Vampire Bats (also known as Gang Hang and Spin Cycle) is a recurring endurance challenge in Survivor. First appearing in Survivor: Panama, it has since reappeared in Survivor: Redemption Island.
Rules[]
The castaways have to hang on a bar for as long as they can without falling. Last person left hanging wins.
In Redemption Island, the castaways are suspended over a pool of water and, after the 20-minute mark, must use only their legs for support.
History[]
United States[]
The challenge was first used in Survivor: Panama. Shane Powers asked Jeff if they were going to tempted with food. Jeff said no, causing Shane to opt out. It came down to Terry Deitz and Nick Stanbury. Terry outlasted Nick for the first individual immunity.
The challenge returned in Survivor: Redemption Island. The castaways were offered to sit out for hamburgers and fries; Phillip Sheppard and Steve Wright took the offer. Rob Mariano was the first out and the only one to not make it to 20 minutes. Eventually, David Murphy dropped out and Andrea Boehlke asked if she could have the win. The other Ometepes obliged and Andrea won immunity.
Australia[]
The challenge was used as the very first individual Immunity Challenge in Australian Survivor history. The Fia Fia tribe competed and Brooke Jowett became the first person to wear the Immunity Necklace.
The challenge reappeared as the final six Immunity Challenge in Champions v Contenders (2018). The castaways would hold onto an axle, which would be rotated until they are upside-down. Brian Lake won the challenge.
The challenge was modified for use as a tribal Immunity Challenge in Heroes v Villains; the last tribe to have at least two people still on the pole wins. Hayley Leake planned to throw the challenge so, when the Heroes were down to just Hayley and Sharni Vinson, Hayley took herself off the pole and gave the Villains their first Immunity Challenge win.
The challenge reappeared as the first Reward Challenge after the merge in Brains v Brawn II. In this variant, the contestants held on to a long rope, which would shake as people dropped from the challenge. The challenge ended after Logan Johannisen and Zara Callianiotis struck a deal with Kate Gloufchis that they would give her the win if she agreed to take them on the reward. Kate agreed and Logan and Zara stepped down to give Kate the cocktail party. Kate held up her side of the bargain and took Logan and Zara with her on the reward, as well as AJ Antonios, Kristin Alston, Morgan Mitchell, and Paulie Michael.
France[]
New Zealand[]
Winners[]
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Panama "An Emerging Plan" |
Individual Immunity |  Terry Deitz |
| Redemption Island "The Buddy System" |
Individual Immunity |  Andrea Boehlke |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Survivor (2016) Episode 15 |
Individual Immunity |  Brooke Jowett | |
| Champions v Contenders (2018) Episode 21 |
Individual Immunity |  Brian Lake | |
| Heroes v Villains Episode 4 |
Tribal Immunity |         Villains | |
| Brains v Brawn II "Vengeance" |
Individual Reward |  Kate Gloufchis | |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Thailand Episode 13 |
Individual Immunity (Final Immunity) |
 Tess Fahey |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Survivor Québec (2024) Episode 15 |
Tribal/Individual Reward |         Nawa |
 Florence Vachon |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Robinson 2023 Episode 26 |
Individual Immunity |  Oskar Hammarstedt |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Both times the challenge was used:
- The challenge was for individual immunity.
- Ten castaways were present, six men and four women.
- The winner would return for a future season.
- The winner was on an orange tribe pre-merge that opposed a purple tribe, and the tribes merged into a black tribe.
- The season introduced an island as a season-long twist, Exile Island and Redemption Island respectively.
- Sam Webb and Shonee Bowtell are the only people to compete in this challenge twice.