To tackle via ferratas it is essential to equip yourself with specific equipment capable of guaranteeing the highest level of protection possible. The presence of numerous metal cables, chains, ladders, supports and artificial handholds positioned to facilitate climbing can be misleading; although our harness is attached to solid ropes, a possible fall and sliding along the safety cables can cause serious consequences. Unless a heat sink is able to cushion the tear.
Why the heat sink is so important in the via ferrata set
Helmet, harness and via ferrata set, this is the essential equipment for tackling via ferratas, often panoramic and exposed routes, capable of offering great emotions. The metal equipment facilitates progression even on vertical walls and the carabiners, always attached to the cables, which slide alongside us give us safety. For many years, however, by analyzing the dynamics of some accidents, it has been understood that, in the event of a vertical fall, the carabiner slides until it meets the first anchoring nail to the rock and, at that point, a force is released onto the harness arrest proportional to the length of the fall.
Risk of damage from stopping force
As you might imagine, this force can lead to serious damage and injury, especially to the back, when arresting a fall. To limit the consequences of a fall it is therefore necessary to reduce the energy that is transmitted to the hiker during the arrest.
The device devised for this purpose is the dissipator, which must be placed between the harness and the carabiners; this device disperses part of the energy generated by the fall, limiting damage to the hiker.
Hook It Compact by Climbing Technology put to the test
To understand how it is made and how it works, we tried the HOOK IT COMPACT via ferrata set from the Italian company Climbing Technology, which includes a latest generation heat sink. HOOK IT COMPACT is in fact equipped with the patented SLIDER system, a progressive tearing energy absorber which ensures gradual braking and a reduced impact on the hiker. In practice, it is a webbing folded and sewn on itself which, in the event of a fall, progressively unravels, absorbing the energy that would otherwise be discharged on the harness and the person.
The absorber containment case has a zip that allows immediate inspection of the “Red Label”, the safety label that allows you to check the functionality of the device. The HOOK IT COMPACT via ferrata set is equipped with double-lever carabiners with ergonomic handles which, thanks to the large opening, make attaching and unhooking to the cable or chain of the via ferrata extremely easy.
A peculiarity of the set is the introduction of the “integrated walker”, from which the two arms start, which avoids annoying twisting during climbing. The arms are made of two elastic straps in high density and resistant polyethylene. Furthermore, at the base of one of the arms, HOOK IT COMPACT has a ring of webbing which, if necessary, acts as a third connection point to stop/rest during the climb, on an anchor. Easy to install, the HOOK IT COMPACT set can be connected to the harness using a normal larkskin knot and can be used by people weighing between 40 kg (excluding equipment) and 120 kg (including equipment).
The set is contained in the appropriate mesh bag, weighs 590 g. and can be stored in the backpack in a small space. Tested “in the environment”, the HOOK IT COMPACT set transmits great safety and demonstrates remarkable ease of use; the large ergonomic carabiners allow quick and safe attachment to the cables or chains of the via ferratas, leaving the hiker the opportunity to safely enjoy the climb and the surrounding environment. The HOOK IT COMPACT set can be purchased in the best sports shops and websites at a price of around 120 euros.
READ ALSO: What is needed to do a via ferrata
Advertising
You might also be interested in…
2023-11-14 12:59:27
#Hook #Compact #Climbing #Technology #heat #sink #important #ferrata #set
