Figfour Reviews

We got them for our local bouldering wall and they absolutely rock! Was has amazed us is the entertainment value - adrenaline is back in the bouldering wall. A lot of care needed (just like on real ice) when placing and weighting the axes.

Routes that were easy classics of our bouldering wall are now super challenges for the axes. We tend to traverse a lot to get milage, and the axes are excellent for this. Since you hang out from the wall, you get sustained climbing more than with your hands.

We have considered making our own, but yours are so well made, packs heaps of incremental innovations, and are affordable (but currently sold out!), so why bother with our own - we would not be able to create such a work of beauty as you have.

Looking forward to seeing the axes entering the broader scene and how people are going to be using them.

Word of advice:
Make sure your falling areas are good - you never know when you might drop off like a sack of potatoes. Which is part of the fun (for the climber and the spectator)

Mathias
Denmark

Hey Alpkit!
I just got the parcel today which is a few days earlier than expected! Amazingly fast delivery from Uk all the way to Canada! I’ve been fooling around on the FigFours on my campus board at home and they work relatively well. Cant wait to take them to the local gym.
thanks
john

Dear Alpkit,
the Figfours had arrived today, like you told us.
We are very happy with these products and your service. We will test them in the next few weeks.
Your service was incredibly good :D
Thank you very much for this!
Bye
Sylvia and Malte Koenen

Ramon has posted up a review of his Figfours.

“So a few session have gone in with the Fig4’s and I can say they are a pretty good aid for specific training for mixed & ice climbing”

You can read more on his blog.
http://ramonmarin-uk.blogspot.com/2010/09/fig4s-indoor-tools.html

Figfour…
Generally I like it, great for climbing while I wanted to rest my injured finger but keep upper body going. Always feel a little exposed when bouldering but great for top roping. Nottingham was very accommodating as ever The Edge in Sheffield also was fine with them.
To improve: could supply with hints and tips manual for best practice rather just health and safety…... not much to say here you’ll be pleased to know!!

I bought them primarily to climb to keep upper body strength while my finger injury slowly mended. For this they were really fantastic. I did find the local climbing wall very accommodating but there were relatively few climbs I found were suitable - perhaps they will set some dedicated routs in the new Nottingham center!!
If I could add anything it would be an early warning device to let me know when I’m about to fall off!!!
Great job

Dear Alpkit,

I have only used the Figfours a few times since buying them, as we are currently in our winter here in New Zealand and I don’t train whilst I can do the real thing.

I am 46 and have found that training and climbing leads to tennis elbow and a long recovery period.

The tools work well on pointed and square holds at the wall, but not so well on the more rounded holds, slipping occasionaly. I haven’t tried asking my local wall to set up more friendly routes yet.

The wooden shafts are not as easy to grip as my real tools, (BD Vipers with finger rests & lots of black tape), but I think this is a good thing as it means that I have to grip harder, & so pump out more quickly.

Sorry I haven’t got more feedback for you, I’ll send some more info when I’ve given them more use.

Cheers,

Gary Kinsey