Page 74 - Duane Raleigh - Knots Ropes for Climbers

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On Webbing

Webbing is the central character in the rope-to-protection chain. It forms the quickdraws we clip to
bolts, the runners we clip to cams and nuts, and we thread it through fixed anchors to rig rappels. Our
harnesses are made of it. So are aiders, daisy chains, and tie-offs. We even use it to sling water
bottles.

If there are dozens of ways to use webbing, there are also dozens of types of webbing.

The two you should concern yourself with are flat and tubular. Flat webbing is just as it sounds, flat
and one-dimensional. Seat belts are a good example of flat webbing. So are certain nylon belts. The
disadvantages of flat webbing are that it cuts and abrades more easily and is about half as strong as
tubular. Its advantages are that it is lighter in weight and less bulky than tubular. For those reasons,

flat webbing makes the best aiders and sewn goods, such as harnesses and quickdraws. For regular
knotted products, such as

runners, however, tubular webbing is superior.

Cross sections of flat and tubular webbing.

Tubular webbing is woven round, like Chinese handcuffs or tube socks. Its multi-

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sided design makes it very strong and durable for its width. For that reason, it is always the webbing
of choice. You must be careful, though, when selecting tubular webbing, as there is good stuff and
bad.

The best tubular webbing is woven into a continuous loop, similar to the sheath on a climbing rope.

Avoid the type that is woven flat, then folded into a tube and stitched down the edge. Snag or cut the
edge seam, and the tube falls apart. Surplus stores still carry spools of this seamed webbing, but it is