CORD & TAPE OFF THE REEL

"Tat", or lengths of cord or tape are an essential weapon in the climber's armoury, and routinely carrying a few metres of tat when winter or alpine climbing means that when things go wrong safe retreat can can be made with minimal loss of of equipment (and money!). Besides making threads, loops for spikes, and threading peg eyes, tat is necessary for constructing the famous Abalakov Thread, a simple invention that has considerably increased the safety of ice climbers in recent years. Even when rock climbing, using a length of cord or tape (rather than a belt) to fasten your chalkbag on with means that you have material at hand to make an abseil sling that can be abandoned, or a Prusik loop, should the circumstances demand it.

Photo: Colin Wells threading a length of tape through a hole in the ice he has made with an icescrew to construct an Abalakov thread.

The breaking strain is given in kiloNewtons which is a measurement of force. To give a rough equivalent in weight, add two zeros to the figure to give an approximation in Kilograms (eg 5.5kN is approximately 550kg).

Cord comes in the diameters listed below and is sold per metre. If you order, say, 20 metres then you will get one 20 metre length. To order, click "Add", and then select the number of metres that you want. Unfortunately the software we use amalgamates orders, so if you actually want 2 x 10m lengths please order 20m and then write what lengths you want it cut into in the "Special Instructions" box as you check out. It is cut with a "hot-knife" that seals it as well. If you need to cut it again then you will need to find a friendly shop that has a hot-knife to do it for you.

If you want specific lengths and diameters suitable for restringing Hexes and other nuts, please see below.

If you want specific lengths and diameters suitable for Prusik loops, please see below.

The best knot for securely joining cord is the Double Fisherman's.

Static. Much used for threading compasses, whistles etc on to. Breaking Strain when new: 0.85kN approx. Weight per metre: 2g. Colours vary. Priced per metre.  

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Static. Breaking Strain when new: 1.8kN approx. Weight per metre: 4g. Colours vary. Priced per metre.  

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Static. Breaking Strain when new: 4kN approx. Weight per metre: 10g. Colours vary. Priced per metre.  

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Static. Much used by climbers for Prusik Loops. Breaking Strain when new: 5.5kN approx. Weight per metre: 16g. Colours vary. Priced per metre - see below for specific Prusik Loops loop lengths.  

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Mammut Pro Cord is an improved accessory cord where the sheath is woven integrally with the core. This gives a much softer feeling more flexible cord that makes for grippy Prusik Loops from the word go. Static. Breaking Strain when new: 5.5kN approx. Weight per metre: 14g. Colours vary. Priced per metre - see below for specific Prusik Loops loop lengths.  

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Static. Much used by Outdoor Ed types for Prusik Loops. Breaking Strain when new: 8kN approx. Weight per metre: 23g. Colours vary. Priced per metre - see below for specific Prusik Loops loop lengths.  

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Mammut Pro Cord is an improved accessory cord where the sheath is woven integrally with the core. This gives a much softer feeling more flexible cord that makes for grippy Prusik Loops from the word go. Static. Breaking Strain when new: 7.8kN approx. Weight per metre: 21g. Colours vary. Priced per metre - see below for specific Prusik Loops loop lengths.  

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Static. Breaking Strain when new: 11kN approx. Weight per metre: 33g. Colours vary. Priced per metre.  

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Static. Breaking Strain when new: 15kN approx. Weight per metre: 40g. Colours vary. Priced per metre.  

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This is actually standard Mammut 9mm Universe rope and therefoe dynamic rather than static. It is thus suitable for leading short scrambles. Breaking Strain when new: 19.5kN approx. Weight per metre: 52g. Colours vary. Price per metre.  

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Very low stretch so suitable for fixing anchors and for abseiling, but not for use as a climbing rope.

Click "Add", and then select the number of metres that you want.

If you want more than one length, please email us with the lengths required and/or write this information in the Special Instructions box as you check out.

NB Static rope should be soaked in water and then dried out slowly before use. This will shrink it by 5%. When ordering you should therefore order 5% more than you need. 

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Static cord that is almost as strong (15.89kN) as 9mm rope. Use it for restringing nuts etc to save weight and bulk (it is only 20g/m), but tie a triple rather than a double fisherman's knot (if you don't know the difference then ring us up and we'll explain!), and also you must cut it with a hot knife, pull the sheath back 5mm, chop this amount from the core, pull the sheath over the end of the core and heat seal it in place - you need to do this because the core and sheath do not bond together when cut. Colourful Black only.

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Cord comes in the diameters listed below and is sold per 1.25 metre, especially for Hexes etc. It is cut with a "hot-knife" that seals it as well. If you need to cut it again then you will need to find a friendly shop that has a hot-knife to do it for you.

If you want other lengths and diameters suitable for other uses such as Prusik loops please see below.

Static. Breaking Strain when new: 4kN approx. Weight per metre: 10g. Colours vary. Priced per 1.25metres. WARNING not suitable for leader falls - aid use only.

Suitable for Hex size 1. 

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Static. Breaking Strain when new: 5.5kN approx. Weight per metre: 16g. Colours vary. Priced per 1.25metres. WARNING not suitable for leader falls - aid use only.

Suitable for Hex size 2. 

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Static. Breaking Strain when new: 8kN approx. Weight per metre: 23g. Colours vary. Priced per 1.25metres.

Suitable for Hex size 3. 

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Static. Breaking Strain when new: 11kN approx. Weight per metre: 33g. Colours vary. Priced per 1.25metres.

Suitable for Hex size 4. 

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Static. Breaking Strain when new: 15kN approx. Weight per metre: 40g. Colours vary. Priced per 1.25metres.

Suitable for Hex size 5 and all sizes of Wild Country Rockcentric. 

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Dynamic. Breaking Strain when new: 19.5kN approx. Weight per metre: 52g. Colours vary. Priced per 1.25metres.

Suitable for Hexes sizes 6 to 9. 

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5.5mm Static cord that is almost as strong as 9mm rope. Use it for restringing nuts etc to save weight and bulk, but tie a triple rather than a double fisherman's knot (if you don't know the difference then ring us up and we'll explain!). Colourful Black only. 15.89kN. 22g/m. The average Hex requires 1.1m to do this and leave a sensible loop. Priced per 1.1 metres.
 

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As above, but enough to restring a Friend - priced per 0.75 metres.
 

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Rather than buy a webbing belt, use a length of 5mm cord to tie your chalkbag round your waist. With a breaking strain of over half a ton, it can be made into an abseil sling or Prusik loop in emergencies.

Slimmies: 1.1m
Tubbies: 1.25m
Extra Lardies!: 1.5m

Other lengths by appointment. 

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Size 1.1m £0.66 1.25m £0.75 1.5m £0.90

Rather than buy a webbing belt, use a length of 5mm Pro Cord to tie your chalkbag round your waist. With a breaking strain of over half a ton, it can be made into an abseil sling or Prusik loop in emergencies.

Mammut Pro Cord is an improved accessory cord where the sheath is woven integrally with the core. This gives a much softer feeling more flexible cord that makes for grippy Prusik loops from the word go. It also knots better and is less likley to slip undone of its own accord meaning there is less chance of you dropping your chalk bag.

Slimmies: 1.1m
Tubbies: 1.25m
Extra Lardies!: 1.5m

Other lengths by appointment. 

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Size 1.1m £0.77 1.25m £0.88 1.5m £1.05

A pair of Prusik Loops used with a footloop are all you need to ascend a fixed rope in an emergency. They have the advantage that you can abseil off them if you get stuck, and they are dirt cheap! A standard length would be made from 1.5m of cord which allows plenty of tail for a double fisherman's knot. However, it is worth making one of your two prussik loops a shorter one and then you can also use this safely as an Autobloc (attached to your harness leg loop to safeguard yourself during abseils). For the footloop, either use a long sling, or 5mm cord that will tie to the same length as a long sling (2.5m is about right). We feel 5mm cord is the best for Prusik loops as it is thin enough to really bite into narrow ropes, strong enough (over half a tonne static), and light enough and of low enough bulk to carry on your harness at all times. Having said that, many mountain guides recommend 6mm cord for prusiks as it slides more smoothly on 11mm ropes and allows a greater safety margin. There is no "right answer" to this. NB Prusik loops are not suitable for self-belaying.  

A standard length loop. 

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A slightly shorter loop that is just long enough, but can also be used as an autobloc fastened to a harness leg loop to protect an abseil. If you prefer fixing the autobloc to your belay loop and having it above your abseil device, then use the standard loop. 

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Use instead of a sling. It's cheaper, and gives you a handy length of tat to abseil off in an emergency. 

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Mammut Pro Cord is an improved accessory cord where the sheath is woven integrally with the core. This gives a much softer feeling more flexible cord that makes for grippy Prusik loops from the word go. A standard length loop. 

Quantity:  

Mammut Pro Cord is an improved accessory cord where the sheath is woven integrally with the core. This gives a much softer feeling more flexible cord that makes for grippy Prusik loops from the word go.

A slightly shorter loop that is just long enough, but can also be used as an autobloc fastened to a harness leg loop to protect an abseil. If you prefer fixing the autobloc to your belay loop and having it above your abseil device, then use the standard loop. 

Quantity:  

Mammut Pro Cord is an improved accessory cord where the sheath is woven integrally with the core. This gives a much softer feeling more flexible cord that makes for grippy Prusik loops from the word go.

Use instead of a sling. It's cheaper, and gives you a handy length of tat to abseil off in an emergency. 

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A standard length loop. 

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A slightly shorter loop that is just long enough, but can also be used as an autobloc fastened to a harness leg loop to protect an abseil. If you prefer fixing the autobloc to your belay loop and having it above your abseil device, then use the standard loop. 

Quantity:  

Mammut Pro Cord is an improved accessory cord where the sheath is woven integrally with the core. This gives a much softer feeling more flexible cord that makes for grippy Prusik loops from the word go. A standard length loop. 

Quantity:  

Mammut Pro Cord is an improved accessory cord where the sheath is woven integrally with the core. This gives a much softer feeling more flexible cord that makes for grippy Prusik loops from the word go.

A slightly shorter loop that is just long enough, but can also be used as an autobloc fastened to a harness leg loop to protect an abseil. If you prefer fixing the autobloc to your belay loop and having it above your abseil device, then use the standard loop. 

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To order select the total number of metres that you want. If you want this cut into more than one length then please specify this in the "Special Instructions" box when you check out.

Strengths: 1000 kilograms equals very approximately 10 kiloNewtons.

NB For Climbing Cord please see above. For non-climbing polypropylene tape please see our Repairs Section.

Lightweight narrow tape for emergency abseils and ultra-narrow flakes, but 4kN only so weight it carefully and check that there are no sharp edges. Price is per metre.

Colours vary. 

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Heavier duty tape for emergency abseils. 7.5kN. Price is per metre.

Colours vary. 

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A good compromise between lightness and strength for ab tat.

Colours vary.
 

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Even heavier duty tape for emergency abseils and for making your own slings etc (use a tape knot). 15kN. Price is per metre.

Colours vary. 

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Very heavy duty tape 26mm 20kN for emergency abseils and for making your own slings etc (use a tape knot). Also perfect for slack-lining, for which you'll need about 10 metres minimum. Price is per metre.

Colours vary - This tape is generally white in colour but not always!

NB. our current stock is actually about 25mm and 15kN 

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Cut and seal nylon and Dyneema rope, cord, tape and webbing with this hand held hot-knife. Not designed for continuous use, but our Needle Sports' one has been use for over 5 years and we cut a lot of cord! Needs fitting with a three pin plug. 

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