Figfour Drytool Training Thingy

[RokIzGud]

This is kind of an interesting idea for training for dry-tooling. Has anyone used this?

 

http://www.alpkit.com/dryice

[John Frieh]

Malcolm reviewed them earlier this year and I believe he wasnt too impressed with them. He has a number of training/how to articles on his site that use your actual ice tools

[davidk]

those contraptions would not do anything to train for "the feel" of your personal tools, which is very important.

 

I made a small drytooling "system board" this year out of plywood and 2x4s, hung it high in my garage, and found something to lightly rest my feet on to simulate an overhang. It's modeled after a training element I saw in a Mountain Athlete video on Youtube, and has proved to be a very effective training tool.

[John Frieh]

those contraptions would not do anything to train for "the feel" of your personal tools, which is very important.

 

I made a small drytooling "system board" this year out of plywood and 2x4s, hung it high in my garage, and found something to lightly rest my feet on to simulate an overhang. It's modeled after a training element I saw in a Mountain Athlete video on Youtube, and has proved to be a very effective training tool.

 

Me too!

 

[counterfeitfake]

I haven't used that thing, but it doesn't look like it would be anything like drytooling.

[Alpkid]

Hi guys, the tools that Malcolm was using are not the Figfours. The Figfours have a handle designed to be used as a training aid rather than to recreate the feel of an actual axe handle. Figfour inventor Pete explains his thinking here:

 

http://www.alpkit.com/colab/notes/figfour-handle-design/

 

And some comments about the use of Figfour as a way of training for dry tooling by Ian Parnell here:

http://ianparnellphotography.blogspot.com/2010/01/few-more-winter-work-outs.html

 

Without a doubt the best training is always going to be with real picks, Figfour is an option for individuals or climbing gyms where safety or damage limitation is a priority.

[ARob]

Thanks for the advert Alpkid.