.

@John@TreeXP , what ropes are you using that wont hold at all?

 

[evo]

as to weight limits, evo made a good post above. they are based on slippage and stopping distance on a dynamic fall, not slippage at a static climbing weight.

@John@TreeXP , what ropes are you using that wont hold at all?

Now we are getting close... What weights, what ropes, what distances?! the geek in me needs to know.

 

[samsquatch]

@JMerritt Thanks for the input. And I think I speak for everyone when I say that we absolutely applaud your work in advancing the tech in the trees. We need more peeps like that.
I'll still be following people's reviews of the Akimbo. I'd love to give it a go, someday. Got to try everything, right!

 

[John@TreeXP]

@JMerritt Samson Predator & Edelrid Performance Static won't hold me on the Akimbo, regardless of all the bollard settings I've tried.

 

[JMerritt]

What diameter are those?

 

[jeremywht2008]

I have used it more the past few days and I'm liking it even more. That's kernmaster it's not super smooth but doable. I've got it to hold really good at one from max friction top and bottom, but have to collapse it to where it touches then can throttle off at come down. Any less it wants to slip some. Limb walking is a little rough. Tried it on my long blue- moon lanyard and it was good. Got some poison ivy that'll be here tomorrow.

 

[John@TreeXP]

What diameter are those?

Predator is 11.4 and the Performance Static is 11mm. The Predator rope is very squishy and the Edelrid rope just isn't big enough, diameter wise.

Wesspur says...

Performance Static 11mm by Edelrid
11mm (1/2”) • kernmantle • 6,969 lb (31 kN) MBS • 3.4% elongation at 10% MBS &bull 5.3 lb. per 100’ not spliceable

Performance. static is an excellent choice for SRT climbing systems thanks to the high abrasion-resistance and low elongation, combined with excellent handling. The high-quality kernmantle construction creates a kernmantle with virtually no sheath slippage, good grip, and reliable performance.

 

[Boconnor303]

Ive been toying with a few carabiners and grommets like the DMM Ceros with the captive bar and the DMM Wallis grommet....

I found the Akimbo connection wont fit over the horn of the Ceros/Rhino design to get the device in the captive corner and I dont love the idea of taking a sander to my bridge carabiner to make it go...

Also found the Wallis slips and moves around because it doesn't like to seat inside the Akimbo connection..

I did find that some 3/8 oil hose works amazing in keeping the device stationary and oriented correctly in a carabiner. I cut each piece with one end flat and one end on roughly a 45 degree angle, 45 sides face the device. 100% immobile on the carabiner.

Just thought I'd share..