Kong Futura Ascenders

[ken]

I Just got back from Italy and the international cavers meet there and took a look at the new Kong ascenders..... It's not going to end up in my bag.
1) no protection for the hands when you are climbing up a rock face, pinch city between the rocks and ascender.
2) If you get tired of holding the grip and want to change the placement of the hand, forget it no chance.
3) The cam and moving parts are very small, small release lever also. If its a muddy pitch I believe there will be problems (couldn't test it...they had no mud in the tent). The way the rope is in the ascender it is always in your fist when climbing.......muddy rope, muddy gloves, muddy ascender= slippery hand hold in the ascender.

 

[SamT]

:-\

look a bit shonky to me.

Is it me - or does all Kong stuff look and feel shonky. 
Have you ever seen people use Kong stuff regularly, or hear folk saying "yeah, all my kong stuff is the bollox."
me neither.

They just seem to do a really bad job of copying other peoples designs.

 

[cap n chris]

Thanks, Ken, for saving us the effort of finding out that this device isn't suited for caving. 

 

[ken]

Thanks, Ken, for saving us the effort of finding out that this device isn't suited for caving. 

To each his own i would say, maybe some one will enjoy having this in their bag....but for 85+ Euros for a hand and foot ascender (the cost at the cavers meet) it is too much money for me.....or I'm to cheap