Kong Block-Rolls now available!

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'Pass the Pitons' Pete

Big Wall climber

like Oakville, Ontario, Canada, eh?

Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 26, 2007 - 03:10pm PT

....or is it Roll-Block?

Anyway, guys and gals, the bitchin'est big wall hauling device is the Kong Block-Roll, far superior to anything else on the market, especially the piece-of-choss Petzl Protraxion that will fall apart on you when you're halfway up the wall.

I have finally got those Kong buggers in Italy to ship some Block-Rolls over to this side of the Atlantic, so if you want one, please send me an email.

Price is $139 US, very little more than the Pro-Trax, and a helluva lot nicer machine.

Here's a picture of the thing mounted in my 2:1 Hauling Ratchet.

In a 2:1 system, you can use most any piece of junk for your "holding ratchet" - where the Kong device really shines is in 1:1 hauling, because the pulley is so efficient with its swanky bearings, and because you don't get any slippage with the integral cam assembly.

Cheers and beers,
Pete

Mighty Hiker

Social climber

Vancouver, B.C.

Jul 26, 2007 - 03:21pm PT

Hmm, I'm not sure what kind of fish is used in the Kong Block-Roll. Nature?

BenLyon

Trad climber

Alabama!

Jul 26, 2007 - 03:26pm PT

Baller.

summerprophet

Mountain climber

Cali Via Canada

Jul 26, 2007 - 03:30pm PT

Please excuse my ignorance, but how is this different/better than my wall-hauler?

(summerprophet..... once known as PTPP's sherpa for aurora)

Miwok

climber

Jul 26, 2007 - 03:33pm PT

Anybody else have a Protraxion fall apart while on a wall

Never. 4 big walls and many FA's with mine and never once had a problem. Not sure what the hell he is talking about.

Hummerchine

Trad climber

East Wenatchee, WA

Jul 26, 2007 - 09:55pm PT

I don't want to sound negative AT ALL, I'm sure the Block-Roll is very nice, but I LOVE my Pro-Traxion. Smaller, lighter, simpler...I've used it on a few walls now, including a solo, and it just flat out rules! I'm sure if others have had problems with it then it must not be foolproof, but is the Block-Roll truly foolproof too? I guess I'll never know...

Cuckawalla

Trad climber

Grand Junction, CO

Jul 27, 2007 - 07:20am PT

I assume that most of you use a swivel with your Pro-traxion?

rwedgee

Ice climber

canyon country,CA

Jul 27, 2007 - 07:28am PT

The protrax has been known to 'deform' if, like PTPP, you take the kitchen sink & tv along with you. Would you jug on either?

JacksColdSweat

climber

midwest

Jul 27, 2007 - 07:41am PT

Hey Cuckawalla,

could you expand on this set up?

couchmaster

climber

Jul 27, 2007 - 08:04am PT

I'm into gear not breaking.

Pete: check yer mail eh?

Bill Coe

'Pass the Pitons' Pete

Big Wall climber

like Oakville, Ontario, Canada, eh?

Topic Author's Reply - Jul 27, 2007 - 11:46am PT

Thanks for yer interest. They're goin' fast. Lemme know if you're interested.

To answer your questions:

1. They're made from unagi. It is a rare Italian sturgeon.

2. Here is a link that describes Pro-Traxion failures. My Pro-Trax failed, so I returned it and bought another Kong. At the base of Salathe Wall I met three long-faced chaps who had to bail when theirs failed, too. On the link below you can read about other Pro-Trax failures.

[url="http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.html?topic_id=246030"]Petzl Pro-Traxion failures[/url]

I am a big fan of Petzl gear because it is innovative, functional and usually bomber. The Pro-Trax is a notable exception to this. I will say here loudly and clearly that Petzl ought to redesign or replace their Pro-Traxion because it is a piece of shite.

3. The Rock Exotica Wall Hauler is about ten years obsolete. There are a number of problems with it. Firstly it is only rated for ONE kilonewton, a mere 220 lbs. Technically you can't even space haul off of it with two guys jugging, although we all used to. It is very weak and the shell will deform and the cam will slip. Even worse, the pulley sucks. It is too small in diameter, and uses sheaves insted of bearings. What you want is a larger diameter pulley with good bearings, like the Kong, which makes your loads easy to haul.

If you are hauling fifty pounds or so, it doesn't matter much what device you use. But if you're hauling heavy loads, especially space hauling, the bigger pulley and good bearings on the Kong make hauling so much easier. I sure remember the first time I used a Kong when soloing [though I can't remember if it was on Lunar Eclipse or Shortest Straw, sheesh] because I was able to switch from 2:1 hauling over to 1:1 hauling a good two if not three days earlier with the Kong than I could have with a Wall Hauler, the Kong is that much more efficient!

4. The pulley on the Pro-Traxion is also too small, and much harder to haul with than the Kong. If you have ever compared the two devices side-by-side as I have when hauling two loads, again you will see how amazingly easier it is to haul with the Kong than the Pro-Trax.

5. You would think that a 4" pulley plus inverted ascender would be more efficient to haul with than a Kong with its smaller pulley. This certainly sounds true in theory, but in practice it ain't necessarily so. The advantage of having the cam and pulley together in an integral assembly means virtually no slip when the haul line is unweighted during each stroke, and this can be difficult to accomplish with an inverted ascender. You can do it with carabiners or a Frost draw or a wired stopper, but it's tricky and takes a lot of finesse. The Kong works great every time!

6. The Kong is burly and does not deform.

The only disadvantage of the Kong is that it weighs a bit more than Pro-Trax. But this is not a disadvantage at all, because you will be "paid back" this extra weight on each and every stroke of the haul! Only a fool would do more work than he absolutely has to.

You can click here to read more about [url="http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.html?topic_id=243751"]the Kong versus other hauling devices.[/url]

There is a ton of really useful information, and a bit of Big Wall Theory, on this post about [url="http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.html?topic_id=328813"]jugging a fully loaded haul line.[/url]

Cheers,
Dr. Piton

ricardo

Gym climber

San Francisco, CA

Jul 27, 2007 - 03:14pm PT

i had a Pro-traxion deform on Tangerine Trip .. (solo) .. took it back to REI they gave me a new one ..

i was able to finish the wall though without much issues .. the rope did fall out of the pulley once though .. i had to re-seat it .. kind of tough .. and glad it was at the upper parts where the loads were not as heavy

when are you coming to the valley pete .. i'd love to have a kong block ..

'Pass the Pitons' Pete

Big Wall climber

like Oakville, Ontario, Canada, eh?

Topic Author's Reply - Jul 27, 2007 - 05:17pm PT

I will get to Yosemite the evening of Tuesday Sept 18 with any luck. I can have it shipped to Yos. for you, or straight to your place, as you prefer, mate.

Please check yer email, eh?

DixieGal

Trad climber

Jul 27, 2007 - 06:07pm PT

I finally got mine (by special order through IME in North
Conway, NH). I've had a partner on whom the ProTraxion failed
on the Pancake flake. As Pete said, the ProTraxion is probably
okay if you are hauling 50 lbs, but otherwise risky. With the
Kong Roll Block, my partners and I did some fairly heavy body
hauling ( 2 people on one side of the rope and the bags on the
other). There is nothing like a large radiused beefy pulley to
inspire confidence in such situations, where you know that
breakage would be highly unpleasant, hopefully not fatal. The
Kong Roll Block is worth its weight in gold.
Andrew Barnes.

'Pass the Pitons' Pete

Big Wall climber

like Oakville, Ontario, Canada, eh?

Topic Author's Reply - Jul 28, 2007 - 07:09am PT

"Kong Roll Block is worth its weight in gold.
Andrew Barnes"

Great endorsement! Everyone who has one seems to really like it.

I have two left, so step up to the plate if you're interested.

Holy linguini! I should-a ordered-a more!

'Pass the Pitons' Pete

Big Wall climber

like Oakville, Ontario, Canada, eh?

Topic Author's Reply - Jul 28, 2007 - 06:02pm PT

Quatro fromaggio! The fourth one just sold. I have one or two left only...

Holdplease2

Big Wall climber

Yosemite area

Jul 28, 2007 - 08:22pm PT

Pete, I'm in, is that cool?

-Kate.

'Pass the Pitons' Pete

Big Wall climber

like Oakville, Ontario, Canada, eh?

Topic Author's Reply - Jul 29, 2007 - 07:11am PT

OK, Kate. And answer your email, eh?

Holdplease2

Big Wall climber

Yosemite area

Jul 29, 2007 - 07:17am PT

Wait...I thought I did answer my email. I may have missed one or maybe sent one that didn't escape the blackberry vortex. Are you waiting for something? I will go look right now.

-Kate.