The following product review, from SGM’s Arboriculture Business Manager, Andy Hancock, appraises the latest karabiner design to hit the market: the Skylotec passO-PL.
A brand new innovation in karabiner design has just been released to the UK market by Skylotec – this lot are no stranger to the arboricultural market, they’ve been making harnesses for over 60 years, they make one of the best arb harnesses available and they have been producing top quality hardware for the alpine and sports climbing sector for years.
Welcome to the passO-PL HMS - it’s already got a lot of attention for its gate design because we’re all used to climbing with 3-way karabiners for all vital connections as recommended in AFAG 401 (para 43); this recommends ‘at least three distinct movements’ required to open the gate – the passO-PL requires BOTH latches on the gate to be depressed before the gate will open, much the same as the ‘lift and twist’ of most other 3-way connectors.
A few folks have already jumped up and down about it not being fit for purpose but it is fully certified for use as PPE and is compliant with EN 362:2004 just like any other 3-way – I’ve used the passo-PL in a working climbing system and the only way I could make it open unintentionally was to choke the gate with an eye-to-eye termination BUT, later on in the same demonstration, I managed to do the same with a traditional 3-way gate.
I’d advise that any termination be made using either a Lingens or Fisherman’s type of knot or that any spliced or sewn termination is held captive with one of the various rope keeper tabs available.
Whatever you think of the passO-PL, it’s good to see somebody bringing their ideas and innovations to reality but if you still prefer a 3-way then there’s the passO-Tri – and they both come in the same fantastic colour.
Andy Hancock, Business Manager, SGM Contracts LLP
