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Kong
Kong-Bonaiti Classic v. A
Kong-Bonaiti Classic v. B
"8" Classic v. A
"8" Classic v. B
"8" Classic 805.03
Kong Classic v. A
Kong Classic v. B
Kong Classic v. C
"8" Light 805.01
"8" Light Plus ver. A
"8" Light Plus ver. B
"8" Light Plus ver. C
"8" Light Plus ver. D
"8" Light Plus 805.02
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| Kong | Kong-Bonaiti Classic v. A | Kong-Bonaiti Classic v. B | "8" Classic v. A | "8" Classic v. B |
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| "8" Classic 805.03 | Kong Classic v. A | Kong Classic v. B | Kong Classic, v. C 40th Anniversary Edition |
"8" Light 805.01 |
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| "8" Light Plus ver. A | "8" Light Plus ver. B | "8" Light Plus ver. C | "8" Light Plus ver. D | "8" Light Plus 805.02 |
[ Top
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version A
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version B
| "8" Classic v. A
| "8" Classic v. B
| "8" Classic 805.03
]
[ Kong Classic v. A
| Kong Classic v. B
| Kong Classic v. C
| "8" Light 805.01 ]
[ "8" Light Plus v. A
| "8" Light Plus v. B
| "8" Light Plus v. C
| "8" Light Plus v. D
| "8" LightPlus 805.02
| Return to Figure Eights
]
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| Front | Rear |
I acquired this eight used from D. Novak in 2007. Bru Randall gave me another at the 2023 NSS Convention.
The Kong is forged from aluminum alloy and then soft anodized. Mine is 143 mm. tall, 74 mm. wide, and 15 mm. thick. The rope hole is 50 mm. high and 50 mm. wide. The top center thickness is 12 mm. The shaft length and width are 45 mm. and 25 mm., respectively. The eye measures 26 mm. by 25 mm. My eight weighs 121 g.
One side of the eight is marked "KG 3000" in raised characters. The other side is stamped with "ITALY" and "KONG"
This is a typical example of a full sized, forged, aluminum eight with a rounded shaft.
The shafts on this eights are rather fat and well-rounded on one side and has a deep depression on the other. This should provide a performance difference when the rope is run over one side of the shaft or the other. The difference is small. Running over the smooth side provides more contact area for heat dissipation, but sometimes the rope grabs a bit when one first stars to move. This is not a problem for competent users.
I don't know when this eight was made or exactly where it fits in the sequence of eights shown on this page. The forging around the "KG 3000" characters is not as crisp as on the other eights shown on this page, and the stamped letters seem to hint that this may be an earlier eight than the Kong-Bonaiti Classic - but I'm just guessing.
[ Top
| Kong
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version B
| "8" Classic v. A
| "8" Classic v. B
| "8" Classic 805.03
]
[ Kong Classic v. A
| Kong Classic v. B
| Kong Classic v. C
| "8" Light 805.01 ]
[ "8" Light Plus v. A
| "8" Light Plus v. B
| "8" Light Plus v. C
| "8" Light Plus v. D
| "8" LightPlus 805.02
| Return to Figure Eights
]
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| Front | Rear |
I acquired this eight on eBay from Brett Fournierr in 2021.
This Kong-Bonaiti Classic is forged from aluminum alloy and then clear anodized. Mine is 135 mm. tall, 74 mm. wide, and 15 mm. thick. The rope hole is 43 mm. high and 49 mm. wide. The top center thickness is 13 mm. The shaft length and width are 47 mm. and 26 mm., respectively. The eye measures 24 mm. by 24 mm. My eight weighs 128 g.
One side of the eight is marked "KONG-BONAITI" in raised letters. The other side is marked "ITALY," also in raised letters.
The Kong-Bonaiti Classic is a member of a family of nearly identical full-sized, forged, aluminum eights with rounded shafts that includes the following eights:
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Each of these eights is 140±4 mm. tall and 75±1 mm. wide. Their weights fall in the 128±8 g. range. These are normal manufacturing variations that have no practical significance. They are about the same size and weight as Standard, Full Size, Forged Eights.
The shafts on these eights are rather fat and well-rounded, with an indentation on each side that usually raised markings. Although similar, these eights are not identical, and close inspection will reveal some minor differences in their shapes. None of these affect their performance to any noticeable degree.
The rope tends to run smoothly on these eights. They provide a good rope contact area for dissipating heat. Their soft finishes wear faster than a hard-anodized finish would, but the fat shafts have more than adequate margin for accommodating reasonable wear.
None of these eights have slots for sticht-type belaying, and their round eyes are not designed for that purpose.
[ Top
| Kong
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version A
| "8" Classic v. A
| "8" Classic v. B
| "8" Classic 805.03
]
[ Kong Classic v. A
| Kong Classic v. B
| Kong Classic v. C
| "8" Light 805.01 ]
[ "8" Light Plus v. A
| "8" Light Plus v. B
| "8" Light Plus v. C
| "8" Light Plus v. D
| "8" LightPlus 805.02
| Return to Figure Eights
]
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| Front | Rear |
I acquired this eight from Repetto Sport in 1982.
This Kong-Bonaiti Classic is forged from aluminum alloy and then soft anodized. Mine is 136 mm. tall, 76 mm. wide, and 16 mm. thick. The rope hole is 44 mm. high and 50 mm wide. The top center thickness is 13 mm. The shaft length and width are 46 mm. and 26 mm., respectively. The eye measures 24 mm. by 24 mm. My eight weighs 125 g.
One side of the eight is marked "KONG-BONAITI" in raised letters. The other side is marked "ITALY," also in raised letters.
The Kong-Bonaiti Classic is a member of a family of nearly identical full-sized, forged, aluminum eights with rounded shafts that includes the following eights:
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|
||||||||||||||||||
Each of these eights is 140±4 mm. tall and 75±1 mm. wide. Their weights fall in the 128±8 g. range. These are normal manufacturing variations that have no practical significance. They are about the same size and weight as Standard, Full Size, Forged Eights.
The shafts on these eights are rather fat and well-rounded, with an indentation on each side that usually raised markings. Although similar, these eights are not identical, and close inspection will reveal some minor differences in their shapes. None of these affect their performance to any noticeable degree.
The rope tends to run smoothly on these eights. They provide a good rope contact area for dissipating heat. Their soft finishes wear faster than a hard-anodized finish would, but the fat shafts have more than adequate margin for accommodating reasonable wear.
None of these eights have slots for sticht-type belaying, and their round eyes are not designed for that purpose.
The 1989 Kong-Bonaiti catalog showed that a figure eight could
be rigged as a stop descender. They also recommend belaying a
second by essentially the same arrangement, inverted. Although
I don't use these methods, I think they are rather cool.
[ Top
| Kong
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version A
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version B
| "8" Classic v. B
| "8" Classic 805.03
]
[ Kong Classic v. A
| Kong Classic v. B
| Kong Classic v. C
| "8" Light 805.01 ]
[ "8" Light Plus v. A
| "8" Light Plus v. B
| "8" Light Plus v. C
| "8" Light Plus v. D
| "8" LightPlus 805.02
| Return to Figure Eights
]
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| Front | Rear |
I acquired this eight on eBay from Shawn Hinz in 2004, and a second one on eBay from Sheryle Bauer in 2009.
The Kong "8" Classic, Version A is forged from aluminum alloy. Mine is 144 mm. tall, 75 mm. wide, and 16 mm. thick. The rope hole is 50 mm. high and 50 mm wide. The top center thickness is 12 mm. The shaft length and width are 45 mm. and 26 mm., respectively. The eye measures 26 mm. by 26 mm. My eight weighs 130 g.
One side is marked "KONG-ITALY, the other "KG3000."
The Kong "8" Classic is a member of a family of nearly identical full-sized, forged, aluminum eights with rounded shafts that includes the following eights:
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Each of these eights is 140±4 mm. tall and 75±1 mm. wide. Their weights fall in the 128±8 g. range. These are normal manufacturing variations that have no practical significance. They are about the same size and weight as Standard, Full Size, Forged Eights.
The shafts on these eights are rather fat and well-rounded, with an indentation on each side that usually raised markings. Although similar, these eights are not identical, and close inspection will reveal some minor differences in their shapes. None of these affect their performance to any noticeable degree.
The rope tends to run smoothly on these eights. They provide a good rope contact area for dissipating heat. Their soft finishes wear faster than a hard-anodized finish would, but the fat shafts have more than adequate margin for accommodating reasonable wear.
None of these eights have slots for sticht-type belaying, and their round eyes are not designed for that purpose.
The markings are different, but otherwise, this eight is essentially identical to the Kong-Bonaiti Classic.
[ Top
| Kong
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version A
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version B
| "8" Classic v. A
| "8" Classic 805.03
]
[ Kong Classic v. A
| Kong Classic v. B
| Kong Classic v. C
| "8" Light 805.01 ]
[ "8" Light Plus v. A
| "8" Light Plus v. B
| "8" Light Plus v. C
| "8" Light Plus v. D
| "8" LightPlus 805.02
| Return to Figure Eights
]
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| Front | Rear |
I acquired this eight from Spencer Schweinhart in 2007.
The Kong "8" Classic, Version B is forged from aluminum alloy and then soft anodized. Mine is 144 mm. tall, 74 mm. wide, and 14 mm. thick. The rope hole is 50 mm high and 50 mm. wide. The top center thickness is 12 mm. The shaft length and width are 46 mm. and 26 mm., respectively. The eye measures 26 mm. by 25 mm. My eight weighs 120 g.
One side is marked "KONG-ITALY, the other "KG3000."
The Kong "8" Classic is a member of a family of nearly identical full-sized, forged, aluminum eights with rounded shafts that includes the following eights:
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|
|
||||||||||||||||||
Each of these eights is 140±4 mm. tall and 75±1 mm. wide. Their weights fall in the 128±8 g. range. These are normal manufacturing variations that have no practical significance. They are about the same size and weight as Standard, Full Size, Forged Eights.
The shafts on these eights are rather fat and well-rounded, with an indentation on each side that usually raised markings. Although similar, these eights are not identical, and close inspection will reveal some minor differences in their shapes. None of these affect their performance to any noticeable degree.
The rope tends to run smoothly on these eights. They provide a good rope contact area for dissipating heat. Their soft finishes wear faster than a hard-anodized finish would, but the fat shafts have more than adequate margin for accommodating reasonable wear.
None of these eights have slots for sticht-type belaying, and their round eyes are not designed for that purpose.
The Kong "8" Classic, Version B similar to Version A except that Version B is thinner and is anodized.
[ Top
| Kong
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version A
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version B
| "8" Classic v. A
| "8" Classic v. B
]
[ Kong Classic v. A
| Kong Classic v. B
| Kong Classic v. C
| "8" Light 805.01 ]
[ "8" Light Plus v. A
| "8" Light Plus v. B
| "8" Light Plus v. C
| "8" Light Plus v. D
| "8" LightPlus 805.02
| Return to Figure Eights
]
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| Front | Rear |
I acquired this eight from Inner Mountain outfitters in 2000.
The Kong "8" Classic (805.03) is forged from aluminum alloy and then soft anodized. Mine is 144 mm. tall, 74 mm wide, and 16 mm. thick. The rope hole is 49 mm. high and 49 mm. wide. The top center thickness is 13 mm. The shaft length and width are 46 mm. and 26 mm., respectively. The eye measures 25 mm. by 25 mm. My eight weighs 132 g.
One side is marked "KONG" and "MADE IN ITALY."has a raised relief strength test icon (not a rigging illustration!) with "kN▲35" above and "▼" below.
The Kong "8" Classic (805.03) is a full sized, forged, aluminum figure eight. It is a different eight than the Kong-Bonaiti Classic. The body is well-rounded, so the rope tends to run smoothly. The finish is soft, so the eight will wear quickly. The eye is not designed for belaying.
[ Top
| Kong
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version A
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version B
| "8" Classic v. A
| "8" Classic v. B
| "8" Classic 805.03
]
[ Kong Classic v. B
| Kong Classic v. C
| "8" Light 805.01 ]
[ "8" Light Plus v. A
| "8" Light Plus v. B
| "8" Light Plus v. C
| "8" Light Plus v. D
| "8" LightPlus 805.02
| Return to Figure Eights
]
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| Front | Rear |
I acquired this eight used from On Rope 1 at the 2007 NSS Convention, and a second from Premiere Consignment, LLC in 2018.
The Kong Classic is forged from aluminum alloy and then soft anodized. Mine is 139 mm. tall, 73 mm. wide, and 12 mm. thick. The rope hole is 49 mm. high and 49 mm. wide. The top center thickness is 12 mm. The shaft length and width are 42 mm. and 24 mm., respectively. The eye measures 24 mm. by 24 mm. My eight weighs 112 g.
One side of the eight is marked with the Kong logo, "ITALY," and "066372 07 1005." The other side has a raised relief strength test icon (not a rigging illustration!) with "kN▲35" above and "▼" below.
The ong Classic is a full-size forged eight with a flat shaft. The following eights are similar in design, but their markings vary:
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Each of these eights is 139-140 mm. tall and 72-73 mm. wide. Their weights fall in the 107±6 g. range. These are normal manufacturing variations that have no practical significance. They are smaller and lighter than Standard, Full Size, Forged Eights, but the difference is not enough to make large changes in their performance.
The shafts on these eights are rather flat, which helps reduce weight. The depressions help avoid the slight grabbiness I find on the Full Size, Forged Eights with Flat Shafts. It also reduces the contact area for dissipating heat, but in the range of drops that I use eights (usually not more than 15 m. caving), this is not noticeable.
Each of them has an irrelevant strength test icon with a strength rating forged into one side. This marketing gimmick is rather silly. The rigging shown for the strength rating is not how an eight is normally used, so it is misleading. It is not the accepted method for measutring strength of an eight. The accepted and more realistic strength test arrangement is shown in EN 15151-2:2012, figure 3. The strength listed on these eights greatly exceeds the 7 kN. requirement in the standard for what is needed for safe use. This leaves fair margin for reasonable wear. Paying any attention to the difference between 25 kN and 35 kN ratings for normal use is absurd.
None of these eights have slots for sticht-type belaying, and their round eyes are not designed for that purpose.
Although similar, these eights are not identical, and close inspection will reveal some minor differences in their shapes. None of these affect their performance to any noticeable degree.
[ Top
| Kong
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version A
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version B
| "8" Classic v. A
| "8" Classic v. B
| "8" Classic 805.03
]
[ Kong Classic v. A
| Kong Classic v. C
| "8" Light 805.01 ]
[ "8" Light Plus v. A
| "8" Light Plus v. B
| "8" Light Plus v. C
| "8" Light Plus v. D
| "8" LightPlus 805.02
| Return to Figure Eights
]
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| Front | Rear |
I acquired three of these from Timothy Brisco in 2017.
The Kong Classic is forged from aluminum alloy and then soft anodized. Mine is 139 mm. tall, 73 mm. wide, and 12 mm. thick. The rope hole is 49 mm. high and 49 mm. wide. The top center thickness is 12 mm. The shaft length and width are 42 mm. and 24 mm., respectively. The eye measures 24 mm. by 24 mm. Each eight weighs 111 g.
One side of one eight is marked with the Kong logo, "ITALY," and "056060 06 1700," with similar but different numbers on the other two. The other side has a raised relief strength test icon (not a rigging illustration!) with "kN▲35" above and "▼" below.
This version is clear anodized instead of color anodized like Version A.
The Kong Classic is a full-size forged eight with a flat shaft. The following eights are similar in design, but their markings vary:
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Each of these eights is 139-140 mm. tall and 72-73 mm. wide. Their weights fall in the 107±6 g. range. These are normal manufacturing variations that have no practical significance. They are smaller and lighter than Standard, Full Size, Forged Eights, but the difference is not enough to make large changes in their performance.
The shafts on these eights are rather flat, which helps reduce weight. The depressions help avoid the slight grabbiness I find on the Full Size, Forged Eights with Flat Shafts. It also reduces the contact area for dissipating heat, but in the range of drops that I use eights (usually not more than 15 m. caving), this is not noticeable.
Each of them has an irrelevant strength test icon with a strength rating forged into one side. This marketing gimmick is rather silly. The rigging shown for the strength rating is not how an eight is normally used, so it is misleading. It is not the accepted method for measutring strength of an eight. The accepted and more realistic strength test arrangement is shown in EN 15151-2:2012, figure 3. The strength listed on these eights greatly exceeds the 7 kN. requirement in the standard for what is needed for safe use. This leaves fair margin for reasonable wear. Paying any attention to the difference between 25 kN and 35 kN ratings for normal use is absurd.
None of these eights have slots for sticht-type belaying, and their round eyes are not designed for that purpose.
Although similar, these eights are not identical, and close inspection will reveal some minor differences in their shapes. None of these affect their performance to any noticeable degree.
[ Top
| Kong
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version A
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version B
| "8" Classic v. A
| "8" Classic v. B
| "8" Classic 805.03
]
[ Kong Classic v. A
| Kong Classic v. B
| "8" Light 805.01 ]
[ "8" Light Plus v. A
| "8" Light Plus v. B
| "8" Light Plus v. C
| "8" Light Plus v. D
| "8" LightPlus 805.02
| Return to Figure Eights
]
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| Front | Rear |
I acquired my Kong Classic, Version C, 40th Anniversary from CanyonZone.com - Gertjan van Pelt in 2021.
The Kong Classic, Version C, 40th Anniversary is forged from aluminum alloy and then soft anodized. Mine is 139 mm. tall, 72 mm. wide, and 12 mm. thick. The rope hole is 49 mm. high and 49 mm. wide. The top center thickness is 12 mm. The shaft length and width are 42 mm. and 24 mm., respectively. The eye measures 24 mm. by 24 mm. My eight weighs 112 g.
One side is printed with "171776 17 0433," "KONG ITALY," "EN15151-2:12 TYPE 2," a book-with-an-"i" icon, "UIAA," a 40th anniversary Kong logo, "1," "Ø 9÷13," "∞ ½," "Ø8÷8.9," a rigging illustration, and "805030." The other side has a raised relief strength test icon (not a rigging illustration!) with "kN▲35" above and "▼" below.
This 40th Anniversary edition is identical to Version A, except for markings, but as a special issue celebrating Kong’s 40th anniversary (1977-2017], it deserves a space here.
The Kong Classic is a full-size forged eight with a flat shaft. The following eights are similar in design, but their markings vary:
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Each of these eights is 139-140 mm. tall and 72-73 mm. wide. Their weights fall in the 107±6 g. range. These are normal manufacturing variations that have no practical significance. They are smaller and lighter than Standard, Full Size, Forged Eights, but the difference is not enough to make large changes in their performance.
The shafts on these eights are rather flat, which helps reduce weight. The depressions help avoid the slight grabbiness I find on the Full Size, Forged Eights with Flat Shafts. It also reduces the contact area for dissipating heat, but in the range of drops that I use eights (usually not more than 15 m. caving), this is not noticeable.
Each of them has an irrelevant strength test icon with a strength rating forged into one side. This marketing gimmick is rather silly. The rigging shown for the strength rating is not how an eight is normally used, so it is misleading. It is not the accepted method for measutring strength of an eight. The accepted and more realistic strength test arrangement is shown in EN 15151-2:2012, figure 3. The strength listed on these eights greatly exceeds the 7 kN. requirement in the standard for what is needed for safe use. This leaves fair margin for reasonable wear. Paying any attention to the difference between 25 kN and 35 kN ratings for normal use is absurd.
None of these eights have slots for sticht-type belaying, and their round eyes are not designed for that purpose.
Although similar, these eights are not identical, and close inspection will reveal some minor differences in their shapes. None of these affect their performance to any noticeable degree.
[ Top
| Kong
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version A
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version B
| "8" Classic v. A
| "8" Classic v. B
| "8" Classic 805.03
]
[ Kong Classic v. A
| Kong Classic v. B
| Kong Classic v. C ]
[ "8" Light Plus v. A
| "8" Light Plus v. B
| "8" Light Plus v. C
| "8" Light Plus v. D
| "8" LightPlus 805.02
| Return to Figure Eights
]
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| Front | Rear |
I acquired this eight from Inner Mountain Outfitters in 2000.
The Kong "8" Light (805.01) is forged from aluminum alloy and then soft anodized. Mine is 115 mm. tall, 72 mm wide, and 14 mm. thick. The rope hole is 41 mm. high and 50 mm. wide. The top center thickness is 11 mm. The shaft length and width are 34 mm. and 22 mm., respectively. The eye measures 19 mm. by 24 mm. My eight weighs 99 g.
One side is marked "KONG" and "MADE IN ITALY." The other side has an icon showing how to rig the eight, with up- and down-pointing triangles labeled "KN 30."
The Kong "8" Light (805.01) is a typical example of a "mini" size, forged, aluminum eight. This is a compact forged aluminum figure 8 that takes up much less room than most eights. This causes the rope to make sharper bends than on a full-size eight, so the rope does not run as smoothly. The finish is soft, so the eight will wear quickly. The eye is not designed for belaying.
[ Top
| Kong
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version A
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version B
| "8" Classic v. A
| "8" Classic v. B
| "8" Classic 805.03
]
[ Kong Classic v. A
| Kong Classic v. B
| Kong Classic v. C
| "8" Light 805.01 ]
[ "8" Light Plus v. B
| "8" Light Plus v. C
| "8" Light Plus v. D
| "8" LightPlus 805.02
| Return to Figure Eights
]
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| Front | Rear |
I acquired this eight from an undisclosed seller on eBay in 2005.
The Kong "8" Light Plus, Version A is forged from aluminum alloy. Mine is 126 mm. tall, 82 mm. wide, and 14 mm. thick. The rope hole is 40 mm. high and 50 mm wide. The top center thickness is 11 mm. The shaft length and width are 49 mm. and 24 mm., respectively. The eye measures 18 mm. by 28 mm. My eight weighs 94 g.
There is a small projection on one side of the upper loop with a 5 mm. diameter hole for attaching a keeper sling.
Version A has "KONG" on one side and "KG.2000" on the other.
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The keeper hole allows attaching a keeper cord that can be connected to the harness to reduce the rik of dropping the eight. A drawback is that the keeper can easily get entangled with the main line. You may think that the keeper holes on these eights are not in a good placebut where else could it be? If it were on the shank or eye, then the keeper would prevent rigging the eight while the keeper was attached to the user. I recommend simply not dropping your descender, but if yuo have a real concern about dropping the eight, perhaps it would be better to switch to a different kind of descender.
The Midi-sized eights have a compact design that causes the rope to make sharper bends, providing more friction on stiff ropes than a standard-size eight. They also weigh less than most eights. The standard-size Rock House provides less friction than the Midi-sized eights. The Fungo has a bend that allows it to be rigged two ways with differing amounts of friction. The C.A.M.P., Version H is a flat Fungo-equivalent that lacks the two friction arrangements.
The Kong "8" Light Plus eights have a variety of markings. This table summarizes the differences:
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Versions A & B have a different shape eye than the others. I have a small preference for this eye design since it is sized and shaped for belaying.
[ Top
| Kong
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version A
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version B
| "8" Classic v. A
| "8" Classic v. B
| "8" Classic 805.03
]
[ Kong Classic v. A
| Kong Classic v. B
| Kong Classic v. C
| "8" Light 805.01 ]
[ "8" Light Plus v. A
| "8" Light Plus v. C
| "8" Light Plus v. D
| "8" LightPlus 805.02
| Return to Figure Eights
]
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| Front | Rear |
I acquired this eight from Jonathan Schwinger in 2022.
The Kong "8" Light Plus, Version B is forged from aluminum alloy. Mine is 127 mm. tall, 79 mm. wide, and 14 mm. thick. The rope hole is 41 mm. high and 50 mm. wide. The top center thickness is 11 mm. The shaft length and width are 49 mm. and 24 mm., respectively. The eye measures 18 mm. by 28 mm. My eight weighs 94 g.
There is a small projection on one side of the upper loop with a 5 mm. diameter hole for attaching a keeper sling.
Version B has "KONG" in raised letters on one side and "KG.2000" on the other.
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The keeper hole allows attaching a keeper cord that can be connected to the harness to reduce the rik of dropping the eight. A drawback is that the keeper can easily get entangled with the main line. You may think that the keeper holes on these eights are not in a good placebut where else could it be? If it were on the shank or eye, then the keeper would prevent rigging the eight while the keeper was attached to the user. I recommend simply not dropping your descender, but if yuo have a real concern about dropping the eight, perhaps it would be better to switch to a different kind of descender.
The Midi-sized eights have a compact design that causes the rope to make sharper bends, providing more friction on stiff ropes than a standard-size eight. They also weigh less than most eights. The standard-size Rock House provides less friction than the Midi-sized eights. The Fungo has a bend that allows it to be rigged two ways with differing amounts of friction. The C.A.M.P., Version H is a flat Fungo-equivalent that lacks the two friction arrangements.
The Kong "8" Light Plus eights have a variety of markings. This table summarizes the differences:
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Versions A & B have a different shape eye than the others. I have a small preference for this eye design since it is sized and shaped for belaying.
[ Top
| Kong
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version A
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version B
| "8" Classic v. A
| "8" Classic v. B
| "8" Classic 805.03
]
[ Kong Classic v. A
| Kong Classic v. B
| Kong Classic v. C
| "8" Light 805.01 ]
[ "8" Light Plus v. A
| "8" Light Plus v. B
| "8" Light Plus v. D
| "8" LightPlus 805.02
| Return to Figure Eights
]
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| Front | Rear |
I acquired this eight from Daniel MacKinnon in 2007 and a second one from Michael Silvey in 2009.
The Kong "8" Light Plus, Version C is forged from aluminum alloy. Mine is 128 mm. tall, 81 mm. wide, and 14 mm. thick. The rope hole is 40 mm. high and 50 mm wide. The top center thickness is 11 mm. The shaft length and width are 44 mm. and 24 mm., respectively. The eye measures 23 mm. by 28 mm. My eight weighs 101 g.
There is a small projection on one side of the upper loop with a 5 mm. diameter hole for attaching a keeper sling.
Version B has "KONG" in raised letters on one side and "KG.2000" on the other.
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The keeper hole allows attaching a keeper cord that can be connected to the harness to reduce the rik of dropping the eight. A drawback is that the keeper can easily get entangled with the main line. You may think that the keeper holes on these eights are not in a good placebut where else could it be? If it were on the shank or eye, then the keeper would prevent rigging the eight while the keeper was attached to the user. I recommend simply not dropping your descender, but if yuo have a real concern about dropping the eight, perhaps it would be better to switch to a different kind of descender.
The Midi-sized eights have a compact design that causes the rope to make sharper bends, providing more friction on stiff ropes than a standard-size eight. They also weigh less than most eights. The standard-size Rock House provides less friction than the Midi-sized eights. The Fungo has a bend that allows it to be rigged two ways with differing amounts of friction. The C.A.M.P., Version H is a flat Fungo-equivalent that lacks the two friction arrangements.
The Kong "8" Light Plus eights have a variety of markings. This table summarizes the differences:
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Versions A & B have a different shape eye than the others. I have a small preference for this eye design since it is sized and shaped for belaying.
[ Top
| Kong
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version A
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version B
| "8" Classic v. A
| "8" Classic v. B
| "8" Classic 805.03
]
[ Kong Classic v. A
| Kong Classic v. B
| Kong Classic v. C
| "8" Light 805.01 ]
[ "8" Light Plus v. A
| "8" Light Plus v. B
| "8" Light Plus v. C
| "8" LightPlus 805.02
| Return to Figure Eights
]
|
|
 |
| Front | Rear |
I acquired my Kong "8" Light Plus, Version D on eBay from Darrick Gregory in 2012.
The Kong "8" Light Plus, Version C is forged from aluminum alloy and unfinished. Mine is 128 mm. tall, 80 mm. wide, and 14 mm. thick. The rope hole is 40 mm. high and 50 mm. wide. The top center thickness is 11 mm. The shaft length and width are 44 mm. and 24 mm., respectively. The eye measures 23 mm. by 28 mm. My eight weighs 97 g.
There is a small projection on one side of the upper loop with a 5 mm. diameter hole for attaching a keeper sling.
Version C has "KONG" stamped on one side and in raised letters "KG.2000" on the other.
|
|||||||||||||||||||
The keeper hole allows attaching a keeper cord that can be connected to the harness to reduce the rik of dropping the eight. A drawback is that the keeper can easily get entangled with the main line. You may think that the keeper holes on these eights are not in a good placebut where else could it be? If it were on the shank or eye, then the keeper would prevent rigging the eight while the keeper was attached to the user. I recommend simply not dropping your descender, but if yuo have a real concern about dropping the eight, perhaps it would be better to switch to a different kind of descender.
The Midi-sized eights have a compact design that causes the rope to make sharper bends, providing more friction on stiff ropes than a standard-size eight. They also weigh less than most eights. The standard-size Rock House provides less friction than the Midi-sized eights. The Fungo has a bend that allows it to be rigged two ways with differing amounts of friction. The C.A.M.P., Version H is a flat Fungo-equivalent that lacks the two friction arrangements.
The Kong "8" Light Plus eights have a variety of markings. This table summarizes the differences:
|
|
Versions A & B have a different shape eye than the others. I have a small preference for this eye design since it is sized and shaped for belaying.
[ Top
| Kong
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version A
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version B
| "8" Classic v. A
| "8" Classic v. B
| "8" Classic 805.03
]
[ Kong Classic v. A
| Kong Classic v. B
| Kong Classic v. C
| "8" Light 805.01 ]
[ "8" Light Plus v. A
| "8" Light Plus v. B
| "8" Light Plus v. C
| "8" Light Plus v. D
| Return to Figure Eights
]
|
|
 |
| Front | Rear |
I acquired this eight from Inner Mountain outfitters in 2000. Although it still appeared on the Kong web page, it was difficult to find one since most sources said it had been discontinued.
The Kong "8" Light Plus (805.02) is forged from aluminum alloy and then soft anodized. Mine is 128 mm. tall, 81 mm wide, and 14 mm. thick. The rope hole is 40 mm. high and 50 mm. wide. The top center thickness is 11 mm. The shaft length and width are 45 mm. and 24 mm., respectively. The eye measures 22 mm. by 28 mm. My eight weighs 99 g.
There is a small projection on one side of the upper loop with a 5 mm. diameter hole for attaching a keeper sling.
One side is marked "KG.2000."
|
|||||||||||||||||||
The keeper hole allows attaching a keeper cord that can be connected to the harness to reduce the rik of dropping the eight. A drawback is that the keeper can easily get entangled with the main line. You may think that the keeper holes on these eights are not in a good placebut where else could it be? If it were on the shank or eye, then the keeper would prevent rigging the eight while the keeper was attached to the user. I recommend simply not dropping your descender, but if yuo have a real concern about dropping the eight, perhaps it would be better to switch to a different kind of descender.
The Midi-sized eights have a compact design that causes the rope to make sharper bends, providing more friction on stiff ropes than a standard-size eight. They also weigh less than most eights. The standard-size Rock House provides less friction than the Midi-sized eights. The Fungo has a bend that allows it to be rigged two ways with differing amounts of friction. The C.A.M.P., Version H is a flat Fungo-equivalent that lacks the two friction arrangements.
The Kong "8" Light Plus eights have a variety of markings. This table summarizes the differences:
|
|
Versions A & B have a different shape eye than the others. I have a small preference for this eye design since it is sized and shaped for belaying.
[ Top
| Kong
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version A
| Kong-Bonaiti Classic, Version B
| "8" Classic v. A
| "8" Classic v. B
| "8" Classic 805.03
]
[ Kong Classic v. A
| Kong Classic v. B
| Kong Classic v. C
| "8" Light 805.01 ]
[ "8" Light Plus v. A
| "8" Light Plus v. B
| "8" Light Plus v. C
| "8" Light Plus v. D
| "8" LightPlus 805.02
]
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