One can buy pre-sewn tech webbing slings -- made from a combo of nylon and spectra/dyneema, or just technora -- from many sources.

Can you buy the equivalent tech webbing by the foot? (NOT presewn in a sling.) The stuff is typically 0.5 inch (or less) wide when sewn into slings.

I also note that the 1/2" polyester webbing sold by strapworks has a quoted breaking strength of 1800 lbs. Petzl makes its alpine etriers out of polyester webbing.

The local REI stores here sell it by the foot.

Buz Groshong wrote:The local REI stores here sell it by the foot.

Really? I'm not asking about pure nylon webbing, but the stuff with the stronger, high-tech fibers, either interwoven with nylon or (in the case of Technora) by themselves.

MoapaPk wrote:

Buz Groshong wrote:The local REI stores here sell it by the foot.

Really? I'm not asking about pure nylon webbing, but the stuff with the stronger, high-tech fibers, either interwoven with nylon or (in the case of Technora) by themselves.

I'm not 100% on this, but I think the slippery texture of Dyneema and Spectra make it less than ideal for tying your own slings with it. I know that cord interwoven with Dyneema requires a triple fisherman to tie the loop because of the slippery feel. Not sure your basic water knot for webbing loops is recommended....I'd double check if I were you. Besides, Dyneema and Spectra have their drawbacks......that load strength isn't necessarily king.

WyomingSummits wrote:

MoapaPk wrote:

Buz Groshong wrote:The local REI stores here sell it by the foot.

Really? I'm not asking about pure nylon webbing, but the stuff with the stronger, high-tech fibers, either interwoven with nylon or (in the case of Technora) by themselves.

I'm not 100% on this, but I think the slippery texture of Dyneema and Spectra make it less than ideal for tying your own slings with it. I know that cord interwoven with Dyneema requires a triple fisherman to tie the loop because of the slippery feel. Not sure your basic water knot for webbing loops is recommended....I'd double check if I were you. Besides, Dyneema and Spectra have their drawbacks......that load strength isn't necessarily king.

I read an interesting analysis where the fellow actually tested the strength of knots for the dyneema/nylon, and found they did not slip as speculated. Technora takes knots well, as does polyester.

I'll test. The catch-22 with webbing that is stronger at a smaller size: It is harder to hold it.

In Seattle we have an incredible outdoor fabric store, they sell just about everything, but no Spectra/Dyneema, http://www.seattlefabrics.com/webbing.html

One product you may consider is Maxim 5.5 mm Tech cord. It is super strong, cut resistant, holds tripple fisherman's knots well, is supple enough to be used as prusiks and stiff enough to make an excellent, if expensive, tag line that does't snarl like 6 or 7 mm perlon.

ExcitableBoy wrote:One product you may consider is Maxim 5.5 mm Tech cord. It is super strong, cut resistant, holds tripple fisherman's knots well, is supple enough to be used as prusiks and stiff enough to make an excellent, if expensive, tag line that does't snarl like 6 or 7 mm perlon.

I bought 50' of that cord to test, and now wish I'd bought 100'! For a tagline, the stiffness is an advantage.