Taping my Tool?

I'm new to ice climbing and just picked up my first set of tools. I was wondering, from experience, what's the best product to tape up your tools with for the best overall performance (i.e. grip, not freezing, not ripping gloves up)

I've heard Skateboard Grip Tape, Tennis Racquet tape, Amalgamating tape, and this new stuff called X-treme Tape. Any thoughts? Pro and Cons would be lovely.

Here are a couple links to discussions on taping ice tools.

neice.com/ubbthreads/showth…

rockclimbing.com/cgi-bin/fo…;search_string=tape%20ice;#2056481

I suspect this thread will become dirty in 3..2..1

I would think Gorilla tape would be the way to tape that monster !!!

This thread can lead to no good! LOL!

That being said. I have never had an issue with my tools slipping, I have petzl aztars now. I used to have grivel rambos. Neither one ever slipped whether I was bashing crusty ice away or attempting to be delicate. I know the tools I learned on which were damn old as my mentor is damn old were taped with athletic tape. that sucked.

Tennis racket grip tape works killer but make sure you buy the kind that does not say "absorbent" on the package.

Tennis racket grip like they say.
It insulates well. Sticks well for the most part and grips nice with big gloves even. I tape over a strand of the top with climbing tape to keep it stuck. Hasn't come off sense.

If you go with grip tape. The trick is to cut small strips. Like french fries, or freedom for that matter...

Bigger strips tend to peal in the cold and with wear. If you use stripes it will cover the same area and be less apt to peal.

Also dont cut square edges but try to make them more round as with out corners the will not peal as easy either.
Woop woop.
Mixed is bomb.

I use bicycle handlebar tape. The type made from Cork (Cinelli brand).

The main reason I use that type is that it insulates the handles when I'm using thin gloves so my hands stay warm. I just hate it when my hands go numb with cold and I'm leashless!! Plus the cork tape is sticky, when you wrap the axe handle it stretches and you won't have any gaps in between the wraps AND you can get 30 different patterns and colors!!!!

Petzl makes a really good sticky tape that wraps well and grips but it isn't very insulative. One caution is that the handlebar tape does increase the circumference of your axes so if you have small hands you may not want to use it.........

Any other kind of tape seems inferior in my opinion.

Hey SAL!! When you gonna get back into ice climbing and leave those desert/Zion splitters to the REAL climbers?!!! LOL...hope to see you soon,

JACK

Hey Jack O.
I miss ya pal. I slacked off this year with such warm weather. When you were in Patagucci I was actually hooking it ;)
Then you came back and BamB! Nice weather for all sorts of rock.

Lets get out soon though. Buzz me when you are back this side of the poopile.

The other day I used some spray on, rubberized automotive undercoat at work (for an unrelated project) and thought "this stuff would be great on my ice tools!"

link

I've got a patch of petzl tape on the second grip and another at the top of the shaft for a nice warm place to grab on lower angle terrain. The tape, especially he top section gets banged up and peals away. I also don't see a good way to get the tape around the head of the tools.

So I think the rubberized undercoat might work pretty well here. I could put a thin coat on tools, masking off places where I don't want any coating, and hopefully make for a nice grippy and warm surface.

Anyone else try something like this.

Todd,
I picked up a set of Petzl Nomic tools a couple years ago and the manufacturer's tape on the upper handle started shredding as we swung them in the living room. I've tried a few different types of tape over the years on my old Cobra's and now these. I've found that the tacky hockey tape they use for the sticks is about the best thing going. It can absorb some water (bad), but it's easy to hold, doesn't change the grip or feel of the tools too much(any padded tape had that effect for me), and it's cheap. 4 years now I think and I've still got more than half of the first $3 roll left. It's a cheap investment so if you don't like it just send me some hate mail and you'll only be out the 3 bucks.
Tony

There's a product in the plumbing or electrical section (can't remember which) at Home Depot (and probably McGuckin's and other HW stores) called "Rubber Mastik". It's a very sticky rubber tape (some may find it too sticky) that eventually (weeks?) bonds to itself so won't peel off. It also insulates well. It's a matter of preference if it's too sticky or not. I've used it on the head of my alpine axe(s) for insulation. It feels pretty similar to the tape that came on the Nomics when they were first imported.

For my ice tools, I use regular old friction tape (probably same stuff as for hockey sticks etc.) It's low bulk (I have small hands) and a bit sticky for a while. The stickiness fades pretty quickly but it still provides good friction.

guys, guys, please. this is serious business.

Any new opinions on taping tools such as the nomic?

coldthistle.blogspot.com/20…

sounds like the 3m stuff is pretty good

coop wrote:Any new opinions on taping tools such as the nomic? coldthistle.blogspot.com/20… sounds like the 3m stuff is pretty good

This is what I use.

coop wrote:Any new opinions on taping tools such as the nomic? coldthistle.blogspot.com/20… sounds like the 3m stuff is pretty good

Do not use 2228. It's way too sticky, I mean everything sticks to it. If you put your tools together, you'll get a workout just to separate them. I'm trying out 2242 this year.

divnamite wrote: Do not use 2228. It's way too sticky, I mean everything sticks to it.

Some how I thought that was the idea....

Same 2228 tape job on my Nomics for the last 4 years going on 5 now.
Looks like shit but no complaints on how long it lasts or how it climbs. BTW 2228 looses some stickiness over time so it no longer "sticks to everything". But still offers decent cold temp insulation and a great grip.

Dane wrote: Some how I thought that was the idea.... Same 2228 tape job on my Nomics for the last 4 years going on 5 now. Looks like shit but no complaints on how long it lasts or how it climbs. BTW 2228 looses some stickiness over time so it no longer "sticks to everything". But still offers decent cold temp insulation and a great grip.

I'm only offering my observation after one season with them on my Nomics. I don't think it's the only tape that offer insulation and grip. I definitely can do without the tape being too sticky. This year, I'm getting rid of 2228 and replacing it with 2242, maybe it'll be better.

Nice job on the Petzl Ice pick modification, Dane.

Hey, I have seen Jack take a good size whipper dicking around and hold on to his Nomics the entire ride. He says the bike tape is sticky...who am I to say other wise with only a 100K miles or so on a road bike :)

He didn't drop his tools. But he did forgot them at the next belay so they can't be that sticky ;-)

I've had guys tell me seriously that the 2228 weights too much. Ya gotta use what works for you. I do.

two rubber bands and a dorito bag. your tool will be safe for hours of enjoyment.

Me and a friend tossed around the idea of using that 5.10 paint on rubber stuff to paint the upper part of part of our tools. Not sure if it would stick on though, supposedly it will stick to shoe surfaces...probably not to ice tools