Distant Clip Horizontally With the Pongoose Stick Clip

The unique stick clip was cobbled collectively in a foraging model on the base of the cliff. The bolt-clipping rock jock would supply a stick of the proper size and stiffness. With climbing tape and a twig or pebble to carry the carabiner gate open, salvation was at hand.

However someday within the late ’80s, I began seeing paint poles with a ironmongery shop clamp emerge as a considerably business stick clip. It served nicely for many years.

Mountain climbing escalated in reputation with the arrival of the climbing health club, and shortly sufficient, purpose-driven stick clips emerged. Sport climbers rejoiced. These area of interest distant clipping units remodeled placing the primary rope-loaded quickdraw up right into a constant routine.

The brand new business stick clips, which had been typically “heads” that screwed onto normal paint poles, may additionally cleverly clip the rope into the primary quickdraw or take away a dangling quickdraw.

Nevertheless it’s the 2020s, and progress is fixed. Newer stick clips have built-in collapsable poles and are more proficient in any respect the roles that revolve across the first bolt and typically different bolts. I’ve even seen stick clips used from the bottom to place quickdraws on each bolt of a neighborhood route. I’ve acquired each model of the trendy stick clip, however the one from Pongoose, by far, is essentially the most distinctive.

I examined the Pongoose Climber 700+ 3-in1 Stick Clip for 3 months of native sport climbing. One in every of my native crags has loads of excessive first bolts. After I was younger and dumb, I hardly ever used a stick clip, touting it as “dishonest.”

However now, in my older years, I fortunately stick clip first bolts, as I see zero cause to danger a groundfall to stroke my ego. And the Pongoose 700+ Stick Clip was a chic device to clip or take away the primary quickdraw. It additionally was adept at different capabilities.

Briefly: The Pongoose 700+ Stick Clip (MSRP $109) was the epitome of stick clips. It effectively hung the primary quickdraw, clipped the rope, and eliminated quickdraws persistently. The effort and frustration had been minimal, and the stick clip carried out different climbing-related capabilities as a bonus.

Pongoose Stick Clip: It’s All within the Head

The Distinctive Pongoose Stick Clip Head

So far as stick clips go, the useful variations are within the design of the top. And Pongoose created a one-of-a-kind stick clip head that appears slick and stylish.

At first look, the sculpted anodized aluminum head triggered some head-scratching. It’s so totally different than another distant clipping gadget I’ve ever made or tried. However referencing the explanatory movies on the Pongosse web site elicited an, “Ah, rattling, that’s so intelligent” from my skeptical thoughts. By means of 5 years of growth and a dozen redesigns, the British masterminds at Pongoose have unlocked a number of causes of distant clipping frustrations.

The obtrusive distinction within the Pongoose Climber 700+ in comparison with different stick clips is the horizontal orientation of the quickdraw. All different distant clipping devices maintain the quickdraw vertically. The horizontal orientation of the Pongoose head prevents the quickdraw from blocking the view of the precise factor a climber is making an attempt to entry. The pinnacle orientation can also be adjustable in two planes.

One other distinction is the shortage of transferring components or plastic, promising a protracted life. I’ve had different plastic stick clip heads break from merely falling whereas leaning towards that cliff. And I’ve had different heads’ transferring gate retention mechanisms fail.

The Pongoose Climber 700+ head removes each of those potentialities. And, in contrast to others, Pongoose sells each a part of its Climber 700+, making it infinitely repairable ought to it get broken. The one transferring components are the top’s adjustable mounting bracket and the top’s threaded connection to that bracket.

And at last, if it issues, Pongoose gives the Climber 700+ head and silicone beads (examine them later) in 5 totally different colours. I do discover that sport climbing and bouldering have turn out to be fairly fashion-conscious currently. Gone are the times of sporting painter’s pants or Lycra and being thought-about cool.

Pongoose Stick Clip Pole

I’m all about lengthy, telescoping poles that may slot in my crag pack however lengthen far sufficient out to clip sketchy second bolts (yep, I’m getting older and perhaps wiser.) However stick clip poles have typically been flimsy at full extension. This made inserting the draw, rope, or eradicating the draw tough or unattainable. Pongoose purposely went with a five-section pole that is probably not as compact as others however is alleged to be a lot stiffer.

In journey mode, the Pongoose Climber 700+ pole is 28.3 inches (the top is 5 inches lengthy) and might lengthen to 108.7 inches. The Climber 1000+ pole, which Pongoose gives individually, is 40.2 inches collapsed and 164 inches prolonged. The whole Pongoose Climber 700+ weighs a verified 1 pound, 6 ounces.

The twist-lock pole is topped off with a typical ¼-inch digicam thread to be used as a monopod. The bracket that holds the Pongoose head has the identical digicam mount, permitting use as an motion digicam selfie keep on with an adjustable mounting angle.

How It All Works

First off, the collapsed Pongoose Climber 700+ Stick Clip didn’t slot in my 40L crag pack. However I simply left the highest protruding of a spot within the zipped lid. It almost definitely suits in 60L packs.

The stiffness of the pole in comparison with my different business stick clips was immediately obvious. I gladly accepted the bigger collapsed size for a extra inflexible, robust-feeling pole.

The correct use of the Pongoose Climber 700+ isn’t apparent, and for the primary time in a very long time, I needed to reference the model’s educational movies. As an alternative of making an attempt to elucidate all the right strategies, I’m embedding these movies and commenting on my experiences after every.

Clipping Bolts

I can’t overstate how a lot simpler it was to clip the bolt hanger with the quickdraw held horizontally within the Pongoose Climber 700+ Stick Clip. From the very first clip, I knew it was the superior orientation.

No extra guessing, craning my neck, or holding the pole awkwardly outward to glimpse the hanger to hopefully purpose the higher carabiner appropriately. I may see the whole course of with out struggles. Kudos to Pongoose for determining what all of us ought to have from the start!

Inserting the quickdraw was a one-handed operation, in contrast to most different stick clips. That is vital when going full “French-free” sport climbing mode. I may anchor and sit in my harness on the bolt, maintain the pole with one hand, and insert the quickdraw with the rope clipped with the opposite.

Then I may clip the subsequent bolt and climb on high rope, not less than to that bolt. With most different stick clips, I’ve to monkey round with my legs to carry the pole to have each palms free to connect the quickdraw.

The Pongoose Climber 700+ Stick Clip was additionally adept at clipping quickdraws in roofs. The horizontal alignment once more meant that the hanger was seen for the whole operation. And the power to tweak the top angle helped after I needed to stand off to the facet of the roof bolt.

The pinnacle of the Pongoose Climber 700+ has a gap to clip. This allowed hauling the stick clip up with me on my harness or sending it as much as a climber on a route by clipping it to the rope.

Clipping the Rope Right into a Quickdraw

Once more, the horizontal orientation of the Pongoose Climber 700+ Stick Clip stole the present. It held the loop of rope perpendicular to the carabiner gate, omitting any contortions to line every thing up appropriately. I by no means as soon as missed clipping within the rope at any angle, together with roofs.

I may additionally finagle the bight of rope into the top one-handed, permitting the assault of pre-hung routes in a full, sit-on-the-bolts sport-climbing siege.

Eradicating a Quickdraw

The keys to getting quickdraws off a route had been the 2 silicone beads that gripped the backbone of the higher carabiner and the horizontal alignment of the bight of rope used to open the highest carabiner. Each made what is usually a tough activity with different stick clips routine.

The horizontally aligned loop of rope made it a lot simpler and extra constant to open the highest carabiner’s gate absolutely. And the silicone beads held quickdraw regular so I may persistently get it out of the hanger and decrease it to myself on the primary strive.

Different Pongoose Climber 700+ Stick Clip Features

The usual ¼-inch threaded digicam mount on each the pole and the top of the Pongoose Climber 700+ proved helpful past the defined stick clip capabilities.

Stick Brush

Pongoose despatched me two very good, high-quality brushes with matching ¼-inch threaded inserts within the handles. They are often mounted brush facet up or down, and the comb angle might be adjusted.

This mixture proved a worthy stick brush for prepping the route for a redpoint try. I by no means didn’t brush holds off so long as I may attain them. The adjustable angle helped match maintain angles to get the perfect leverage for efficient scrubbing.

The Pongoose pole was stiff, and the top was the weak hyperlink within the chain. I may present loads of strain to brush a route I used to be hangdogging. However the setup wasn’t burly sufficient for the required cleansing when growing a brand new route. However I wasn’t anticipating that out of a telescoping stick clip.

Motion Digital camera Selfie Stick

The identical mounting methodology for the brushes labored with my GoPro. The outcome was an extremely lengthy selfie stick, which proved efficient for getting the popular top-down motion pictures. I additionally used the setup to get the top-down “that is what I packed” photos typical of editorial journey reviews.

I’ve a GoPro Hero 12 Black, and the top and pole had been stable sufficient at full extension to get good pictures. However something heavier wouldn’t be secure sufficient at full extension.

Monopod

The identical ¼-inch threaded digicam mount sits on the Pongoose pole. This made for an amazing monopod with the pole collapsed. I used it with my mirrorless digicam to get usable pictures in low-light circumstances.

Pongoose included a picket ball with an identical threaded insert to cowl these threads when touring with the Climber 700+. The model recommends eradicating the top to guard it throughout transport. The picket ball protects your baggage from getting torn by the threaded mount.

Conclusions on the Pongoose Climber 700+ Stick Clip

Each aspect of the Pongoose Climber 700+ Stick Clip was an enchancment over another distant clipping gadget I’ve tried. The horizontally aligned and sturdy head was a lot simpler to make use of. It stored the bolt hanger seen and held the rope within the right orientation for clipping or eradicating a draw. And the shortage of plastic and transferring components guarantees it’ll accompany me to the crag for years to come back.

Whereas not as compact as others when collapsed, the pole supplied a rock-stable platform for all of the stick clip capabilities. It additionally delivered the leverage mandatory for maintain brushing. Lastly, it acted as a gradual growth in selfie-stick or monopod mode. And similar to the top, the pole felt rather more sturdy than on different business stick clips.

Finally, I’ve positioned the Pongoose Climber 700+ Stick Clip in my sport climbing on a regular basis carry assortment. I’ve each business stick clip and a number of other confirmed DIY variations out there. And that is the one I’ll stick with it my private climbing days.