Webbing - What is it?

Webbing is what lays the foundation for rappelling anchors. While it has other secondary uses, creating reliable, safe anchors is its primary usage.

You can buy webbing “by the foot” from climbing stores, allowing you to customize lengths.

There are two main types:

• flat webbing – a flat, high-tensile strength nylon, and;

• tubular webbing – which is more durable than flat webbing, providing additional strength but it is more costly.

“Flat webbing” is just a pattern of weaved nylon fibers that has a high-tensile strength!  Due to the nature of it being flat, if it gets dragged across an edge or sharp rocks its stiffness allows it to tear.  Not too easily, but enough to cause everyone to “inspect” it every time at every rappel.

“Tubular webbing” is similar to “flat webbing” but uses a tube that lies flat but has the benefits of having the wrap-around webbing as it increases the strength. SterlingRope.com says that one-inch tubular webbing has a minimum breaking strength of 4000-lbs per inch.  It can be bought with a higher-rating up to 9800-lbs per inch.

Webbing is made primarily out of nylon, though you may find blends like 90% nylon and 10% polyester.  While Kevlar versions exist, they’re pricey and unnecessary for canyoneering needs.

The community recommendations is 1 inch (25 mm), and earth-tone colors like black, brown, or tan are preferred for blending in with the natural landscape.  Bright colors, like blue or red, should be avoided – they stand out too much and can “ruin” a pristine canyon experience or photo.

Webbing is strong when used properly but needs to be checked frequently for wear, especially after being exposed to sun or water, which can weaken it.  It’s a good idea to inspect your webbing at each rappel, looking for fraying, cracks, or brittleness, and replace it if necessary. When it doubt, replace it! This your life you we are talking about. It’s worth the whole extra two minutes to replace it.

Remember, that canyon conditions change frequently! And you will need to rebuild anchors (a lot!).  Don’t ASSUME that a water knot is safe just because it’s laying there. Examine it!  Being in the sun all day will make it brittle and reduce it’s overall strength. And webbing that’s been submerged all day (and for many weeks) will need to be changed as well.

In canyoneering, when you come up to a cliff or drop that needs to be rappelled, you will look for “natural anchors” (such as rocks, boulders, trees, roots, etc.) or “man-made anchors” to tie your webbing around.  The “Water Knot” is the knot that you will be tying your webbing around for these anchors.

Pros:

• Essential, strong, and inexpensive when bought in bulk.

Cons:

• You will be replacing this often so cost can add up. But I see that as a “price to play”.

Caution:

• Webbing must be examined at every rappel, every time.

• Look for frayed, cracked, stiff, cut, sun-bleached webbing. Replace it with a new strand.

Recommended Length: 30 feet/person

Recommended Colors: “Earth-tone” IE Black, Brown, Tan.  NOT Red, Orange, Blue, Green, etc. 

Recommended Width-Size: 1-inch width (or 25 mm)

Canyoneering Usage Examples:

When you encounter a drop without visible anchors, you’ll use webbing to sling (wrap around) a “natural anchor” like a tree or boulder, securing it with a Water Knot to create a safe rappelling setup.

Additional Reading:

Wikipedia.org: “Webbing”

RopeWiki.com: “Webbing on bolt hangers”

RopeWiki.com: “Webbing harness”

DyeClan.com: “Webbing”

Canyoneering.net: “Webbing Knotcraft”

Canyoneering.net: “EDK in Webbing?”