This is the Akimbo

[JMerritt]

Just got mine this afternoon. Are the upper and lower adjustments supposed to be changed equally? G,7/F,6/... all the way down. Directions say start at max friction then come down one setting at a time. Would the be any advantage to having one adjusted more than the other? This is my first mechanical so trying to figure it out. Definitely harder pulling down to descend than a hitch and wrench, hoping it'll break in and get easier.

Hi Jeremy. Generally, the top and bottom will want to be near the same relative settings. So, C/3 or D/3. I’ve not found an instance where having the settings offset by more than two positions works very well.

 

[jeremywht2008]

Thanks. Only played with it a little bit in my barn last night but the first use I started off coming down correctly then got to one turning one the wrong way and it kept getting worse and worse until I figured out what I was doing. What were the conditions of the ropes used during testing? New, little fuzzy? I tried it on a couple newer ropes close to the ends so not really broken in and when I could get it to come down easily without much slipping it kept wanting to not grab well after going up unless I would lean back into my neck tether. The upper spring arm is moving and not sticking like a few others mentioned

 

[Raven]

It came it finally came! Can't wait to try this baby out - it's gonna revolutionize my music listening style. Gotta hit the rock gym to try the real Akimbo, -10 here again brrr.

 

[dsptech]

It came it finally came! Can't wait to try this baby out - it's gonna revolutionize my music listening style. Gotta hit the rock gym to try the real Akimbo, -10 here again brrr.View attachment 57306

You just have to upload an mp3 of that track.

 

[Greg_L]

I'm a couple days in now. Liking it more all the time.

If I have any crown cleaning to do next week, I'll still be on my zigzag...gotta make that production...but if I'm doing any spar or quick-up one limb sort of work, I'm feeling comfortable enough with it to start making it earn its keep. Limb walks are getting smoother. I ran it through several 50' descents, as fast as I dared, trying to help polish and smooth the action. No significant differences, but muscle memory is doing its job and I know better when it starts to release, etc.The rope problem doesn't feel like a problem so much now.

What's everyone climbing on right now? I'm hearing lots of Yale, and lots of Drenaline so far. Anyone on Xstatic? Vega?

 

[John@TreeXP]

Here's another Akimbo bounce test. Seems OK to me. Still need a better rope tho. HTP 7/16" with a C/7 on the Akimbo bollards. The easily adjustable croll chest harness works nicely, as well.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10157152930420763

 

[Mark Chisholm]

What I personally like is to set the upper bollard where its grabbing and when I rappel the lower and upper don't need to touch before I go down. What I mean is the lower starts to creep as soon as I get the upper close to it make sense?

 

[JMerritt]

Thanks. Only played with it a little bit in my barn last night but the first use I started off coming down correctly then got to one turning one the wrong way and it kept getting worse and worse until I figured out what I was doing. What were the conditions of the ropes used during testing? New, little fuzzy? I tried it on a couple newer ropes close to the ends so not really broken in and when I could get it to come down easily without much slipping it kept wanting to not grab well after going up unless I would lean back into my neck tether. The upper spring arm is moving and not sticking like a few others mentioned

The ropes tested were new. I’m not sure if they were washed once or not. Are you saying the top cam was or was not sticking? You can use a drop of light oil to lube it or graphite powder if you have it.

 

[Mark Chisholm]

Jamie, I'm just going to say this to put you a little more at ease....the Akimo is great! I have all of the other devices (except BDB) and it's the only one I keep on my harness everyday just in case I decide to do SRT work at any given moment. That should tell everyone something.

 

[JMerritt]

Jamie, I'm just going to say this to put you a little more at ease....the Akimo is great! I have all of the other devices (except BDB) and it's the only one I keep on my harness everyday just in case I decide to do SRT work at any given moment. That should tell everyone something.

Thanks mark, I do worry about what people think of it. It’s been so over hyped that some are bound to be dissapointed. Even unicorns have to take a dump sometimes

 

[evo]

Thanks mark, I do worry about what people think of it. It’s been so over hyped that some are bound to be dissapointed. Even unicorns have to take a dump sometimes

Don’t stress it unless there is a recall.

For me it was just the learning curve then the upper cam sticking creating a on or off situation. While not loaded it would slide down the rope, and when it was loaded it would be jerky. Now that it’s freed up it shows promise.

The only two things that I find mildly frustrating is the bollard slop when adjusting, falling out of setting. Then how hard it is to see what setting it’s on. I know I’ve mentioned this before. Both I know I can overcome once I become dialed into the Akimbo.

The new minor gripe is the tending hole. The Akimbo cannot be opened with anything in the tending hole. See how minor my gripes are! Freaking whaaa.. I think my solution is to get a swivel snap at the hardware store, this way I can snap into the tending hole and just tug it out when I am done. The little wire gate on mine is too small with gloves on to snap it onto a ring. But once again just little fiddly things that I need to figure out.

When it’s dialed in I love how smooth it is, and how I can place the heal of my plam under the lower cam, and use two fingers on the upper cam to operate. It doesn’t seem to like any sticky stuff on the rope, so that might be a little challenging. Otherwise is more consistent than a well dressed hitch!

 

[dsptech]

The new minor gripe is the tending hole, whaaa.. It doesn’t seem to like any sticky stuff so that might be a little challenging.

Can't bear to listen to all that whining.
Just use a baby wipe from your pack on the sticky stuff.

 

[jeremywht2008]

The ropes tested were new. I’m not sure if they were washed once or not. Are you saying the top cam was or was not sticking? You can use a drop of light oil to lube it or graphite powder if you have it.

Upper cam is moving fine. It's doing like in the video 2300 posts ago that you put up where it doesn't want to grab the rope. It will grab when there isn't any weight on the rope. When I'm climbing and come to a stop, all my weight on foot ascender rope is tight where akimbo is and I go to sit down it wants to slide down unless I lean back into my neck tether then it'll grab. Maybe the rope I'm using(kernmaster), little to small, it's newish? Had it set F,6. I said earlier this is my first mechanical so maybe it's just gonna take some getting use to.

 

[Scottyrunner100]

Jamie, I'm just going to say this to put you a little more at ease....the Akimo is great! I have all of the other devices (except BDB) and it's the only one I keep on my harness everyday just in case I decide to do SRT work at any given moment. That should tell everyone something.

Haven't gotten my Akimbo yet to compare it to, but the Adjustable BDB is awesome.

 

[Windwalker]

First climb. My thoughts coming from a rope runner and a HH2. This thing is an engineering marvel. Running just fine on tachyon. Started on the max friction setting on both upper and lower, currently in the third position from max and running smoothly and no creep in any of the three settings. Climber weight without gear, 165. I kinda dig the tending attachment set up. I use a web neck loop with a mini micro biner. It tends great while ascending and when I get to where I want to work I can just lean back and the micro biner pops out of the tending loop. One less thing to unhook.

 

[RyTheTreeGuy]

First climb. My thoughts coming from a rope runner and a HH2. This thing is an engineering marvel. Running just fine on tachyon. Started on the max friction setting on both upper and lower, currently in the third position from max and running smoothly and no creep in any of the three settings. Climber weight without gear, 165.

Akimbo and Tree o Cache...sweet. Anything good in the bucket?

 

[Windwalker]

Akimbo and Tree o Cache...sweet. Anything good in the bucket?

I am the one who set the bucket, it was a routine maintenance check. I check on it three times a year. The contents are pretty slim, and unfortunately treestuff is getting away from the bucket format and is switching over to a placard. Take a picture of the placard and I guess they'll send you some goodies. I kinda like the trade/swap format of the bucket, but its not my call.

 

[JMerritt]

Upper cam is moving fine. It's doing like in the video 2300 posts ago that you put up where it doesn't want to grab the rope. It will grab when there isn't any weight on the rope. When I'm climbing and come to a stop, all my weight on foot ascender rope is tight where akimbo is and I go to sit down it wants to slide down unless I lean back into my neck tether then it'll grab. Maybe the rope I'm using(kernmaster), little to small, it's newish? Had it set F,6. I said earlier this is my first mechanical so maybe it's just gonna take some getting use to.

kernmaster is definitely a little skinny. it is not one of the ropes on the approved list. not sure if it hasnt been tested yet or it didnt perform well.

 

[evo]

kernmaster is definitely a little skinny. it is not one of the ropes on the approved list. not sure if it hasnt been tested yet or it didnt perform well.

It flattens a bit, but works for me with a little room to spare. Almost tempted to try it on 12mm kern

 

[School]