The Gipsy (new pro)

I don't trust it; it isn't made in 'Mer'ca.

Old is new again, I suppose. IIRC Stephane has pics of those on his site somewhere, but I'm blanking on who made them (early 80's perhaps?). I know there's one or two on display at Rock&Snow @ Gunks and seem to recall one at Neptune's in Boulder.

strange looking, looks pretty heavy and dangerous to rack 'yer nuts with for sure.

Anyone who does much off-width(OW) climbing knows that being able to push your pro up the climb above you is the number one factor, by far, in choosing OW protection. Trying to climb past your pro in an OW is usually the crux so if you can just push your pro up above you it makes the OW much, much easier.

I don't see how you can just push one of these new Kong Gipsys above you as you climb so for me, I will stick with SLCD's.

supertopo always has info on old stuff
Cassin Blitz

On an Italian climbing forum (Planet Mountain) I found a post by the climber who appears in Kong's promotional video. He compared the Gipsies to Camalots and concluded that they are stronger, lighter, have wider range, and cost less (in Italy), but are more difficult to place and push up a crack.

As for racking, he usually clips the biner to the vertex of the V rather than using the Owl holder.

Killis Howard wrote:Look sketchy to me. I'd fall on my Chouinard tube chocks a dozen times before messing with these. If anyone uses them, post up, I'd be interested to see if they work, and if so, on what rock types.

I don't think it would pass the kick test

johnL wrote: After years of searching, I found a great, strong, lightweight, and affordable piece that I've never been able to kick out.