Kong snap lock carabiner

[Jim1NZ]

So what does everyone think of this for a snap locking lanyard carabiner?

I don't know much about it and haven't even tried one climbing. Possibly not triple locking...

http://www.kong.it/I_frog.htm

 

[okietreedude1]

Nick from wisconsin has one that i toyed with when he was through town in may. It is NOT anywhere near triple locking. when the jaws open, you slam it into you point and the jaws close. flip a switch and it opens.

I didnt try it in a tree and dont think i would. You might pmail nick for specifics to see if he's used in any.

 

[Ekka]

Sorry mate, any sort of gadget that relies on the gate for it's contact point of attachment you can stick it. Remember KISS formula.

I use 50kn steel, there's some things where overkill is good piece of mind and attachment biners is mine.

 

[Jim1NZ]

True, i wouldn't use it simply because its not triple locking even though its rated to 22kn.

You use 50 kn steel! How heavy is that? You doing resistance training mate...

 

[Tree Machine]

The Frog is a sport climbing thing, rock climbing, where you have bolted anchors. I messed with one at a caving convention a couple years back. It's light, it's cool, but it's made for a specific purpose and it doesn't belong in the trees. It's often used in a quickdraw system, and we don't use quickdraws in tree climbing. We redirect through crotches or through use of a sling.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

I bought two and gave one to Nick.

Have any of you used one?

It is triple locking.

the one that I have is on the right end of my DEDA lanyard. I have no problem trusting my life with the tool.

I saw it first about six years ago but have put off buying one. The "Cool Factor" for the tool is the highest, of course that isn't the highest criteria, but it's important. If it weren't, we all would be using screw links instead of biners.

 

[Tree Machine]

I've used one, simply meaning handled it, worked it, inspected it thoroughly, but not in working conditions. I can see one being used on the end of a flipline. A D-ring would be no different to a Frog than a bolted anchor.

Rock jocks like em because they're light, and to attach it to an anchor, all that needs to be done is 'push' and the two jaws bypass one another and 'clamp' around the ring. It's very secure, but I don't understand how you can call this triple lock.

 

[Jim1NZ]

I bought two and gave one to Nick.

Have any of you used one?

It is triple locking.

the one that I have is on the right end of my DEDA lanyard. I have no problem trusting my life with the tool.

I saw it first about six years ago but have put off buying one. The "Cool Factor" for the tool is the highest, of course that isn't the highest criteria, but it's important. If it weren't, we all would be using screw links instead of biners.

Did you check out the link, so its the same thong were talking about. I was thinking of using it on the RHS of my lanyard set up as you have, im sure it would be way faster than a biner?

I was just looking into it for climbing comps, were you are always roped in, eg work climb

 

[Treeman14]

I was just looking into it for climbing comps, were you are always roped in, eg work climb

I think you'd be disqualified. All snaps and carabiners must be double auto locks.

 

[Jim1NZ]

Oh is the frog not even auto locking?

 

[Tree Machine]

It is, yes, but not in the sense of a caribiner. They're two different animals, related only in the end result of what gets done, which is it connects to something.

I wouldn't expect it to be 'faster'. If it takes 1-2 seconds to put on a triple lock, how much faster do you hope to get?

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Like TM says, in the end, the Frog is a triple lock like a biner, but the pathway is different. If anyone is freaked out about triple locks, rope snaps are allowed and I have never found one that has a triple lock in the same sense as biners, or the Frog.

Both of the legs of the Frog have to be pulled back in order for it to open. If the d-ring or whatever bumps the legs it snaps shut automatically. Same in reverse, both legs have to be pulled back in unison to open.

The one catch is that it is only rated to 22 kN, so we could go down that path again and reach the same destination as usual. Too many biners that are allowed in competition are 22 kN so this wouldn't/shouldn't be any different.

Connecting the Frog to a climbing system is problematic. I'm working through some ideas now.

 

[Jim1NZ]

Hmm, sounds like its worth a go.

You could use it on the tree rescue, for attaching the dummy directly to your harness, simply snap in straight to the dummies system

I'm sure it would be faster than trying to twist a biner or find the ball lock

 

[Tree Machine]

That's a good point. As long as the D-ring is stationary, it's just a push and you're locked. I'm glad we're opening new avenues for this piece. It's a truly marvelous design, innovative and, as Tom says, it has the 'coolness factor'.

 

[NickfromWI]

The frog is a neat little thing, but I haven't found where I'd most like to use it yet. It comes with a small webbing sling sewn to it and the FIRST thing I did when I got it was slice that thing off. It will eventually get spliced into something....I'm thinking a footlock prusik. But few ropes will fit into the slot that the webbing was in.

It's lightweight and affordable ($25 and comes with an extra 'biner).

love
nick