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W
hile once on a business trip to
Denver Colo., I dropped into an
EMS store to check out some
climbing gear. It was my lucky day.
They were having a killer sale on
Russian-made ice screws (the ones with the shallow
threads) and Wild Country Spectra slings (slings, or
runners, are very flexible belt-like loops that help
link climbing gear protection to the climbing rope.)
I had been eyeballing Spectra runners for some
time, waiting for the price to drop and, in the pro-
cess, lowering the weight and increasing the space
inside of my ice climbing pack. This new lightweight
Spectra material, half the width of my nylon slings,
was just as strong. Also of note, the slings came
sewn, dispensing with the water knot that tradition-
ally formed the loop, further contributing to a low-
bulk profile. For some, trusting your life to bar tacks
Dyneema’s
Dynamite
A blast-proof fiber explodes into apparel
By
Ernest
Shiwanov
Inside
Outdoor
|
Winter
2016
30