Wrap your tool

Just thought I'd post up the wrap job I did on my tools. I used bike cork tape for like $6 and it turned out pretty great, and should keep my hands warmer with thin gloves this winter.

Looks nice. I have always used hockey stick tape, it's got a bit more grip. Probably not as warm though.

Oh, ice tools. I thought you were talking about something else entirely.

Marc H wrote:Oh, ice tools. I thought you were talking about something else entirely.

Hehe...... The cork does add some girth.....

I've used cork handlebar tape for several years now. It's holding up like a champ. Enjoy.

I'm relatively new to ice climbing with only one season under my belt. Does the insulation wrap really make a difference? Seems like your hands will be on the lower main grips most of the time and not gain much benefit from the wrap.

Plumbing tape... cheaper, not as thick, lighter and WATERPROOF!

It looks like you won't be able to use the trigger (strike? fang?) attachment on your old style Vipers with that tape job. Was that deliberate?

Not sure how that tape helps warmth if not on the grip section. I guess it would protect the shaft from banging around on the ice, less damage or shock.

Hockey sticky tape........

Each season I tear off the old and put new on, as it seems that the tape gets slick by end of the season.

I don't think there is too much value in the thought of insulation....

If your not overgripping you should have adequate blood flow to your hands.......

Brian Scoggins wrote:It looks like you won't be able to use the trigger (strike? fang?) attachment on your old style Vipers with that tape job. Was that deliberate?

I bought them new, but they never came with a trigger. So yes, deliberate because I don't have a striking trigger fang.

Jack Roberts recommended wrapping the shafts in handlebar tape so that is where I got the idea from. He said it let him use thinner gloves and still have warm hands. It seems to have a nice grip to me, and I think it will insulate my hands from the cold metal pretty well when I grip higher on the shaft. Obviously it does nothing if I am only using the regular grips.

The main grips already are insulated from the metal because they are plastic. I have kinda smaller hands so I may look into the hockey tape if this seems too thick.

David Appelhans wrote: I bought them new, but they never came with a trigger. So yes, deliberate because I don't have a striking trigger fang. Jack Roberts recommended wrapping the shafts in handlebar tape so that is where I got the idea from. He said it let him use thinner gloves and still have warm hands. It seems to have a nice grip to me, and I think it will insulate my hands from the cold metal pretty well when I grip higher on the shaft. Obviously it does nothing if I am only using the regular grips. The main grips already are insulated from the metal because they are plastic. I have kinda smaller hands so I may look into the hockey tape if this seems too thick.

I'm just curious because I did get the strikes for mine and I've occasionally considered wrapping the upper shaft. They make that generation viper nearly equivalent to the current generation.

Brian Scoggins wrote: I'm just curious because I did get the strikes for mine and I've occasionally considered wrapping the upper shaft. They make that generation viper nearly equivalent to the current generation.

Yeah, I wish mine had strikes. It also doesn't have a carabiner hole in the spike. Wouldn't the stikes go in the same place as I have them on my newer generation vipers? So you could wrap them essentially the same as I did, just start above the strike?

Nice tape job. Looks a lot like mine, (I used racquet tape).

And yes, it's considerably warmer, especially with thinner gloves or when the temps really drop. For example, this summer on Andromeda, I had a taped Viper and bare Raven. The hand on the Raven kept freezing, and going numb while the other was fine. I even notice a difference mixed climbing when I tape the plastic handles.

Phillip

David Appelhans wrote: Yeah, I wish mine had strikes. It also doesn't have a carabiner hole in the spike. Wouldn't the stikes go in the same place as I have them on my newer generation vipers? So you could wrap them essentially the same as I did, just start above the strike?

Again, I was just wondering if you did that on purpose, or forgot that you had planned on getting the strikes, or if you found that it didn't interfere with the strikes, or whatever. I may have to try that this season.

This is the best stuff to use fellas! A self bonding/vulcanizing tape. You can buy it from Petzl but you only get a little roll and pay a lot, or go to a hardware/plumbing store and get it, or buy it online.

This stuff is the best because instead of just taping to itself, it literally bonds in to one, some kind of weird process that i can't explain. I rocked mine for two seasons before needing to replace it, and that was after a TON of time in the alpine and mixed venues.

google.com/search?q=self+vu…

Scotch #2228 Rubber Mastic Tape per Dane's outstanding blog posts. Been running this for a few years and love it. It can take a beating like a champ while mixed and alpine climbing; shoving the tool shaft deep into cracks and cranking is no problem (pretty sure this would tear bar wrap or tennis grip to bits).

Fusions and older version Vipers after original wrap. David, check out the tether attachement on the base of the viper. Just dremmel out a small notch in the plastic fang and you can put a loop of cord in that your tethers can clip to.
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Close-up of wrap overlay.. gives it a textured feel, great for fingers...
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clint helander wrote:This is the best stuff to use fellas!

Yeah, fellows.....

Erik W wrote:...... gives it a textured feel, great for fingers...

Yeah, fellows, take note......

Princess Mia wrote: Yeah, fellows, take note......

/;-0...are you saying you like them ribbed' and textured for good finger action?

How does the bike tape work with absorbing water?