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Description
Whilst studying this new version of the ice screw we tried to make the difficult moment of “first bite” as easy as possible. This new model has an ergonomic knob that fits the palm of the hand perfectly, letting you push the ice screw in whilst turning your hand, without having to let go even for a second! Just a moment and it’s done, the screw is firmly embedded and you can open the lever and screw it in as far as it will go! Quick and easy. The lever can be turned away, making it long and efficient when used but easy to hide when not needed. The second hole is nearer to the ice than the other reducing the lever effect if the screw isn’t right in. It doesn’t substitute the 360° but is adapted to those who prefer something a bit more traditional.
4 Reviews
Review
Review by: tallnik, 2005-12-08
Sharpie and mother_sheep wrote exactly what I was going to say. Except, I find that when cleaning it one can "palm" the hanger and slide it out faster than with certain older models. One other beef I have with it is that in an anchor one can only put one biner on it if it's placed all the way in. I like the Helixs better from grivel
Review
Review by: sharpie, 2005-01-04
I have one and it's a nice screw, same tube as the 360 with the aggresive bevel teeth and reverse threads, and even easier to start with the knob. But, the problem is, unlike the 360 where you never have to clear any ice because of the minimal footprint, with the Americana you have to either find a perfectly flat area or clear an area about 10-12 inches in diameter to allow the fold out handle to be useful. Once that is done however, it zips in with the expected ease of a Grivel screw.
Problem #2 comes in the clean up. The fold out handle only works in one direction, drive. So, for the second they are essentially cleaning a hanger only screw (no speed device). Not really a big deal, this is the way all screws were cleaned just a few years ago. But, if you climb with new people who have never used/cleaned an old style screw, it might take a little longer.
It does rack better than the 360, but because of the knob, it still will not sit as well as BDs or others when there are multiple screws racked on one biner.
That said, I like having one, but that's as many as I'll ever have.
Problem #2 comes in the clean up. The fold out handle only works in one direction, drive. So, for the second they are essentially cleaning a hanger only screw (no speed device). Not really a big deal, this is the way all screws were cleaned just a few years ago. But, if you climb with new people who have never used/cleaned an old style screw, it might take a little longer.
It does rack better than the 360, but because of the knob, it still will not sit as well as BDs or others when there are multiple screws racked on one biner.
That said, I like having one, but that's as many as I'll ever have.
Review
Review by: mother_sheep, 2004-12-28
Took me a few tries to remember that I didn't have to let go of the screw to make the 360 turn! It bites fast too. I like it!