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glockaroo
Aug 13, 2002, 5:19 PM
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I'm in the market for some big hooks. I'd like to know what the folks here thought of the Fish's Hook and Captain Hook compared to the lighter versions by Pika and Vermin.
Is it worth lugging the considerable weight of the Fish models just in case you decide to leave one as pro? In actual use, are they any more stable or useful than the lighter types?
Feedback from actual experience is appreciated.
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pbjosh
Aug 13, 2002, 5:22 PM
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I think they'd be great if you found a really big rounded lip to tape them too. Not too many of those... I have them but probably wouldn't take them on a route unless it said "take a BIG hook." They're way to heavy and unstable on smaller placements.
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bigwalling
Aug 13, 2002, 5:53 PM
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Fish hooks are the bomb. I always carry the fish hook with me on routes. The captain isn't used as much(by me). They feel way bomber since they don't flex. I would buy at least one of each. I'm sure that if I can find stuff to use them on short climbs that on a big wall they are indispensable.
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passthepitonspete
Aug 13, 2002, 5:56 PM
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Fish and Captain Hooks are the bomb, and I regularly use them as pro.
When climbing with a partner, I duct tape them down.
When climbing solo, I prusik them down.
I have no personal experience with the other two you mention.
They are emphatically worth the weight.
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bigwallgumbie
Aug 13, 2002, 6:11 PM
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I've seen the fish hooks on the website but never in person. Are they pretty similar to the Vermin hooks (forrest gardner's company)? Less burly? More?
Has anyone here even heard of verm? I've never heard his gear mentioned and I think its the s--- (but I suck so ymmv...)
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glockaroo
Aug 13, 2002, 7:24 PM
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Hi bigwallgumbie. Forrest lives a few hours away from me in Chattanooga TN. I've used his stuff for years, especially heads. He make's em great and they're a lot cheaper than the "national brands". He is a machinist by trade so he takes great pride in his work.
His larger hooks are good, CroMo items but they're essentially oversized Chouinard designs. They flex considerably and I wouldn't have a lot of confidence in them in a fall, much like the Pikas.
His bathooks, however, are amazing (you should check this out Pete). They are very thick and are designed not just to sit in the hole, but to acutally fit in tight; you tap them in w/ the hammer and can leave them for pro. I know this sounds like those weird Pika bathooks but Forrest's are very different and IMO superior. I took a factor 2 daisy fall onto one of them and it held fine.
I am leaning towards the Fish regular hook for sure, and perhaps the Captain.
Ammon, are you out there? Would love to hear your opinion.
[ This Message was edited by: glockaroo on 2002-08-13 19:26 ]
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punk
Aug 13, 2002, 11:25 PM
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Quote:
I think they'd be great if you found a really big rounded lip to tape them too. Not too many of those... I have them but probably wouldn't take them on a route unless it said "take a BIG hook." They're way to heavy and unstable on smaller placements.
I have the fish…use it all the time and take it all the times with me it is the bomb …I don’t think u speak out of experience with Fish placement…but rather speculate…if you used it u will know…. And u will know that they are not substituted for a different size of hooks….
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positiveweasel
Aug 13, 2002, 11:47 PM
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Plus, you can't beat that Fish exclusive: Heat treated with a propane torch....steady now.
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spike
Aug 14, 2002, 8:46 AM
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Hi Glockaroo,
I have the FISH Captain hook plus a 2" & 3"
PIKA Ibis hook. The FISH Captain hook is about the same size as the PIKA 2" hook. The FISH Captain hook is BIG and HEAVY but solid/bomber. The PIKA 2" Ibis is light weight and works good !!! Lately I have been leaving the FISH Captain hook at home and only taking the 2" Ibis PIKA, because of the weight issue. If the climb required 2 BIG hooks, I would take both the FISH & the PIKA. But if I only need 1, its the PIKA.
Richard / SPIKE
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