Klippa is a lightweight, compact, and highly functional stick clip device designed for climbers who are trying the clip the first bolt of a climb.
As a climber, I have often encountered the classic problem of trying to clip the first bolt of a climb. Whether it's run-out, sandbagged, or a high-risk start I have often found myself mucking around with the sticks that other climbers have used in the past to clip the first bolt. There are stick clip products on the market already that are pretty good, but they always have one of three problems.
1. They cost a fortune.
2. They require you to purchase an additional painter's pole or similar.
3. They are bulky and heavy.
As an industrial designer, I have an affinity for solving problems and soon found myself designing and prototyping my own stick clip.
Klippa utilizes branches (which happen to be in abundance in most crags) and a quick and simple fasting system to attach Klippa. The design has a bungee and two slots that hold Klippa securely to branches of varying diameters.
Klippa can then be used to hold the gate of a climber's quick-draw open so they can raise it up to the first bolt. This allows them to protect themselves on the most dangerous part of any climb.
The first few iterations of Klippa were mainly designed for only me to use, they were far from perfect but they satisfied my needs for a cheaper and more convenient alternative to classic stick clips. Only when I started having my friends ask if they could have one of their own did I find myself improving the design to be easier to use and more reliable.
Due to the popularity of the design with my friends, I decided to look into monetizing the design and selling Klippa to other climbers. I explored injection molded solutions using molds I made using a resin printer. This had mixed results but was a learning experience in itself.
Today you can find Klippa on the shelves of Mountain Equipment Australia and Happy Beiner.
