This is the Akimbo

Ok, I apologize for going on about this critter... I'm a little buzzed up on caffeine (as in, full blown crackhead buzzed up) and admittedly a bit excited to play with this thing. On the KM-III Max (a rope I truly adore) I started with the same settings that I started with on the Cherry Bomb and it works absolutely beautifully. Might fiddle with the top adjustment for shits and giggles, but it feels real good where it is. Very responsive and smooth as butter. For me, this might be the rope for it. One more pic of the Akimbo and the Rope Wrench setup that I have been using with this rope. All the other ropes so far were new ones... this one has a little mileage on it. Note the huge difference in vertical space consumed by the two setups.

Akimbo-RopeWrench-SIZE.webp

If you thought you wanted one of these (I know I did) then just wait until you get one in your hands. The new, shiny toy stuff will wear off, I'm sure, but it will be replaced, I'm also sure, with that "glad I got this" feeling.
 
@JeffGu i am really glad you like it so far! i feel like a dumbass but it wasnt untill recently that i realized you were the same Jeff on the gofundme list. i thought you were trying to troll me. that said, you and a few others who gave me a hard time really helped me stay on track in a way. i could see myself tinkering with this thing forever. i honestly hope that you continue to criticize me and the Akimbo, that is how it will get even better.
 
If I continue to harass you, my friend, it will be because you're a frickin' genius and I need you to stay humble so you keep exploiting every crazy idea you have. In spite of a lot of fears expressed that this might be another ho-hum mechanical, I think it just might be as close to perfection as anyone can reasonably expect. And, I've been playing with it some more with the KM-III Max rope. This is a 32-strand, 11.1mm line with a nylon core. But, it's very firm and the Akimbo loves it. I braved the dark, cold and wet and made about 30 trips up and down my whopping 4' of working height on the garage hook... wow. Just wow. I stuck it on an Aztec 11.7mm Yale line, and I thought it flattened out a bit too much and had more drag. For me, the KM-III Max is going to be it... I can tell already. Thanks for sticking with your pet project for so long, and seeing it through. I have no doubt that the RE version will be amazing.
 
Keep posting your impressions Jeff, it will definitely help others who have, or will be getting one.

My indoor climb spot is the basement stairs, get about 10-12 feet
 
JeffGu said:
.... On the KM-III Max (a rope I truly adore) I started with the same settings that I started with on the Cherry Bomb and it works absolutely beautifully....Very responsive and smooth as butter....
Click to expand...

I have not used KM-III MAX. How is it with knots?

I can't wait for more people to experience the Akimbo. It has truly set a new standard; not just because of its very good performance, but by what I can only express as its completeness. It does and is everything that is needed, imho.
 
How does the akimbo tend slack with some rope weight? The only other mechanical I have/used is the runner and it's awesome for that. Can you still free climb or spike and have slack just fall through like the rope runner?
 
It is adjustable to some extent. By running the top friction cam at its most open usable position, for the rope being used and the other controlling factors, the rope will fall through with very little restriction. The upper cam has a relatively strong spring so there will always be some small amount of drag.
I am not a fan of tools that have slack just fall through. To some that is apparently the epitome of performance. I find it annoying at times so it is nice being able to set it with just a bit of resistance.
 
Thanks dsmc. I definitely understand what you mean about gobbling up slack when you don't want it to. With the runner I have gotten used to putting a slipknot above it when I want to keep some slack for whatever reason. I also have Gordon's BOLA and it is perfect for a lanyard adjust because it doesn't eat slack. I have gotten used to having the roperunner self tending amd have been able to utilize this feature in my techniques. I am glad to know the akimbo can be set to work similarly.
I, as well as many others can't wait for the production version to hit the market. Wishing I had got on the gofundme bandwagon but I am excited to see what rock exotica will add to the mix.
 
DSMc said:
I have not used KM-III MAX. How is it with knots?
Click to expand...

It feels about the same, to me, as any of the 11.5 or 11.7 doublebraid ropes I have. I usually tie a stopper knot on the end (Ashley) and the rope has a nice hand. It's a tad stiffer feeling than the Aztec ropes, but still ties easily. When it was new, it was stiffer, but it started softening up a little after a few climbs on it. It's a strong bastard, I think about 8,000 lbs. tensile. Tough jacket, too. It feels different, and at first it just seems... I don't know, slick and small, bit stiff... just different. After using it all summer, I just got more and more impressed with it. Now, it's a little duller, a little softer... but I would have to take an extreme closeup of it with a macro lens for you to see any sign of wear on it. The Aztec ropes (all on DdRT) actually show more fuzz, now, and they're always run through a pulley!

I have heard some people say that they thought it was too bouncy. I don't like climbing on a steel cable, so it has never bothered me. It's very reasonably priced, so you can always buy a 75' hank with a sewn eye and try it out with a canopy anchor. Unless, of course, all your trees are 175' tall. ;)
 
The Akimbo came to me in my shamanic fever vision dreams last night.
The rope gods have bestowed their blessing upon this mortal motion.
Passage into the higher planes shall be granted by the Guardian, provided the rituals are observed in the presence of the divine shape.
The brotherhood shall continue to ascend and sacrifice/offer celestial atonement.
 
JeffGu said:
Ok, I apologize for going on about this critter... I'm a little buzzed up on caffeine (as in, full blown crackhead buzzed up) and admittedly a bit excited to play with this thing. On the KM-III Max (a rope I truly adore) I started with the same settings that I started with on the Cherry Bomb and it works absolutely beautifully. Might fiddle with the top adjustment for shits and giggles, but it feels real good where it is. Very responsive and smooth as butter. For me, this might be the rope for it. One more pic of the Akimbo and the Rope Wrench setup that I have been using with this rope. All the other ropes so far were new ones... this one has a little mileage on it. Note the huge difference in vertical space consumed by the two setups.

View attachment 42240

If you thought you wanted one of these (I know I did) then just wait until you get one in your hands. The new, shiny toy stuff will wear off, I'm sure, but it will be replaced, I'm also sure, with that "glad I got this" feeling.
Click to expand...
Dude, this is one of my favorite things about using a mechanical for SRT. It's so compact. Really shows how nice the size is when your working a spar using a cinched anchor with a retrieval tail. Loooooove it!
 
I was hoping to try mine out on that orange Aztec... I've got a couple or three hanks of it... but weather turned nasty. Snowing again, tonight. Supposed to be 50*F on Monday, so only gotta wait awhile. I put it on a hank here in the house, but really can't tell much until I can get into a tree with it. Seems to flatten more than the KM Max, but it doesn't look like that will be an issue, from your pic. Thanks for posting that... :)
 
JeffGu said:
I was hoping to try mine out on that orange Aztec... I've got a couple or three hanks of it... but weather turned nasty. Snowing again, tonight. Supposed to be 50*F on Monday, so only gotta wait awhile. I put it on a hank here in the house, but really can't tell much until I can get into a tree with it. Seems to flatten more than the KM Max, but it doesn't look like that will be an issue, from your pic. Thanks for posting that... :)
Click to expand...
It's the wildest thing, Yale Sumac and Calamine liked the same settings as the Max for me...


Reed Wortley
CA# SO-6953A
CTSP# 01739
 
Worthaug said:
...the settings as the Max for me...
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's a strange little beast... my Max settings seemed good on the Aztec, but when I put it back on the Cherry Bomb, it definitely needs readjusting. I'm starting to get the hang of guessing which one needs adjusting, and which direction. That, and practiced opening the thing up a lot, and it's getting easier, as it loosens up a bit.
 
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