Woman using climbing cord on mountain climb.

How to choose a climbing accessory cord?

Cords, lanyards and slings - all accessories have specific purposes. Here are our tips on choosing the right one for you.

Cords, static ropes, lanyards and slings can all be found at Decathlon. Find out which ones you need depending on where and when you'll be using them. 

1. Cord

The cord used in rock climbing is static. The diameter of the cord varies from 2 to 7 mm.

Cord - 6 to 7 mm
Cords are used to making autoblocking knots (Prussik or Machard/Klemheist knots), or link anchor points together (belay stance)

Cord - 2 to 5 mm
Cords in smaller diameters are often used for accessorisation

White Simond Ropes

2. Static ropes

Static ropes are not made for climbing but instead used for activities that don't require rope stretching, such as abseiling or ascending a fixed rope; they are used primarily for caving, canyoning and rope access work.

3. Lanyards

A lanyard is made from a short length of heavy-diameter dynamic rope with a sewn loop at each end. This equipment can be used to clip into a belay stance allowing a climber to attach themselves to the rock face.

Simple Climbing Lanyards
They usually come in a single length (75cm)

Double Rope Lanyards
They have 2 different length sizes (45 and 75 cm)

4. Sewn-in slings

Slings are used as loops to link anchor points together (belay stance) or set up and extend a runner.

They come in several lengths (60 cm, 120 cm and 175 cm). Some slings are made with polyamide, and others with Dyneema. Below we'll explore the differences and advantages of each.

What are Polymide Slings?
Polyamide slings have good abrasion resistance and are 15 to 20 mm wide. Tubular slings are softer, making them easy to use.

What are Dyneema Slings?
Dyneema slings are lighter and narrower, extremely resistant to abrasion; their melting point is lower than polyamide.

SP Cuerda siurana 9

Find a great selection of climbing equipment in the Decathlon range and browse through harnesses, ropes, lanyards and more.

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