An ancient tool gets some modern upgrades

Rock abrasion in the pouch and on the release cord can damage a sling very quickly. The Pan sling may be the most abrasion-resistant sling out there. A thin but incredibly durable piece of leather protects the leading edge of the cord. On the cord itself, we applied a carbide-enhanced material that actually started to grind the rock down in our testing. It won't last forever but it will extend sling life many times longer than exposed cordage. Check out our test video here.

Knots and braids create high points that wear quickly and knots can be unreliable. We found splices to be a much better fit for slings. We use un-gutted lock splices with lock whipping on the Pan sling. Splices are lower profile, stronger, and won’t come undone. It also provides a tight connection and flexes with the pouch. Splices take much longer to make than tying knots and a bit of patience but we think you'll agree that the results are worth it.

Leather is the best material for a sling pouch, bar none. Throwing rocks can be very abrasive, and pouches that are made with man-made or natural fibers will not last as long as a leather pouch. However, durability is not the only advantage of a leather pouch. Leather provides better projectile security and better projectile handling (cupping and grip) for both light and heavy projectiles than braided pouches. We take the sling pouch seriously and we don't use off-the-shelf leather. From premium full-grain vegetable-tanned leather we select our thickness and then hand-cut, edge sand, tool, dye, and use our in-house hot stuffing process. Hot stuffing impregnates the leather with waxes and oils to prepare the sling for tough conditions. It looks great and was made specifically for slinging.

At first glance, the Pan sling may look like a single-strand sling but it is not. Dual internal cord tapered stiffness gives the Pan Sling unique advantages for both projectile feel and sling control. Thick woven slings have a reduced projectile feel, particularly for lighter projectiles. Single-strand slings have a great projectile feel but have less sling control. The unique nature of the Pan Sling provides both feel and control across a broader range of projectile weights while maintaining a fast, narrow-diameter sling. It is described as a precise sling by those familiar with slinging. And it does this while maintaining its compact profile for easy carry.

A light yet secure grip is one key to good slinging and the leather release tab on the Pan sling is the optimal size, shape, and material to deliver. And unlike a knot grip, you won't need to develop calluses. The leather release tab seats comfortably between the index finger and thumb. You will feel confident on day one about your ability to hold on to this sling.

Combined with the gripping finger loop, you won't find a sling that is better designed to feel as secure and controllable.

One of our favorite features of the Pan sling is the gripping finger loop. It allows secure throwing with a natural open-hand release and remains comfortable for long periods. It is made of two pieces of leather to minimize hole stretch and integrates a thin tab of leather between the finger and cord. When we switch over to other slings that use a fixed loop size we usually throw the sling off our hand until we adjust by curling our finger to trap the loop. The Pan sling is a true open-hand release sling and inspires a natural throwing feel and confidence.

The mini carabiner keeps the loop centered on top of the finger and has a secondary use for sling carry.

The carry tools are custom-designed and 3D printed for the Pan sling. They provide some of the best options for compact carry and storage. Coming in about the same size as a tennis ball, the Reel is a simple and compact go-to method for sling carry and storage. The Little Pan is even more compact and turns the Pan sling into a pocket-friendly world traveler or a keychain accessory.

Aside from the comfort and throwing security that the release tab provides, there is another feature built in. The end of the release cord can be adjusted. This allows you to shorten the cord several inches and provides the adjustment needed to wrap the sling around various sizes (like your wrist). The mini carabiner on the finger loop can then be connected to the end of the release cord securing the sling in place.

The finger loop of the Pan sling also has a function beyond finger grip and comfort. The finger loop can open, lay flat, and slide down the cord. It can then wrap with the cordage which increases overall compactness with no bulky loop hanging off the sling. And with a mini carabiner at your disposal, you will find several ways to secure the sling around things.