Summary

Kind of gears required for highlining

The gears used with a highline must not be the same as the one used with a regular slackline practice neither be the same used for climbing.

The highline gears must be dedicated to this practice; this is the only way of knowing its wear.

To install a highline, we are EXCLUSIVELY using steel connectors. They are obviously heavier than their aluminum equivalent but they present the advantage to distort before breaking and can support, usually, bigger workload.

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Gears used with the 7 meters “Hole de Mercier” highline

Gears list for the anchor
  • 10 small stainless steel plates
    (diameter: 0.47 in. – shearing strength of 5,621 lbf)
  • 10 zinc steel rawlplugs
    (diameter: 0.47 in. – length: 4 in.)
  • 10 zinc steel washers
    (diameter: 0.47 in.)
  • 10 zinc steel nuts
    (diameter: 0.47 in.)
  • 1 wrench n°19
  • 1 thermal drill or with battery
    (impact energy: 1.5 Joules – maximum no load speed: 960 r/min – nominal rated input 375 W)
  • 1 concrete drill bit
    (diameter: 0.47 in.)
  • 1 straw
  • 1 small hammer
Gears list for the anchor equalization
  • 4 oval-shaped and symmetrical stainless steel carabiners
    (diameter: 0.47 in. – breaking strength on major axis with gate closed: 6,745 lbf)
  • 6 zinc steel DELTA shape screwlinks
    (diameter: 0.393 in. – breaking strength on axis: 10,116 lbf)
  • 2 circular Dyneema® slings
    (width: 0.236 in. / length: 47 in. – breaking strength: 4,946 lbf)
  • 2 polyester webbing slings without cover
    (WLL: 4,410 lbs – length: 6.7 ft)
Tensioning device
  • “Ellington System” if the spot features allows the required stand back OR/AND
  • Galvanized steel double block brake AND
  • Static rope
    (diameter: 0.44 in. and its appropriated length)
Back up gears list
  • 1 dynamic rope
    (diameter: 0.34 in. – length: at least 82 ft)
  • 3 anchor shackles with secure galvanized steel nut
    (axis length: from 0.985 in. to 1.063 in. – breaking strength: 7,194 lbf) OR
  • 3 oval-shaped and symmetrical stainless steel carabiners
    (diameter: 0.47 in. – breaking strength on major axis: 6,745 lbf)
Webbing
  • 1 flat webbing
    (length: at least 66 ft / width: 0.984 in. – minimum breaking strength: 6,745 lbf) OR
  • 1 tubular webbing
    (length: at least 66 ft / width: 0.984 in. – minimum breaking strength: 4,946 lbf) AND
  • 1 flat webbing
    (length: at least 82 ft / width: 0.629 in. – minimum breaking strength: 4,496 lbf)
  • 2 galvanize steel Line Locks
    (outer width: 1.18 in.) OR
  • 2 Slack-Banana
    IMPORTANT: The Line Lock reduces the maximal breaking strength of the webbing of approximately 25% – meaning that a webbing carrying a maximal strengh of 4,946 lbf will break at 3,957 lbf with the Line Lock (Rapport d’essais n°08.6.0015 APAVE). The Slack-Banana reduces the maximal breaking strength of the webbing of approximately 10%, as per our latest experiments (Essais Banana).
  • 3 anchor shackles with secure galvanized steel nut
    (axis length: from 0.985 in. to 1.063 in. – breaking strength: 7,194 lbs) OR
  • 3 rectangular-shaped stainless steel carabiners
    (diameter: 0.47 in. – breaking strength on major axis: 6,744 lbs)
Miscellaneous
  • Personal body harness
    Each highliner has their own equipment as he knows the exact number of falls it already absorbed.
  • Adhesive tape
    To link the back-up rope and the webbing together.
  • Personal safety leash
    Each highliner has their own equipment as he knows the exact number of falls it already absorbed.
  • Gloves
    To avoid hands injuries when catching the webbing in case of a fall.
  • Protection pads
    To protect the anchor points as the webbing and the back-up rope MUST NOT scrap against any abrasive area as this would significantly reduce their breaking strength.
  • Pants
    To soften impacts and burns caused by webbing when falling on top of it.
  • Additional carabiners
    To secure yourself to the webbing and the rope when bind together with adhesive tape, or when moving up after a fall.
  • Helmet
    To prevent injuries, in case of a fall, at the start and end of the highline.
  • Webbing rings
    To secure yourself using the anchors located at the start end the end of the highline.
  • Static rope
    To help a highliner moving up on the webbing after a fall.
  • Ropeman ascender and Jumar handle
    To move up on the webbing when more than strength arm is required after a fall…

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A step by step installation

1 . The anchors

2 . The back-up rope


3 . The webbing



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