Skip to main content

Clip higher and avoid dangerous falls with the Kong Panic climbing aid

Every climber has been faced with that difficult moment on a hard route when the last bolt is far below you, and the next one is just out of reach. You have no choice but to climb higher and hope to make the clip before your body inevitably gives way to gravity, risking a potentially dangerous fall. Italian climbing gear company Kong has advanced the sport with the invention of the Kong Panic, a climbing aid that provides extra reach to distant bolts and anchor points. The device essentially serves as a quick-draw extension with added technical safety features.

The Kong Panic is made from tubular webbing and an inner flexible bar which contributes just enough rigidity to stand up straight while still allowing enough flexibility for the shaft to be bent in any direction the user desires. A loop hole on the far end is wide enough to be attached to a carabiner or quickdraw which is used to clip into your rope, while the head is built into a carabiner that boasts a unique, spring-loaded mechanism.

Recommended Videos

With the slight push of a finger, this mechanism holds the gate of the carabiner open and keeps it in place beneath the lip of the spring as you perform the clipping process. An open gate makes for easy, stress-free clipping. Once connected to a bolt, the pressure on the inside top portion of the carabiner releases the spring and shuts the gate closed. That maintained pressure prevents the gate from accidentally opening while clipped, even when forces are applied from the outside. The gate will not open until it is lifted free of the bolt for removal during route cleaning.

The Kong Panic is ideal for use at the sport climbing crag. The innovative aid is perfect for reaching distant bolts when onsighting, providing that extra reach for clipping bolts on hard projects, or when you’re exploring unknown territory and want to take an extra measure of safety.

Kong has long stood by its mission to provide safer climbing technology to an industry where risk is a prevalent factor. The device is available in both standard 30-centimeter and extra large 45-centimeter lengths. You can purchase the Kong Panic for $30 through Barrabes and other online retailers.

Amanda Ellis
Amanda is an outdoor junkie and digital nomad with an insatiable hunger for gear. Based out of Raleigh, NC she travels to…
Aventon goes all in on smart security and connectivity on Level 3 commuter e-bike
Aventon Level 3 right profile with Queen Mary in the background.

Aventon invited me to a pre-launch press briefing on its new Level.3 commuter e-bike in Long Beach, California. The Level.3 has several significant upgrades from the Level.2, including increased range and an adjustable suspension seat post, but the greatest upgrade is the Aventon Control Unit (ACU).

The ACU is a proprietary technology that incorporates 4G, Bluetooth connectivity, and GPS tracking. It enables a host of security, convenience, and personalization features. The Level 3 isn't the first Aventon model with the ACU; the Abound SR utility and cargo e-bike was the initial ACU-equipped e-bike.

Read more
Anker Solix EverFrost 2 Giveaway (Winner Selected)
anker solix everfrost 2 electric cooler giveaway february 2025 1024a241 40be 4543 9e71 cf91899c8f33

Would you believe that Anker, an electronics brand that's known for its power banks, also has an electric cooler? Known as the Anker Solix EverFrost, it's the perfect companion for backyard parties and outdoor adventures. It's so good that it's getting a sequel in the form of the Anker Solix EverFrost 2, and you've got a chance to win one!

Anker's giveaway for the Anker Solix EverFrost 2 runs from February 27 to March 27, which means you've got a month to send in your entries. You're going to want to do so as early as you can just to make sure that you don't forget. There will be only one lucky winner of the all-new electric cooler, so we wish you the best of luck!

Read more
Aventon launches Abound LR super-cargo smart e-bike
Aventon Abound LR left rear three-quarter view facing Long Beach harbor.

Aventon announced the Abound LR e-bike, a longer alternative to the Abound SR and original Aventon Abound cargo e-bike lineup. During a pre-launch press briefing for the Abound LR in February, Aventon characterized the Abound SR as an all-purpose utility and cargo bike and the Abound LR as a cargo carrier for families and a possible replacement for a second car.

The new long-rack LR version shares the short-rack SR's technical and ACU-based smart features and most physical details, except length and weight. The Abound LR is 8 pounds heavier and 7.1 inches longer than the SR. The two new Abound models are similar to the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban, two other vehicles built for the same purpose; one's just longer.
Abound LR features and capabilities

Read more