Akimbo vs Zig Zag Plus - Which Mechanical Prussic is Best?!

What's the best mechanical prusik device? It falls down to two fan favorites in the climbing community: the Rock Exotica Akimbo and the Petzl Zig Zag Plus. Which device is better between the two? Well that depends on what you're looking for. Watch the video to see our professional opinions!
If you want to try either of these climbing devices, you can always find them at Bartlett Arborist Supply. Take a look at our selection of climbing gear, safety equipment, and arborist clothing today!
www.bartlettman.com/

[@spiercevaughn]

I have used the Petzl ZigZag for years and love it- it’s smooth and easy to use. I just bought a Rock Exotica Akimbo and I love the design and concept, I especially like 2 things over the ZZ- having it midline attachable and having a short form factor that makes it possible to do spar work without having the length of the ZZ chicane setup jabbing me and preventing me from reducing my fall factor. Both great devices, and look forward to using the Akimbo more often

[@andrewperrie1979]

Great video guys. Love the playful banter 😃. Merry Christmas

[@Ddaverr1]

Nice to see a bit of a switch up with the gear review. Looks like Cody has a bit of an ice fishing sun burn. Happy holidays!

[@redbeardtree1776]

Great video!

[@bretthuet1396]

this is a great style of video

[@tittyrino]

Rope Wrench dude here in SW Pennsylvania. I will have both of these in my kit this summer.Also a DogBone as well. I am a rec climber and I have serious quality gear and don't do cheap. We are one fall away from a life changing experience, so I spend $ and Practice low n slow with new gear before going to the top. I started sleeping in trees and it's awesome.Stay safe and thanks for sharing.

[@cb5600]

Wow. Hilarious and informative. That was great!🧡👊🏻🇨🇦

[@havespurswillclimb]

Enjoyed the video. In my humble opinion the Zig Zag is by far the best mechanical prusik on the market. The only negative is not being mid-line attachable......which once you are familiar with the Zig Zag is not a problem. You get use to setting your Zig Zag up at the start and no need to remove during a climb. The Zig Zag is a smooth operator and not bothered by sap, wet ropes, etc.......just keeps working. And it functions very nicely in SRS with the chicane. JMHO

[@kevinwilson5118]

I'm with you homie, I've used just about everything and I'd take a ZZ over all the rest... I like the squirrel bc of its ability to attach midline, I just keep it on deck incase for some reason I may need it but usually that ZZ is all I need, lil bit of pre planning and there's never a hang up, I like that it makes me think in depth about my routes, I feel that it makes me a better and more imaginative climber than the alternatives that may be attached mid line.

[@runtimmytimer]

I just have a separate rope the ZZ stays on. Ropes aren’t that expensive.

[@Sethhaun78]

I bought all of them from bartlett .except akimbo wich I want to try its size is perfect .zigzag I wish they kept the small one .however chicane works great with hitch climber setup.besides not breaking down as fast as ropewrench. It's smoother ...if akimbo goes on sale going to try it.just got the climb pants can't wait hope they fit vertically challenged me

[@Dantrellis]

Good thing I have both 😊 Keep Kimmy in a ditty bag because she is mid line attachable. If I need to lanyard in and switch from my zig zag to Kimmy I can! Just can't have spliced eyes on my ropes anymore which saved me money I guess.

[@iwontbebeat7111]

Rope Runner Pro ? LoL Merry Christmas to you guys all 😁

[@joseecheverria8736]

Buen video varones , pregunta yo trabajo en contrusion ese freno tan vien sirve para el arnés de vida .👍

[@mattgiordano2262]

I love the zig zag plus for MRS, but i definitely dont like working it SRS due to requiring a the chicane or rope wrench. It's just over 12" in length. Versus having the akimbo which is i believ 6" long when there's tension in the rope. I'd like to be as close as possible to a spar if given the choice.

[@kboutdoors4599]

Petzle for me

[@mariomannelli9887]

Definitely by a long shot Kimbo sliced boya! The zig zag is good if you can get over the size and the horrors I seen with them. I own the kimbo and did own the zigzag didn’t like the bulkyness of the system and side load with a system that big is scary man! To each his own just climb safely please,I love my tree people!

[@mariomannelli9887]

@@BartlettArboristSupply that’s a fact jack! 🤙

[@AxBeaver]

I just saw this guy! Today

[@monkeylodgepanama474]

zig zag definately the best

[@JoseArias-ix3sv]

Podrías hacer un video explicando los voltages de la lineas de PG&E por favor

[@JoseArias-ix3sv]

@@BartlettArboristSupply Gracias de todas maneras por la respuesta

[@RobS406]

I love my zig zag. I will never go back to anything else!

[@colinsimons]

Zig zag👌🏻

[@dan-dan-da-treeman]

Rope runner pro!

[@kylevansickle5564]

Looking to buy a rope for the akimbo what would you recommend?

[@BartlettArboristSupply]

Tachyon, Xstatic, FTC Nigma, Blue Moon

[@jjhoffy]

@@BartlettArboristSupplywhat rope would you recommend for the zigzag?

[@kevinwilson5118]

I prefer the zig zag

[@XxtwichedxX]

The akimbo faster for single up, double down.

[@glenysierra7568]

Good 😅😅😅😅😅

[@jamesbanner2669]

Zigzag is best. The apprentice stows it anyway.

[@HaroldRidgeway74]

Personally ill take the unicender everyday, oh wait i already do...

[@fellowbrotherinwar]

Rope runner pro is better than akimbo

[@pyroninja90]

Uniscender squad lol

[@donnyarcane]

Let's be real here, the unspoken winner is the Rope Runner Pro

[@BartlettArboristSupply]

😏 Can't deny it!

[@josesanchez-ep4pm]

Spanish??? 😢

[@someguydino6770]

you can thank the reality TV shows of the 1990's for this idiocy

[@hcwaffles8912]

What do u guys think of the roperunner pro?

[@BartlettArboristSupply]

The Rope Runner Pro is an excellent device but just as with any device though; it will be personal preference. The device is larger than both Zig Zag and Akimbo. It has adjustable friction at the bird but does require tools to adjust and to some, it is easier to collapse when going to descend versus the Akimbo. The Zig Zag is hyper smooth and can work on an array of ropes, as long as they are within the diameter specs that Petzl has laid out. Rope Runner Pro shines on Stationary Rope just like the Akimbo. Zig Zag is smooth with Moving Rope and is smooth on Stationary, but the added Chicane will elongate the system quite a bit and this is cumbersome to most.

[@hcwaffles8912]

@BartlettArboristSupply ive actually found the roperunner to be smoother overall than the zigzag for both drt and srt but it does cost almost twice the price and it definitely doesnt like sappy ropes, it definitely does come down to personal preference, i bought the roperunner after trying it and the zigzag so i dont have any owners experience with the zigzag and ive never even seen an akimbo in person so this video was still very interesting, may see if i can find a way to try an akimbo if im ever looking to replace my roperunner

[@jonbacon8924]

Add sap to this equation and the akimbo is unusable. My Akimbo sits in my bag. ZigZag is used daily.