This is the Akimbo

Thanks again Jamie! I really appreciate your effort in designing, developing, and following through with a great company to get us all this amazing tool!


I have climbed on most of the current devices; only briefly on the bone and the runner; and quite a bit on the wrench, with all sorts of things underneath it. I also have a new gen Hitch Hiker X, which I got to satisfy my need for new SRS gear while I followed this thread and waited. I've never climbed on the Uni but I have done a lot of stationary rope work on the Rig.


From the very beginning, I believed your device was going to be great based on the design being so easily on and off the rope; so compact with the multiple friction points and ease of adjustment, with no tools needed or parts to drop.


Up until now, my favorite stationary rope device was the Rig - despite needing to use a YO-YO RADS, or switch to a separate Ascent system. I liked that it was fluid and smooth on descent and work positioning; and didn't require me to climb above the point where I wanted to be and then sit back as you would with a hitch, or manually set the rope wrench before letting the device underneath it grab. It stays on my harness, there was nothing to drop, and was quick and easy to get the rope in and out of - so very unlike putting together some of the other devices or tying a hitch and adding stuff to it. I've climbed on things with the wrench because sometimes it made more sense than switching over or using the RADS multiple times in a climb, but I didn't enjoy it nearly as much.


Now, thanks to you, we have the Akimbo!


Despite kicking myself for not putting in the full go fund amount instead of just a partial, I'm still proud to be part of the group that helped you get this project off the ground!


I must say, after all this time and the multiple pages of this thread I have followed for years now, I was starting to wonder if this device was going to be very finicky and difficult to dial in. Perhaps I am just in the correct weight range (175 lbs without gear) but it seems to work flawlessly. As per the instructions, I adjusted the bollards until the rope just fit in and it worked beautifully. Needed to redirect, popped the line off and back on faster than I could even think about changing one of the other devices, and didn't have to send my beautiful tool that I'm depending on through a branch union and get it back.


So far I've tried it on the fresh end of some LimeLite (type A nylon core version of Yale's XTC24 11.7mm) and some old New England Hy-Vee16 13mm with early prototype Sliace terminations I was given. For both, I adjusted the bollards until the rope just cleared. I don't even know exactly where the settings are at, but somewhere in the middle I believe. I'll start taking notes on the adjustments when I have time to dial in a little more, as I wouldn't be surprised if I could get it to start descending even smoother than it does now; although I have no problem with it as is.

It felt intuitive, and inspired confidence the very first time I loaded it on either rope. No slippage or sit back, super smooth ascent, and smooth controlled descent. I can't wait until it gets good and worn in, as many have stated it gets even smoother.

I primarily climb on 11mm Kernmaster for stationary rope work, but I haven't tried that yet as I wasn't sure how nice it would play (just under spec). The few times I've had to try the Akimbo so far were all during production, and I didn't have a lot of time to play. Considering we have a lot of adjustment in the bollards, I will eventually try it and I wouldn't be surprised if that works well too. If not, I may have to buy a new rope for it, perhaps some 13mm Kernmaster, cuz Kernmaster is awesome...


I like the safety features in the tending attachment point. I think it's a very clever solution to making sure that it isn't used improperly or loaded downward. It's also an added bonus that when I want to unclip, I can just scrunch down and pop out of it just like I kick off my Pantin when I'm done using that.


I have primarily climbed on mechanicals, and used mechanicals for my lanyards for quite some time, as I hate climbing past the point where I want to be and then tending my hitch, or sitting back half of the distance I just pulled before it catches, so I may be a bit biased about the feel - but I think it feels great.

I wonder if some people are trying to ease into it rather than just letting it grab. In my experience mechanicals generally need a very slight jolt, almost like a seatbelt action for them to function the best. You generally can't ease into a mechanical and expect it to grab consistently, you need to just sit in it. You can always have a brake hand below your device for extra security if it makes you feel better; but when you get to a point where you want it to grab, you have to let go briefly and allow it to grab.

I have seen people trying to climb on my SpiderJack and try to ease into it because they're not confident it will grab and it literally won't grab that way. I'm not sure how much the Akimbo is like that, I'm just kind of thinking out loud. I haven't tried it but as I'm used to mechanicals, it's something I've noticed. They may or may not grab well easing into them, but they always grab instantly if you let them - assuming they are already proven to be compatible and adjusted to whatever they're on.


I may be carrying on a bit now, sorry so long-winded, just wanted to say thank you for giving us this amazing tool! I'm really looking forward to the next chance I have to climb with it!


Cheers,


Bill
 
rico said:
Instead of shoving your Akimbo through a chipper, you could send it to my local Akimbo/Unicorn Sanctuary. You can take great solace in knowing that it will enjoy an organic free-range life, while spending its days frolicking with friends among the beautiful, golden, sunlit hills in the land of milk and honey!

Save the Akimbo Mutherfuckers!
Click to expand...
Sounds to me like a charitable excuse for someone now wanting one. ;)
 
Bill_N said:
Thanks again Jamie! I really appreciate your effort in designing, developing, and following through with a great company to get us all this amazing tool!


I have climbed on most of the current devices; only briefly on the bone and the runner; and quite a bit on the wrench, with all sorts of things underneath it. I also have a new gen Hitch Hiker X, which I got to satisfy my need for new SRS gear while I followed this thread and waited. I've never climbed on the Uni but I have done a lot of stationary rope work on the Rig.


From the very beginning, I believed your device was going to be great based on the design being so easily on and off the rope; so compact with the multiple friction points and ease of adjustment, with no tools needed or parts to drop.


Up until now, my favorite stationary rope device was the Rig - despite needing to use a YO-YO RADS, or switch to a separate Ascent system. I liked that it was fluid and smooth on descent and work positioning; and didn't require me to climb above the point where I wanted to be and then sit back as you would with a hitch, or manually set the rope wrench before letting the device underneath it grab. It stays on my harness, there was nothing to drop, and was quick and easy to get the rope in and out of - so very unlike putting together some of the other devices or tying a hitch and adding stuff to it. I've climbed on things with the wrench because sometimes it made more sense than switching over or using the RADS multiple times in a climb, but I didn't enjoy it nearly as much.


Now, thanks to you, we have the Akimbo!


Despite kicking myself for not putting in the full go fund amount instead of just a partial, I'm still proud to be part of the group that helped you get this project off the ground!


I must say, after all this time and the multiple pages of this thread I have followed for years now, I was starting to wonder if this device was going to be very finicky and difficult to dial in. Perhaps I am just in the correct weight range (175 lbs without gear) but it seems to work flawlessly. As per the instructions, I adjusted the bollards until the rope just fit in and it worked beautifully. Needed to redirect, popped the line off and back on faster than I could even think about changing one of the other devices, and didn't have to send my beautiful tool that I'm depending on through a branch union and get it back.


So far I've tried it on the fresh end of some LimeLite (type A nylon core version of Yale's XTC24 11.7mm) and some old New England Hy-Vee16 13mm with early prototype Sliace terminations I was given. For both, I adjusted the bollards until the rope just cleared. I don't even know exactly where the settings are at, but somewhere in the middle I believe. I'll start taking notes on the adjustments when I have time to dial in a little more, as I wouldn't be surprised if I could get it to start descending even smoother than it does now; although I have no problem with it as is.

It felt intuitive, and inspired confidence the very first time I loaded it on either rope. No slippage or sit back, super smooth ascent, and smooth controlled descent. I can't wait until it gets good and worn in, as many have stated it gets even smoother.

I primarily climb on 11mm Kernmaster for stationary rope work, but I haven't tried that yet as I wasn't sure how nice it would play (just under spec). The few times I've had to try the Akimbo so far were all during production, and I didn't have a lot of time to play. Considering we have a lot of adjustment in the bollards, I will eventually try it and I wouldn't be surprised if that works well too. If not, I may have to buy a new rope for it, perhaps some 13mm Kernmaster, cuz Kernmaster is awesome...


I like the safety features in the tending attachment point. I think it's a very clever solution to making sure that it isn't used improperly or loaded downward. It's also an added bonus that when I want to unclip, I can just scrunch down and pop out of it just like I kick off my Pantin when I'm done using that.


I have primarily climbed on mechanicals, and used mechanicals for my lanyards for quite some time, as I hate climbing past the point where I want to be and then tending my hitch, or sitting back half of the distance I just pulled before it catches, so I may be a bit biased about the feel - but I think it feels great.

I wonder if some people are trying to ease into it rather than just letting it grab. In my experience mechanicals generally need a very slight jolt, almost like a seatbelt action for them to function the best. You generally can't ease into a mechanical and expect it to grab consistently, you need to just sit in it. You can always have a brake hand below your device for extra security if it makes you feel better; but when you get to a point where you want it to grab, you have to let go briefly and allow it to grab.

I have seen people trying to climb on my SpiderJack and try to ease into it because they're not confident it will grab and it literally won't grab that way. I'm not sure how much the Akimbo is like that, I'm just kind of thinking out loud. I haven't tried it but as I'm used to mechanicals, it's something I've noticed. They may or may not grab well easing into them, but they always grab instantly if you let them - assuming they are already proven to be compatible and adjusted to whatever they're on.


I may be carrying on a bit now, sorry so long-winded, just wanted to say thank you for giving us this amazing tool! I'm really looking forward to the next chance I have to climb with it!


Cheers,


Bill
Click to expand...
Great review
 
Just ran the RE Akimbo on new 1/2 Safety Blue again today. I love this thing, I like 1/2 rope for many things and now I can get some climbing life out of it before I happen to pitch it up on a job and move it to pull rope duty with no regrets.
 
southsoundtree said:

@Raven is this the doohickey you speak of? Never seen it. Looks very smrt.
Click to expand...
http://www.treestuff.com/store/catalog.asp?item=2155

Should also do the trick. Nice and grippy on beaners and lots of stretch to fit over something. I've got dozens on Zipline slings, zigzag, spider Jack etc. Durable and Works great where you don't need to take the carabineer on and off regularly.

I'm sure I'll be putting one in the akimbo too once it gets here
 
Hadn't thought of putting one of those in the Akimbo. I have been using them for a while on other applications and the DMM grommets are high quality and high functioning. I'll add one soon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Kask Stihl NORTHEASTERN Arborists Wesspur TreeStuff.com Teufelberger Westminster X-Rigging Teufelberger
Back
Top Bottom