Ropeman 2 Vs. Kong Duck: Which One Should You Go For?

Good ascenders will definitely make your job easier. That’s why it is important to go with good ones like Ropeman 2 or Kong Duck.

Both these models are pretty similar. But if you look closely, there are some differences between them. Build, sheathing pressure, and price are the major ones.

Adventurer or vertical worker, everyone knows how important a good ascender is. Ropeman 2 and Kong Duck are both good for saddle hunting too, but what if you had to pick only one?

Here’s a side-by-side comparison to help you decide.

A Quick Summary of Comparison

Feature	Ropeman 2	Kong Duck
Build	Taiwan-made, good for lifting	Italy-made, good for climbing
Sheath pressure	More pressure	Less pressure
Price	Affordable	Less affordable

And that’s the gist of it, keep reading below for the detailed breakdown.

Key Differences Between Ropeman 2 And Kong Duck

Let’s face it, both ascenders are very similar. But that doesn’t mean there is no difference between them. Build, sheath pressure, and price are some of the major differences between them.

Here’s how these factors work out in Ropeman 2 and Kong Duck.

• Build

Ropeman 2 and Kong Duck both have similar builds. They’re so similar you’ll think about the other one when you see one of them.

Ropeman 2 is slightly heavy and a better option for lifting. Kong Duck is lighter, easier to work with, and better for climbing.

Taiwan-made Ropeman 2 has some interesting build points. The cam is stainless steel and comes with “teeth” on it for better grip.

The whole thing weighs about 95g. Not very heavy, but the difference is pretty clear when you grab it in your hands.

Ropeman 2 is easier to handle with one hand because of its design.

If you’re doing heavy lifting, the teeth will get you the extra grip and the design makes it easier to handle with one hand.

This makes Ropeman 2 good gear for heavy lifting days.

Kong Duck is Italian-made, so you can guess the quality. This ascender is lighter than Ropeman 2 (around 85g) and really easy to set up.

The spring-backed cam also lets you grab flat pieces which is a plus. One limitation of this is the two-hands attachment. You’ll need both hands to attach or detach it.

That’s usually not a problem if you’re doing regular climbing. But if you’re switching between rappelling and climbing, it can get a little tough. Or if you have lots of fixed rope sections, using both hands may not feel the most convenient.

Kong Duck is also good gear for vertical lifting, but only in cases where you don’t need both hands.

• Sheath Pressure

Ropeman 2 gives you extra grip, but there’s a twist to that. This ascender is notorious for the pressure it puts on the outer sheath of ropes.

The teeth in Ropeman 2 put extra pressure on the outer sheats and this can damage the ropes gradually. You won’t have to worry about the rope snapping suddenly, but you definitely have to be wary.

Kong Duck has no such problems. It has a spring-backed cam for grip. The pressure is appropriate and it won’t damage the ropes.

• Price

This is the most visible difference between Ropeman 2 and Kong Duck. Ropeman 2 is more available and the retail price for it starts at around $49.95.

Kong Duck on the other hand is harder to find and retails for around $62.95 depending on the platform.

If you get them second-hand, the price will be lower but the Kong Duck will still cost more than Ropeman 2.

Which One Should You Go For?

And here comes the hard part of the job. As you know by now, both ascenders are practically twins.

This makes differentiating between them hard. Picking one of the? That is extra hard in this case.

That doesn’t mean there is no answer at all. You can definitely pick one, it will just come down to your preference.

But if you want to make an objective pick between them, you’ll need to do some serious pros and cons calculations.

If you’re okay with Taiwan-made stuff and don’t mind the possibility of extra pressure on your rope’s sheath, Ropeman 2 is a really good option.

This one is versatile and can work with a lot of rope types compared to its predecessor. You can also handle this with one hand only which makes lifting with it easier.

If you’re okay with spending a few extra bucks and want something that’s the best of multiple worlds, Kong Duck is really hard to beat.

They’re versatile, smooth, and lighter to carry around. Setting up a Kong Duck is easy and so is handling it. It also puts less pressure on the rope’s outer sheaths so no need to worry about that.

The only problem is, you’ll need two hands to handle your Kong Duck if you’re in rough terrain. Usually, one hand is enough but if you have multiple fixed ropes, you’ll need both hands.

Overall, Kong Duck is the better option in this case. It might be a little hard to find but the work is worth it. But if you’re looking for a more affordable option, Ropeman 2 is as good as any.

Also Read: Good Substitutes To Mad Rock Safeguard.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are a bunch of questions people usually ask about Ropeman 2, Kong Duck, and ascenders in general.

Final Verdict

There really is no clear winner in the Ropeman 2 and Kong Duck comparison. Everything comes down to your circumstances.

Objectively, Kong Duck is the better choice between these two. But if you want something more affordable or easily available, Ropeman 2 is your guy.