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Tip/Trick/Gimmick: Backed Up/Redundant Belay Loop
Source (give credit where credit is due): "Old timer" at Seneca Rocks
Contributed by: Marty Comiskey (
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Best useful for: Top rope x Trad x Mountaineering x
Sport x Ice x Other (list)
Description (limit to 200 words): In 2006 Todd Skinner died while rappeling when the belay loop on his harness broke. Most of us don't worry about this, but if you do have any concerns/issues, here is a simple fix for your consideration.
For about 10 years now, I have been using a "trick/gimmick" that I picked up from an old timer at Seneca Rocks. What he did was to tie a length of 9/16" nylon webbing around his belay loop. This is not to create a 2nd. belay loop (like on one style of Metolius harness), but instead to provide a backed up/reinforced belay loop.
Using a standard water knot you can make the attached nylon webbing snug with the belay loop. I used a contrasting color to make the loop more noticeable.
I will admit that the water knot occassionaly "gets in the way" but it has never been a big problem.
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