What Are Nylon Runners?

Nylon runners are an essential part of the backcountry climber's equipment. Made of nylon and nylon/blend materials, runners, also referred to as slings, are used by climbers for a multitude of purposes. In general, slings are used to create connections between the climber's rope and pieces of protection and anchor points while climbing, but they may have other roles, too.

  1. Lead Protection

    • In traditional climbing a climber must place removable equipment to protect him in case of a fall. Nylon slings are used to tie off on a rock flake or protrusion. When a carabiner is added to this tied-off nylon sling, the climber can clip his rope into the carabiner and continue climbing. If he falls, the sling and carabiner will serve to stop his fall -- along with his belayer.

    Anchors

    • Climbers use nylon runners to build anchor systems for belaying and rappelling. Nylon runners connect pieces of traditional protection -- cams or wired nuts, placed into cracks or crevices in the rock -- to a pair of carabiners through which the climbing rope is threaded to allow belaying or rappelling. Climbers may carry many slings on any given climb for use in a wide range of situations.

    Tie-ins

    • In sport climbing where preexisting bolts secured in the rock serve as the climber's protection, nylon slings also come in handy. When a climber reaches the top of a sport climb he finds a preexisting anchor he must attach the rope to before rappelling or being lowered to the ground. A nylon runner attached to the climber's harness and equipped with a carabiner is used to clip into the anchor bolts in the rock. This provides added safety while the climber is rigging his system for rappelling or lowering.

    Quickdraws

    • Quickdraws are pieces of nylon runners with carabiners attached to either end. Quickdraws are used to connect the climber's rope to preexisting bolts in the rock as the climber moves up a route. Quickdraws are available for purchase, but many climbers use their own nylon runners to create their own quickdraws, which can be adjusted for length while climbing.