Canyon Gear

Proud to be supporting the New Zealand Canyoning Association Makarora Festival, which is kicking off today.
We've sent over a double end rope bag from Gear Perspective along with a Palikoa Pivot from Glacier Black for the raffle, along with a bunch of stickers for participants.
Hopefully everyone has a blast and the weather gods are kind.
Fingers crossed we can join the fun at the next festival in 2026.

Great news. Our popular 26mm tubular tape is back in stock.

Made in Australia from high-tenacity polyester, which is naturally UV-resistant and doesn’t lose strength or degrade due to exposure to water.

This extremely strong, hard-wearing, polyester tubular tape, is ideally suited for constructing abseil anchors in canyon environments.

The new production run of both sizes also means we're able to once again offer full 50 metre rolls at a 10% discount.

Just finished unpacking the big delivery of canyon kegs.

After a few years of struggling to keep these in stock due to surging shipping costs from Europe, it's great to finally have a reasonable number of them again. Best of all, we've managed to keep the price reasonable.

So if you're sick of leaky drybags, or just want a really burly, secure way to store canyon essentials like first aid kits, warm clothing, food or electronic items, why not give a keg a go.

Available in both small (3.6l) and large (6.4l) sizes.

Sorry for the non-canyoning content, but we lost a good ol' boy this week. Danger (long story, but he was the least dangerous dog on earth) was part of the family and definitely deserves to be remembered.

He was incredibly patient with little kids -- even when they'd poke and prod him -- and would protectively hover by my side when walking. In his younger days he was an escape artist who would scale fences to go exploring. He worked out the friendly neighbours and would knock on their front doors then politely wait for a treat. Tradies would be caught out as he'd suddenly appear several rungs up their ladder. He also had an uncanny sense for how I was feeling and got me through some tough times.

As he aged he was happiest just lying in the sun, relaxing and taking the world in. Even as he became old, stiff, and deaf, he never lost his patience for kids or his gentle nature.

Danger was 17, which was a good innings, but still feels far too short. He was there for most of my adult life, and most of my kid's lives. It really feels like the end of a significant era. Farewell D-boy. You'll always be missed.

Are you after a secure, genuinely waterproof way to protect and store essential items when canyoning (like first aid kits, food, spare clothes, emergency beacons, etc)?

We've got a small number of waterproof Canyon Kegs back in stock, with more due to arrive in the coming weeks. This product became very hard to source in an affordable way during Covid, so it's great to finally have them available again.

After three years of fires, floods and plague I’m sure I’m not the only loving the return of sunny weekends. Hopefully you had a chance to get outdoors, whether exploring somewhere new or simply enjoying an old favourite.

As a special Christmas gift to everyone who has supported Canyon Gear over the last few years, I’m offering 15% off all descenders this week. Simply enter the coupon code “XmasGift” at the checkout between now and Friday.

Whether you’ve been eyeing off one of the exciting new canyon descenders on the market, simply need to replace a trusty favourite that is getting a little too worn, or are just after a spare device for friends and family, we’ve got you covered.

You can find the full selection here: https://www.canyongear.com.au/product-category/descenders/

I often describe canyoning as "bushwalking with ropes". Earlier in the year, I was on a three day bushwalk when we spotted this impressive, narrow slot. Thankfully, we had an 8mm rope, fiddlestick, and some lightweight harnesses, so could properly explore it.
What we found was an impressive little canyon, with a couple abseils, some tricky downclimbs, and several sections so narrow they required climbing up and over. The challenging anchors and remote location make it unlikely many people have been there before us.
Compact, lightweight gear makes it possible to include everything you need for some impromptu canyon exploration on other adventures where the chance of finding canyons is high.

I'm taking advantage of the cold, wet weather to migrate webhosts and make some other changes to the backend of the Canyon Gear website which should make it faster, more reliable, and also more secure (this includes moving over to Australia's first Tier IV data centre).

So while this should be good news, there may be some teething problems over the next few days. If you run into any issues, please get in touch and let me know so I can rectify them asap. If you have trouble placing an order, you can send me the details of what you're after and I'll process it manually.

Once the nerdy behind-the-scenes stuff is working smoothly it'll allow me to make some more noticeable changes to the website, which will include new products, some visual improvement, and some attempts to professionalise the look and feel.

For those who've been asking, we now have the PaliKoa descenders from Glacier Black in stock.

Both the Element and the Pivot deliver a range of friction settings which can be added to while abseiling, ensuring a smooth, secure descent. The Pivot's unique design includes three carabiner holes, which creates a multipurpose tool that offers a range of rigging solutions for advanced users.

Available in a full range of colours (while stock lasts).

More info: https://www.canyongear.com.au/brands/glacier-black/

Gone canyoning!
I'm off on an exploratory canyoning trip for the next 10 days.
I'll process orders and respond to enquiries when I return to civilisation on 19 September.

On the weekend a small group of us braved a frigid, drizzly day for a quick run through Jugglers. It never got above 6 degrees, but the mist and rain gave the canyon a beautiful ambience and really brought out the lush greens.

The trip was about dialing in our teamwork and making sure everyone was confident rigging a fiddlestick ahead of an exploratory adventure later this month.

I feel a real sense of accomplishment when I can canyon cleanly -- leaving absolutely no trace of my visit -- ensuring these unique environments remain pristine for future generations.

📸 Tom Brennan (https://ozultimate.com)

The new version of the Sqwurel descender has just been released, with stock arriving later this month.

V4 retains the unique tail, which provides exceptional on-the-fly friction adjustments, but improves performance when abseiling on double ropes.

The carabiner hole has been enlarged slightly to allow use with larger carabiners, while the O-ring now grabs the carabiner a little tighter to prevent cross loading.

A brilliant new feature involves slots that turn the descender into a wrench for tightening or loosening stubborn quicklinks.

Pre-order now for delivery in late September and save $15.

More info:

BG Gear Sqwurel V4 descender – Canyon Gear The unique tail of this canyon-specific descender provides a range of quick, easy and secure friction adjustments while abseiling. The Sqwurel produces significantly less rope twist compared to other horned figure-8 style descenders and the latest version improves performance when abseiling on doubl...

Winter is a great time for exploring less-visited places.

On the weekend we decided to play around in a section of Wolgan cliffs. Not only did we manage to push an unlikely pass, but we found a fun little canyon with a particularly impressive abseil.

Best of all, we were using ghosting techniques, so left nothing behind. The next group of people keen (or mad) enough to stumble on this little gem won't see any sign of our visit.

The CRKT Bear Claw ER knife is finally back in stock.

It's taken nearly a year to get a large shipment from the manufacturer, but it was well worth the wait.

The Bear Claw is ideally suited to aquatic canyons where the serrated blade quickly slices through rope or webbing in an emergency.

Attach directly to your harness or pack, ensuring you always have an emergency knife when you need it.

More info: https://www.canyongear.com.au/product/crkt-bear-claw-blunt-tip/

Empress Canyon will be closed on weekdays until August 19 while National Parks undertake track repairs.

While Empress can be packed in summer, a sneaky winter trip (on a day it's open) can often mean you get the canyon all to yourself.

Just make sure you dress warm and move fast. You'll also experience higher-than-usual water flow due to the recent rain.

📸

The weather might be a little chilly for wet canyons, but there's lots of dry abseiling trips that are perfect for the winter months.

The classic chockstone abseil in Devils Hole is a perfect example (although best avoided on windy days). It can also be combined with several other great drops nearby.

📸 Cinta Yong

The Winter edition of Wild is now in stock. This bumper 164 page magazine features plenty of snowy and icy goodness, from chasing backcountry airs on NSW’s Main Range to hunting for turns in Tasmania’s fickle mountains, along with learning to ice climb at Kosciuszko’s Blue Lake.

You save $5 off the cover price when you grab a copy of the latest edition of Wild magazine with your next order.

If you're a climber, why not grab a copy of the latest edition of Vertical Life at the same time. It's packed full of vertical goodness, including behind the scenes chats with Reel Rock 16 duo the Wide Boyz, summer first ascents on Lutruwita/Tasmania’s iconic Federation Peak, and spectacular images to keep your stoke burnin’ at an all-time high.

Save $5 off the cover price when you grab a copy of the latest edition of Wild magazine with your next order.

The Autumn 2022 edition features a great range of stories, including an account of the first attempt to climb all of New Zealand’s 3000+m peaks in a single push, a paddling trip across the Western Arthurs, and a story about the push to restore Lake Pedder.

https://www.canyongear.com.au/product/wild-183/

Look what just arrived!

Following years of exploratory adventures by an intrepid band of canyoners, the first edition of Canyoning around Victoria is now available.

Beautifully presented, it mixes stunning full-page colour images with detailed canyon descriptions, topos, and maps.

Available to pick up now from Springwood (Blue Mountains) or order online.

https://www.canyongear.com.au/product/canyoning-around-victoria/

For the next month, we're donating 10% of all sales to the Ukrainian Red Cross to help support the millions of people caught in this terrible conflict.

Watching families with young children desperately fleeing or huddled in basements while rockets rain down on their homes is unimaginably heartbreaking.

Let's all do our part to stand with the innocent victims of war.

New product:
If you're after a replacement for the recently recalled Petzl Pirana, the Zone 8 might be what you're looking for.
The asymmetric shape reduces rope twist, while the horns offer a range of secure friction settings that can be easily added while abseiling.
More info: https://www.canyongear.com.au/product/canyon-zone-8/

With warm temperatures and blue skies finally arriving, I’m sure I’m not the only one making summer canyon plans.
To help you get the most out of your adventures, I’ve taken 12.5% off the entire range of polyester canyoning ropes (until December 23).
There’s also a few end-of-spool lengths with bigger discounts and a limited number of 65m BlueWater Canyon Pro DS ropes for people planning remote, challenging trips.
I had some grand plans for this year — with a vision to really build up the Canyon Gear store — but Covid lockdowns, a baby, and the day job didn’t play ball. Keep an eye out for some exciting updates in 2022!

Check out the specials here: https://www.canyongear.com.au/product-category/specials/

Here's a sneak peek of my attempt to take advantage of the Covid lockdown by creating a new and expanded space for Canyon Gear.

Once finished, we'll have nearly triple the display space, double the storage for products, and a much better system for managing and getting out online orders.

From 11 October (fingers crossed!) we'll be able to reopen for in-person sales, so if you live in the Blue Mountains or are passing through for a canyon, feel free to drop in.

With vaccination rates soaring and the world starting to open up, it won't be long before people can head across to NZ for some spectacular aquatic canyons.

In preparation, we've taken a massive 30% off the price of the Canyoning in NZ guidebook.

With more than 50 detailed canyon descriptions, beautiful photographs, maps, and a range of information, it's a vital tool for planning your own NZ canyoning adventure.

This beautiful 464 page, full colour, glossy book is just $45, while stock lasts.

https://www.canyongear.com.au/product/canyoning-in-nz-guidebook/

New product: BlueWater 9mm Canyonator

The BlueWater Canyonator is made of 100 per cent high-strength polyester to deliver a genuinely static rope that is hard-wearing, strong, yet a pleasure to use.

BlueWater collaborated with leading canyon trainer and American Canyoneering Association founder Rich Carlson to develop this rope specifically for the needs of canyoners.

The use of 100 per cent high-strength polyester results in a genuinely static rope, with less than 1 per cent stretch for an average canyoner, while retaining an impressive 22.2kN tensile strength.

A firm braid protects the load-bearing core from grit and grime, while the abrasion-resistant sheath protects it against the damage caused by rubbing against rough and sharp edges.

Polyester is naturally hydrophobic (so it won’t absorb as much water), naturally static (reducing abseil bounce and abrasion) and has exceptional UV resistance, resulting in a longer life-span.

This rope excels when durability, value for money and robustness are your priorities.

More info: https://www.canyongear.com.au/product/bluewater-9mm-canyonator/

New product: Aspiring Anchor Chain

The Aspiring Anchor Chain is a compact, hard-wearing safety tether that can be securely clipped to various lengths.

This versatile tool also offers a range of other uses, including as a foot loop when ascending, a temporary back-up for an anchor, to hang a pack or rope bag while abseiling, or to extend your abseil device.

Made from Dyneema, which delivers exceptional strength and abrasion resistance in a lightweight and compact form, each loop is fully-rated to a breaking strength of 18kN.

The addition of a half-twist in the sewn loop that attaches to the harness ensures a compact and clean girth hitch.

With strong, secure, individually rated loops, the Aspiring Anchor Chain can be safely used in a range of rigging and rescue settings.

This style of personal anchor chain is recommended over traditional daisy chains, which can fail at low loads if clipped between two loops

More info: https://www.canyongear.com.au/product/aspiring-anchor-chain/

Grab a free sticker with your next order.

We have a range of quality vinyl stickers, perfect for sharing your love of canyoning with the world or just supporting your favourite brand.

Check them all out here: https://www.canyongear.com.au/product-category/stickers/

In alarming news, the land that the Wollangambe Two exit track crosses has just been listed for sale.
About 800m of that track (the part through the tall forest with stunning tree ferns) is on private property. The same family has owned it for decades and they've always provided access to canyoners and bushwalkers, but there's nothing that legally guarantees that access.
That means the purchaser of this land would be completely within their rights to shut down public access, which would effectively shut off Wollangambe Two and also impact several technical canyons (Waterfall of Moss, Whungee Whengee, Old Man).
The block contains 70 acres of pristine rainforest, so really should be added to the national park. It could also provide a new camping area to help ease the pressure on Cathedral Reserve.
It's important for NPWS to understand how significant this land is, and how important it is to maintain public access to the area.
Please take a moment to email the NPWS Blue Mountains Branch outlining the fact that you are a recreational canyoner, you regularly use this track to access the surrounding national park, and you want them to urgently examine the purchase of the land or an access arrangement that provides a legal easement for the walking track.
[email protected]

More info: https://www.facebook.com/FatCanyoners/posts/4172893039433395