[TowerTalk] Climbing belt Rings

[spelunk.sueno]

Pat (and all TT'ians):

     Read  http://www.ncinsider.com//supreme/1995/1103/mickles.html   and
take heed about mixing belts and climbing straps from different
manufacturers.


-Gene Smar  AD3F
spelunk.sueno@mci2000.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Pat Barthelow <aa6eg@hh.tmx.com>
To: towertalk@contesting.com <towertalk@contesting.com>
Cc: Hans Hofmann <hofmann.hans@tci.com>; nccc@contesting.com
<nccc@contesting.com>
Date: Tuesday, February 09, 1999 9:23 PM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Climbing belt Rings


>
>
> We, at N6IJ,  recently obtained a brand new, donated, climbing
>belt, a Klein, or Bashlin, standard type, with composite construction
>(leather and nylon webbing.)  There was an attached warning note to the
>strap, that the strap was NOT to be used on belts having either: (1)  a
>snap ring that is bent (by design) or (2)  a snap ring that has an outside
>profile that is curved on the top or bottom.  Another of our belts has a
>ring, that has a distinctive "S" shape built into it when looked at,
>edge-on. This shape causes the rings to be angled  away from the user's
body,
>and make attachment of the strap easier. It is also curved on
>the top and bottom.
>(Apparently this older belt is not
>compatible with the new strap.) The new belt that the strap  came with,
>had a flat ring, (looking edge-on) that had straight outside profiles
>(looking  perpendicular to plane of the ring) between the slot in the ring
>that is the attachment point to the belt.. and the other, curved, end of
>the ring, where one typically snaps the strap while in use.. There was
>also a dimension given of the radius of the rings that are
>compatible with the strap.  The strap does not have locking latches on the
>hooks, (only heavy, spring loaded ones) and I suspect that
>the warnings are to avoid unwanted (easily fatal by the way!) disconnects,
>in the event the strap is twisted in such a way that the snap ring on the
>belt can bear force against the spring loaded hook closures that are not
>lockable, possibly pushing them open.  I think I see the reasoning, but
>all should be aware that some non-compatible straps and climbing belt
>combinations are not obvious even to close inspection. The warning tag on
>the strap was not robust, and would probably fall off after a half
>year's use.
>
> After seeing these new belts at N6IJ,  I watched Discovery
>channel and a program about the climbing of Mt Everest through the years,
>and shuddered when I saw the undone safety belt laying in the snow that
>was used by the first woman on Everest.  She fell to her death when the
>belt came undone from around her...apparently improperly buckled....and
>SHE was a world class expert!
>
>Remember....be careful out there....!
>
>Any belt experts out there to comment?
>
>
>
>73, DX, de Pat, AA6EG/N6IJ;
>
>aa6eg@hh.tmx.com
>
>599 DX Drive, Marina CA 93933
>"The Contest Station from the Government"
>
>
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>


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