Do we need slings?

[nutterboy]

I do carry a sewn sling but only because I use it mainly for climbing but it is carried in the knowledge that I can cut it if need be

I probably will still carry a sling but don't realise how often they get used as its usually me who's getting rescued

[alexpethybridge]

I would love to see a situation on a river where a sling tied with a tape know would break considering the shock load that it would carry on a fall factor is still well below 1 for 99% of the time. I gave up on tape simply because tape knots are suck a pain in the ass to undo after bearing a significant load.

While on the subject of knots etc taking away from strength, you might as well mention how much a larks foot takes away from stated strength. I was shocked recently at how bad some of the knots folk that I know (and won't mention) use are-especially as they are canyon guides where a properly dressed knot is imperative at all times in order to sustain full strength and make sure it don't collapse under a shock load.

The issue with Dyneema tape is not that the knots tied in it break (although tying a knot does weaken the sling) but that most people don't leave enough of a tail after the knot. When Dyneema is shock loaded, and not necessarily with a great force the sling will slip though itself and come undone if the tail isn't long enough. Using a stitched sling solves this problem. :)

Personally I carry a snap gate crab attached to a 240cm stitched sling (480cm of sling stitched into a loop) in my BA and then 3 locking crabs, prussiks, a 60cm & 420cm stitched sling behind the seat of my boat. Plus a 20m throwline. I just find slings very versatile.

[feelingjustfine]

I concur, I have never seen the advantage of tape over a sling really. Was simply stating that on rivers we deal with such minimal fall factors etc it is not really worth comparing to the tests demonstrated in the video's. Also the fact that the rope that we use as throw lines will melt of put under proper string due to the floating core..the rope will melt apart before the sling/ tape goes.

If nothing else a piece of tape flapping about is a pain in the ass as you have double the length you should would have with a sling. Not a fan of cutting a bit off each time suggestion...to much cleaning up after yourself/ littering and easily avoided if you get a sling.

[Michael Hatton]

Just out of interest Ieuan, what kind of B.A do you have which has pockets big enough for all of that?

Astral Green. One side pocket has 2 crabs and a sling, the other has a crab, sling, pulley and prussuk. The main front pocket has a sling + crab, and I have a sling + crab handy stuff down the front. Knife is in the knife pocket and a whistle is on one of the straps.

Maybe over doing it but I don't notice any of it + it doesn't weigh me down so... All good.

Ieuan doesn't own a BA its an impact vest.

[Ieuan Belshaw]

Just out of interest Ieuan, what kind of B.A do you have which has pockets big enough for all of that?

Astral Green. One side pocket has 2 crabs and a sling, the other has a crab, sling, pulley and prussuk. The main front pocket has a sling + crab, and I have a sling + crab handy stuff down the front. Knife is in the knife pocket and a whistle is on one of the straps.

Maybe over doing it but I don't notice any of it + it doesn't weigh me down so... All good.

Ieuan doesn't own a BA its an impact vest.

Now I should say something like 'that's because I never swim' but truth be told, I swam last week... :(

Anyway this topic spurred me onto re-organizing my pfd and I took some pics...
The yellow sling is pretty redundant although it still proves handy. I can still put more in that pfd which I'm amazed by.

[tigger]

Ieuan, I could set up a group abseil for a bunch of 20 primary school kids with the amount of kit you carry!

[tigger]

Do you wear a climbing harness under your dry suit as well? Just in case....

[tigger]

And a tambourine under your helmet?

[1zak1]

Why 3 closed slings??? what if you have to join to slings together? thought we work of the clean line priceple in a moving water enviroment????????? whats going on with that prusik lenth/knot??? 1 pully????????

p.s think the nuts should be in your pants not your ba ;)

[tigger]

spelling?

[1zak1]

Im dialaxic. hope you feel happy with your self!!!

[tigger]

Dialaxic (also dialactics and the dialactical method) is a method of argument for resolving disagreement that has been central to Indian and European philosophy since antiquity. The word dialectic originated in Ancient Greece, and was made popular by Plato in the Socratic dialogues. The dialectical method is dialogue between two or more people holding different points of view about a subject, who wish to establish the truth of the matter by dialogue, with reasoned arguments.[1] Dialectics is different from debate, wherein the debaters are committed to their points of view, and mean to win the debate, either by persuading the opponent, proving their argument correct, or proving the opponent's argument incorrect — thus, either a judge or a jury must decide who wins the debate. Dialectics is also different from rhetoric, wherein the speaker uses logos, pathos, or ethos to persuade listeners to take their side of the argument.



?????????????????????????

[Ieuan Belshaw]

Hahahahaha. I only carry that much so when you two end up swimming and loose all your gear, there's someone to save you! :-p

[tigger]

Do you mean dyslexic?

Two dyslexic men walk into a bank shouting... “Air in the hands mother stickers this is a fuckup!”

[1zak1]

Just had to look at the diconary on how to spell dyslexic, but really like the way you have brought this to the topic as the only way to resolve this is by saying YES we do need slings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

p.s ieuan, the only reason we swim is because when you are leading you take the group down stuff blind that you have paddled before that should be inspected and safty put on. but your the first to stop us if were leading you and you throw a hiss fit if you dont know whats coming up or you dont know the line.

[tigger]

meow, someone had a 4 star assessment?
This is the aberglasyn, but first show me a roll!

[Ieuan Belshaw]

Ooooo burn, you agreed to running the Mellte drop blind because you've seen it in videos :p

[1zak1]

yes, ieuan did make me do his version of a 4 star assesment at the top of a river before I was allowed to paddle with him.

[Ieuan Belshaw]

Just wanted to make sure this Zak fella could look after himself after paddling only 3 weeks in a kayak! ;)

[1zak1]

And did he pass???????

[Ieuan Belshaw]

A+ haha

[1zak1]

Not bad for a fat kid ;)

[Michael Hatton]

p.s ieuan, the only reason we swim is because when you are leading you take the group down stuff blind that you have paddled before that should be inspected and safty put on. but your the first to stop us if were leading you and you throw a hiss fit if you dont know whats coming up or you dont know the line.

I like this ^^

This is Henry Moore "you just go right of the rock" .... its not like any of the water travels hard right into an undercut....

In fairness to Ieuan he only runs stuff he ran in the past "[i]Blind"[i] because he is lazy, its imposible to inspect the Lower Cynfal.. wasn't that hard really was it.

Lots of love Mike

[Ieuan Belshaw]

Woah woah woah... Lower Cynfal was a pain to inspect! What was it... an hour to walk 100 meters? Anyway, this is no place to be bickering -> FB.

[markayak]

Dont be so bloody stupid, of course slings are a good idea. go away and boil your head.

[DaveBland]

Dont be so bloody stupid, of course slings are a good idea. go away and boil your head.

We need more posts like this please.

[callum s]

Two dyslexics walked into a bra.