Hands-on Gear Review

Wild Country Pro Key Review

Wild Country Pro Key Nut tool
By: Ian Nicholson ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 30, 2009
Price:  $16 List  |  $15.95 at Amazon
Pros:  Comfort, built in biner, comes with keeper leash, price, cleaning ability.
Cons:  Slightly on the heavier side.
Manufacturer:   Wild Country

Our Verdict

The Wild Country Pro Key comes loaded with features. First off, this nut tool has a unique spring leash that keeps you from dropping the tool accidentally, a great feature on longer routes. If you think this is dorky it is easily removed. This nut tool also had one of the biggest areas to bat your hand against, making it the most comfortable nut tool on the market. The Pro Key also boasts one of the better shaped hook designs and cleans nuts and cams very well. In the smallest of cracks we thought its nut cleaning performance was comparable to the Ushba and ever so slightly behind the two Metolius tools.

At $14.95 it is a great value, it has one of the largest areas to pound on with your hand, it comes with a useful (and removable) spring leash, its relatively low profile head cleans most nuts wonderfully and it is second only to the Metolius tools for cleaning extra small micro stoppers. The Pro Key also hangs toward the front of the pack in the cam removal category. It is less than great mainly for climbers who want the lowest possible weight.


Our Analysis and Test Results

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Likes


The additional metal on the rear of the WC Pro Key was, along with the Ushba, by far the most comfortable to hammer your palm on during extended nut freeing sessions. The low profile hook fished out small nuts in little cracks better than most and was among the best at hooking onto cam triggers. Beginners really like the leash. Instead of worrying about dropping their nut tools they can focus on the task at hand. The Pro Key has a built in biner to save you the weight of another on the harness and at only $16 it is very reasonably priced.

Dislikes


No real gripes. The Pro Key is slightly on the heavier side even without the leash. For those who might consider the leash a dislike, remember that it is removable.

Best Application


The Pro Key is great as a good, functional all-around nut tool, for having a leash on longer traditional routes where dropping the tool would be a big deal. It sports a nice pommel a feature anyone can enjoy especially if your climbing partner likes to set all of their nuts really hard.

Value


This is our choice for best value at only $14.95. For under $15 you get one of the better nut and cam cleaners, every feature you could want on a nut tool, combined with one of the least hand-destroying models on the market.

— Ian Nicholson


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Most recent review: March 11, 2014
Summary of All Ratings

OutdoorGearLab Editors' Rating:  
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 (5.0)
Average Customer Rating:  
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 (5.0)

100% of 3 reviewers recommend it
 
Rating Distribution
4 Total Ratings
5 star: 100%  (4)
4 star: 0%  (0)
3 star: 0%  (0)
2 star: 0%  (0)
1 star: 0%  (0)
K2 from Concordia :)

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   Mar 11, 2014 - 12:32pm
gibbon69 · Climber · Stalowa Wola

Most comfortable nut tool, best buy, just buy it!



Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this product to a friend.

Climber

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   May 17, 2010 - 07:25pm
Slabby D · Climber · B'ham WA

My partner laughed at my "over engineered" nut tool when we walked up to the base of the Capitan recently but by pitch 10 he was making sure to grab it before every pitch I led. One less thing to worry about dropping so you can focus on not dropping that stuck nut you're trying to fiddle out. I think they might have redesigned a thinner head since the original review as it definitely seems every bit as thin as my old abused Metolius. Awesome tool! and for 15 bucks it's a killer deal compared to every other nut tool out there.



Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this product to a friend.

Climber

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   Mar 10, 2010 - 07:05pm
clockclimb · Climber · Orem, Utah

I purchased this and haven't even used it yet. I know I will love it though because I like all of its features. The skinny nose will fit in places other tools won't. I love the hand pad. I also like that it is stainless steel for toughness. You can save a lot of weight if you choose to ditch the cool leash. This is bound to be one of my favorite tools.



Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this product to a friend.


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