What the bananas

I don't get why people defend the Akimbo like it is some sort of mechanical prusik sent from heaven. I think it sucks. And I for one am glad companies are trying to improve upon it. Yep, this is bigger, but if it works better, I wouldn't care that it is twice the size. I always thought the Akimbo was too small anyway. And if you can't drag this up a rope with you, you probably shouldn't be in the tree in the first place.
My 2¢ for today, and I will now get down off my soap box as the crowd cheers my departure.
 
Shadowscape said:
I don't get why people defend the Akimbo like it is some sort of mechanical prusik sent from heaven. I think it sucks...
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An excellent example of why tree work has so many tools and techniques that outwardly appear to accomplish the same thing. Our needs and desires are as varied as the conditions and trees we climb.

I, personally, love the Akimbo and am thrilled that Jaime made the effort to develop it. Does it have the depth and range of control of a hitch-based system? Hell, no! Does it have enough range and control to accomplish what needs to be done in most climbing situations? For me it does, in spades. Small, easy to adjust, lightweight, easiest and fastest on and off the rope of any multisender I have used. It also lasts a long time, making it an excellent value. Love the Akimbo!
 
There is no way an akimbo can move on a rope like a roperunner. I played with one for days trying to get it to slide down a rope smooth on a descending swing, which is my yardstick for a multiscender. No damn luck in that area. Up and down I went with settings, either to tight or too loose and mostly jumpy. Frustration set in and I aborted. I will give it a try again, but doubt it will churp me in. I do not like breaking it from behind the rope like a Bulldogbone. The runner bird breaks from the front, allows me to feather nicely. I csn bomb around and float to a stop with little effort like an Apex with dialed hitch. That buckingham clunker is a no show I am betting. My 2 cents.
 
islandarb said:
There is no way an akimbo can move on a rope like a roperunner. I played with one for days trying to get it to slide down a rope smooth on a descending swing, which is my yardstick for a multiscender...
Click to expand...

I have no problem with fast one-handed swings when using the Akimbo. It does well in the yank-and-bank mode. Small, partially weighted maneuvers require two hands for me. Far too many variables for one device to work as needed for all individuals. Nice to have options.
 
The Akimbo is probably just right for some people. We each have our own. My issues with it were: Spent way too much time adjusting it. Every time I changed ropes I had to spend way more time than I liked trying to get it to work the way I wanted. If it rained I had to spend way more time than I wanted readjusting it because the rope changed size. Constantly adjusting it and readjusting it. About the time I thought I had got it dialed in for the day I would find that it creeped. On descending it never, ever came to a stop when I wanted, but always kept going for a bit, which caused me to attempt to speculate how far further I was going to travel when I wanted to stop. Then the sap issues. Absolutely sucks when your rope gets pitch on it. If you work with Balsam Firs, or Spruces you might as well toss it overboard and use it for a crappy anchor.
For a $300+ piece of equipment I expected it to be a bit more user friendly and work at least as good as a prusik cord. But it failed miserably. Should have been more in the 150 dollar category. Still wouldn't want one, but I would have felt like I didn't get taken to the cleaners by all the hype for that unit.
But those who think it is a wonderful thing, more power to you.
 
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