Sling (climbing)

These can be wrapped around sections of rock, hitched to other pieces of equipment, or tied directly to a tensioned line using a Prusik style knot.

[1] In 1957 Jan and Herb Conn wrote an article titled "the versatile runner" with a long list of uses, which is still quite accurate: Other possible uses include: Slings come both sewn to length and assembled from loose webbing knotted as desired.

Webbing for slings, also known as tape, is sold off the reel, cut to length with a hot knife to prevent fraying, and tied.

Increasingly, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene sold under the brand names Dyneema, Dynex and Spectra is used.

These have much lower melting points than nylon, making them a potentially poor choice where high rope friction may occur.