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Kong Helium biners

mikepatt

18-Oct-2005
4:50:57 PM

I'm looking at buying some lightweight biners for trad climbing and fancy the sound of Kong Heliums.

Does anyone know if they are available in OZ?

or anyone have any comments?

dan

18-Oct-2005
10:04:30 PM

There are a number of posts relating to their recall early this (last?) year. From memory they have a very average open gate width, making them very average for Trad related endevors.

mikepatt

19-Oct-2005
7:14:33 AM

Cheers Dan,

The recall was for WILD COUNTRY heliums; I'm interested in KONG helium biners.

dr_fil_good

19-Oct-2005
9:07:18 AM

pretty sure (but don't quote me - just slap me if I'm wrong) those two are made in the same factory. same as metolious and vaude (lucky) etc. etc.

jiminy cricket

19-Oct-2005
10:59:23 AM

On 19/10/2005 dr_fil_good wrote:
>pretty sure (but don't quote me - just slap me if I'm wrong) those two
>are made in the same factory. same as metolious and vaude (lucky) etc.
>etc.

or take your cookies from you?

You might well be right about the factory (although I though kong were at italian company) but I think they are quite different biners. See pics below:

The one on the left is WC helium, the right, Kong helium. That said, the WC one is a "helium clean-wire", so perhaps they changed them and licenced out the old design?

(Sorry though mikepatt, I can't answer the actual question at hand).

gfdonc

19-Oct-2005
11:07:00 AM

I bought one to try out (Wild Country not Kong) and think they're good.
Lightweight at 33g and the kN ratings are good (24/9/10).
I also use the Wild Wires and prefer the gate action on the WW than the Heliums. However the Helium is full size with a good gate opening and I don't see any reason to claim they're not suitable as an allrounder.

Might buy more but fairly happy with the WW's. You can get 'em at Bogong.
- Steve

shaggy

19-Oct-2005
11:30:50 AM

Aside from their Heinous price tag to go with them, they are a sweet biner.

JamieF

19-Oct-2005
11:30:54 AM

On 19/10/2005 gfdonc wrote:
>I don't see any reason to claim they're not suitable as an allrounder.
>Might buy more but fairly happy with the WW's. You can get 'em at Bogong.

I know this is getting a bit away from mikepatt's q'n as he was asking about Kong biners, but a comment/question on wired gates as all-rounders...

I got some wildwire draws a few years back (as they were only $25/draw at the now defunct Melbourne Mountain Equipment store) and a couple of times a second has been able to clean them complete with bolt plate with the gate shut. Each time was with 10mm machine bolts (I'm pretty sure) and the plates were the common RP and PFH, so nothing unusual. Seems the gate is thin enough to allow the plate to get in a position with the bolt head reaching the keyhole. I don't know if this is a problem common to many wire gates or just some. No big deal, I just don't use the wire gates on hangerless bolts.

No doubt this has come up before, but I can't find it in historical posts.

Cheers,
Jamie

mikepatt

19-Oct-2005
11:38:32 AM

Cheers Jamie, I'm aware of this issue with wiregates; I only use them on the rope end of draws if I'm clipping bolts. (Which is why I mentioned trad use in the question) I've got a mixture of WC, HB and BD wiregates.
I'm interested in the Kong Helium cos they're very light. (31gms)
I don't intend to use them for clipping bolts.

sticky

19-Oct-2005
4:30:29 PM

On 19/10/2005 mikepatt wrote:
>Cheers Jamie, I'm aware of this issue with wiregates; I only use them on
>the rope end of draws if I'm clipping bolts. (Which is why I mentioned
>trad use in the question) I've got a mixture of WC, HB and BD wiregates.
>I'm interested in the Kong Helium cos they're very light. (31gms)
>I don't intend to use them for clipping bolts.

Last I was at Nati mountain shop Phil had a good stock of Kong 'biners. Dunno what model, but they were keylock style. Maybe give him a call.

Kyle

gfdonc

19-Oct-2005
9:00:30 PM

JamieF, good point. I was unaware of this possible issue but fortunately forewarned when I purchased my first wiregate from a shop. Since then I've heard the warning repeated several times but it bears mentioning here. Don't use wiregates to clip bolt plates.
- Steve

dave

20-Oct-2005
8:46:49 PM

Yeah the label/instuctions for bolt brackets (PFH ones anyway) clearly specify that they should never be used with a wire gate for this reason.

Added to this I'd be a bit worried about what effect the sharp edge of the hanger would have on the wire gate if it was loaded in this direction.

JamieF

21-Oct-2005
9:41:35 AM

On 20/10/2005 dave wrote:
>Yeah the label/instuctions for bolt brackets (PFH ones anyway) clearly
>specify that they should never be used with a wire gate for this reason.

I didn't realise that. Then again, my PFH plates predate wire gates.

Fish Boy

21-Oct-2005
8:41:01 PM

Bolt brackets? Use wires.

There are 14 messages in this topic.