Notch Rope Runner Vertec

[Rich Rule]

I had a climb in the Akimbo 2 or Max or whatever it was called.

 

Wasn’t for me, didn’t work in the Norwegian market.

 

i did three climbs on it and sent it on to the next tester.

[Ledburyjosh]

7 hours ago, Rich Rule said:

I had a climb in the Akimbo 2 or Max or whatever it was called.

 

Wasn’t for me, didn’t work in the Norwegian market.

 

i did three climbs on it and sent it on to the next tester.

No improvement on the first edition then?

 

Could you expand on why you didn't like it?

[Ledburyjosh]

I had a brief go on a Vertec. It bound nunerous times, only breifly but very annoying... its of the shortlist.

[Rich Rule]

On 07/03/2025 at 06:29, Ledburyjosh said:

No improvement on the first edition then?

 

Could you expand on why you didn't like it?

Meant to reply last night but ended up going out shooting.

 

I have:had the Akimbo and Akimbo Max, the first being the Gofundme version and the latter a prototype sent out to the Gofundme contributors for testing.

 

Both of them were great IME if you had a dry day, zero humidity, clean tree and a brand new rope.  If any of the above factors changed then the device was a POS.

 

Jaime even sent me a new cam for the Gofundme version with slightly different angles to try and compensate for easier release of the top lever as it would bind up and be almost impossible to descend.

 

Again, IME it didn’t really change anything.  Worked well until you introduced any of the factors I mentioned above.  I was forever faffing about to get it to work.

 

I even said it to Jaime that I wish he had sent them to be tested by production climbers in Europe.  Rather than some of the California crews who climb in dry conditions.

 

Oh, I didn’t mention sap.  A sticky Spruce in the height of summer means you pretty much can’t move anywhere.

 

Also bear in mind I was coming from having used the Rope wrenches and Rope Runners since they were launched along with an early edition Compact Bulldog Bone.

The Akimbo looked neat and had real potential just not reliable enough for an everyday work tool, like the others I mentioned.

 

The RE production models might be different but I have never climbed on one.

 

I still have my Gofundme prototype in the truck, gathering dust.

 

Cool looking paperweight though.

[Ledburyjosh]

Yup that sums up my experience with my akimbo also. Massive potential, let down by it not actually working reliably.

I'd be faffing changing my setting numerous times a day a right pain in the ass.

 

I'm currently borrowing a BDB which is pretty sweet even though its pretty worn out it works, easy to midline attach and reliable without needing adjusting.

Edited Saturday at 20:42 by Ledburyjosh

[kram]

The knut prussik is still winning then?

 

2 hours ago, Ledburyjosh said:

I had a brief go on a Vertec. It bound nunerous times, only breifly but very annoying... its of the shortlist.

Was it hitting on the carabiner?

[Ledburyjosh]

12 hours ago, kram said:

Was it hitting on the carabiner?

Yeah. Otherwise an improvement on the pro in terms of ergonomics and attaching it to the line. But the binding is a big flaw for an expensive bit of kit.

 

The absence of the slot in the bird like the RRP is a good thing. I've not seen it mentioned before but that slot can lead to a free fall when used in a moving rope set up by the bird jamming on the dead end of the rope holding it open. This predominantly happens when used with a cambium saver which allows the ropes to run close and parallel. I fell several metres before hitting the bird up and coming to a stop. That is also a major flaw with the RRP if used in that set up.

[Dan Maynard]

6 hours ago, Ledburyjosh said:

The absence of the slot in the bird like the RRP is a good thing. I've not seen it mentioned before but that slot can lead to a free fall when used in a moving rope set up by the bird jamming on the dead end of the rope holding it open. This predominantly happens when used with a cambium saver which allows the ropes to run close and parallel. I fell several metres before hitting the bird up and coming to a stop. That is also a major flaw with the RRP if used in that set up

 Not had this, but then I tend to just pop the biner open and put the bowline in beside the RRP so the dead end is definitely at the side of the device, away from the slick pin ends.