Nearly every extreme sport is somehow connected to it. If you are climbing, hiking, or even walking, Kong Duck may be known to you. To find out how to use a Kong Duck, read on for more detailed information.
Never tolerate any space in your rope while utilizing this instrument. It is extremely small in proportions and also lightweight. This is why you can connect it to the rope effortlessly. The Kong Duck is more lightweight and more undersized compared to a regular ascender.
Table of Contents
What is a Kong Duck?
Now, let’s see what a Kong Duck is. Kong Duck is an extremely useful emergency rope clamp. This small tool is an innovative, functional, and necessary tool for your gear kit. It is advisable that without delay, you adjust your lineman’s rope or tether with a Kong Duck.
Here are some essential characteristics of this magical item you should look at:
- The Kong Duck is a rope clamp designed for use with single ropes with
diameters between 8 mm and 13 mm. - It is easily attached, without any obstruction.
- A mechanical ascender, this device mixes the adjustability of a prusik knot with ease of usage and adherence.
- The Duck slides merely in one direction, yet it holds the rope tightly in the opposite direction.
Note: As a matter of fact, GriGri can rarely fail, it is relatively safe to use it. Of course, there are always some misfortunes that may occur.
There Is More
- A big hole allows the locking connectors to rotate
- The outer radius of the carabiner hole allows for predictable, consistent performance on a rope for climbing
- Surrounds the rope for safety
- High-quality item
- Light-alloy
- Certified CE EN 567:97
- Weight: 70g
How Do You Use a Kong Duck?
Be mindful that this is not a fall-restraint device. Never let any type of slack in your rope while using this device. It is very small in size and also lightweight, and that is why you can attach it to the rope easily. The Kong Duck is lighter and much smaller compared to a standard ascender.
The Duck is 70 grams compared to ascenders with handles made by Petzl or Black Diamond that weighs 165 grams and 200 grams. We use it for single ropes with a diameter between 8 and 13 mm, and it also works on flat and tubular slings from 10 to 15 mm in width.
The Duck has its use as an ascender, progress capture, or rope grab in a hauling system, and a length adjuster on a personal safety line. The Kong Duck has its benefits but it also has some limitations. One benefit that truly needs attention is overloading the device.
Remember not to use this device to pull something over 400lbs. The second limitation of this device is its usability in some particular situations. For some users is much easier to attach or detach it from the rope if it has a handle. You can do it by employing just one hand.
Tip: It is vitally important to understand that ziplining rarely causes vertigo. Many people are scared of this happening to them.
There Is More to This
The Kong Duck absolutely requires two hands to put on the rope. This is not a big deal, but if you need to transition from rappelling to ascending or are transitioning between many sections of fixed rope it becomes a problem.
Also, the lack of a handle suggests you often have to take the carabiner that is linked to it as a handle. Besides all these limitations that we’ve mentioned above, the Kong Duck is an excellent piece of gear that you definitely must have in your kit.
Kong Duck ascender is also perfect for saddle hunting. The only downside to the Kong is noise but this can be easily arranged with some bet wrap on your carabiner. Other than that the Kong is superior to Ropeman who was previously used for saddle hunting.
As you all can see, the Kong Duck ascender is a multi-use emergency rope clamp. It is quite useful for various outdoor activities like climbing, hiking, and walking as well as lifting and lowering loads. For people who do extreme sports, it is simply an irreplaceable and necessary tool.
This little tool literally has the ability to save lives. That is why the Kong Duck is widely used in life-saving situations.
Vertical Versatility
In mountaineering, being relatively too fast can be the distinction between triumph and failure. What’s best is if you could hold one little part of the gear that could achieve a lot of extra tasks promptly. Is the Kong Duck the slim, light, fast, and universal tool that every highlander dreams of?
Did you know that due to its tiny size, this item can be easily attached with one hand? The big hole lets locking connectors turn. What is more, the duck was invented as an emergency rope clamp. The main purpose was retrieval, maneuvers, and the fixing of daisy chains. This is the unwritten rule!
Tip: In order to enjoy your adventure to the fullest, you must know how should mountaineering boots fit.
The Advantages
The Kong Duck is more delicate and thinner likened to a regular ascender. The Duck is 70 grams likened to ascenders with grips produced by Petzl or Black Diamond that weigh 165 and 200 grams. For altitude and weight, it is equivalent to comparable rope holds such as the Wild Country Ropeman and Petzl Basic.
The Duck is universal and fairly quick to set up. You can use The Duck as an ascender, improvement capture, or cord grab in a hauling system. Also, you can use it as a length adjuster on an individual safety line. Typical ascenders employ an array of teeth that clasp the furthest sheath of a rope.
The Duck utilizes a spring-loaded cam to hold the rope. This also suggests it can even hold flat parts of tubular webbing. Know that this is practical for altering the length of individual safety if you are working on an edge for an ample amount of time and want a readily modifiable safety.
Note: It is a known fact that due to its marvelous landscape, New Zealand is home to extreme sports. So, if you are looking for the next amazing hiking adventure, make sure to consider this destination.
The Drawbacks
For all of its versatility, it does still have some restrictions. The main one overfills the device. Similar to all rope grabs and such instruments, Kong is very clear about not shock-loading the instrument, per se.
In identical appliances that utilize teeth to clutch the rope, the teeth can harm the external layer of the rope if too much pressure is put. Petzl records the micro Traxion’s highest load at 4KN (900 lbs). This problem might not exist in knots such as the prussic in which a 7mm thread will die at a standard of 2,700 lbs.
Another restriction of this appliance is its usability. Ascenders with grips often include a spring-assisted trigger to make it manageable for the user to hook or unfasten it from the rope utilizing only one hand. The Kong Duck requires two hands to put on the rope.
That is nothing to worry about, yet if you need to transition from rappelling to climbing or are transitioning between many areas of fixed rope, it evolves to be clear.
Likewise, the absence of a grip suggests you usually have to capture the carabiner that is bound to it as a hold. Because of this, the notion of forcing the ascender up the rope is not as slick as if it had a grip, particularly over border shifts.
Tip: There is one common belief that ziplining is bad for your back. It can be dangerous as rock climbing on some occasions, that is proven. Yet, if you follow the instructions and use the equipment that is tested and new, you should be good to go!
More About the Kong Duck
The Kong Duck is an incredible part of the equipment, relying on your position in the outdoors. If you understand that you will be doing a lot of steep climbing all day, it would be worth getting an ascender.
So, if you understand that you will be carrying heavy gear vertically, it would be worth fetching pulleys and prusik thread. This goes without saying!
If you don’t understand what exactly the days bring, yet you know you will be in some severe terrain, and the extent and weight of the tools you can bring are restricted, it would be worth ditching all of those and fetching a Kong Duck.
Tip: Many people compare ziplining to a roller coaster. Yet, is ziplining like a roller coaster in reality? Many have reported quite similar experiences.
