Gear Review: Nut Tool
Company: Wild Country
Product: Pro Key with Leash
You might think that a nut tool is pretty inconsequential…I mean, you can use anything to pry pro out of the wall, right? Kind of right. Maybe you can figure something out, but when you’re a couple pitches behind and you have a ton of time to make up, you don’t want to be fiddling around with anything. Wild Country has the fiddle-free tool for you.
Of course, as far as nut tools go, Wild Country’s Pro Key has you covered. It’s got all the little holes, nooks, and crannies that you want in a nut tool. It’s pretty light, too, so it’s not going to weigh you down. It also has a pretty slim profile, so it’s not going to take up a ton of space on your gear loops.
Now to the best feature: the leash.
I can’t tell you how nerve wracking it is to be hundreds of feet up, struggling with a stuck nut, and having the nut tool freely in my hand with no attachment to my harness. With Wild Country’s tool , you don’t have to worry about it! It has a spiraled cord attached to the tool so that you can always have it clipped in to your harness. When you’re not using it, there’s a gate on the tool itself so you can clip it in to a gear loop to prevent it from swinging around while you climb.
Now, you might be thinking, well, you can put cordelette on any tool! Sure, you can, but it won’t stretch. So, either it’s a very long leash and it’s annoying, or it’s too short and you can’t reach anything. Since this leash is spiraled, it stays short until you need to to extend, and then you can stretch it a crazy amount to reach whatever piece you are trying to remove.
When you’re up there trying to keep moving, you’re going to be very glad you have a nut tool that was designed for efficiency and security. Wild Country has you covered!
Recommendation: Any Trad Climber
Specs: 109g; ground tip for tight spots; silver tool & black leash
MSRP: $19.95
Website:
thedihedral.com 