The post tackles a practical question for backcountry rescue teams: is 16mm tubular webbing strong enough for anchor rigging, given the appeal of reducing weight in a rescue kit? To find out, the team ran a series of pull tests comparing different wrap-and-pull configurations — Wrap 1 Pull 1, Wrap 2 Pull 2, Wrap 2 Pull 1, and Wrap 3 Pull 2 — across several real-world surfaces: pins, carabiners, smooth rock, sharp rock, and edge-protected sharp rock. A baseline was first established using 25mm webbing before switching to the thinner 16mm webbing to see how it held up.
Webbing anchors testing
“Does 16mm tubular webbing have sufficient strength for anchor rigging in backcountry rescue?”
25mm webbing anchors testing
As a baseline for comparison, we started by testing 25mm webbing.
Edelrid X Tube 25mm tubular webbing specs
- Weight: 43 g/m
- Strength: 20 kN
- Materials: Nylon
- Standards: EN 565
- Manufacturer: edelrid.com
Testing between 30mm pin and 12mm pin/carabiner
Joined with a tape bend
Average of 3 tests, 100mm/min
- Wrap 1 Pull 1 = 27.98kN (70%)
- Wrap 2 Pull 2 = 38.06kN (48%)
- Wrap 2 Pull 1 = 33.36kN
- Wrap 3 Pull 2 = 40.08kN
16mm webbing anchors testing
Aspiring 16mm tubular webbing specs
- Weight: 34 g/m
- Strength: 12.5 kN
- Materials: Nylon
- Standards: EN 565
- Manufacturer: aspiring.co.nz
Testing between 30mm and 12mm pins
Joined with a tape bend
Average of 3 tests, 100mm/min
- Wrap 1 Pull 1 = 20.16kN (81%)
- Wrap 2 Pull 2 = 34.26kN (69%)
- Wrap 2 Pull 1 = 20.80kN
- Wrap 3 Pull 2 = 36.62kN
Tested between a smooth rock and a 12mm pin
Joined with a tape bend
An average of 3 tests, 100mm/min
- Wrap 1 Pull 1 = 19.61kN (78%)
- Wrap 2 Pull 2 = 29.69kN (59%)
- Wrap 2 Pull 1 = 18.31kN
- Wrap 3 Pull 2 = 33.52kN
Tested between a sharp rock and a 12mm pin
Joined with a tape bend, average of 3 tests, 100mm/min
- Wrap 1 Pull 1 = 9.76kN (39%)
- Wrap 2 Pull 2 = 19.13kN (38%)
- Wrap 2 Pull 1 = 9.31kN
- Wrap 3 Pull 2 = 18.55kN
Tested between a sharp rock/rope protector and a 12mm pin
Joined with a tape bend, average of 3 tests, 100mm/min
- Wrap 1 Pull 1 = 18.73kN (75%)
- Wrap 2 Pull 2 = 35.09kN (70%)
- Wrap 2 Pull 1 = 20.20kN
- Wrap 3 Pull 2 = 32.48kN
Conclusions
The testing shows that the 16mm tubular webbing is suitable for lightweight rescue as:
- Single-strand variations (W1P1, W2P1) on smooth objects break around the same minimum breaking strength as a 10mm static rope with a figure-8 on a bight (18kN).
- Two-strand variations (W2P2, W3P2) onto smooth objects break, on average, over 30kn, greater than commonly used lightweight HMS aluminium carabiners, such as the CT Warlock HMS at 23kN.
- Where sharp edges exist, edge protection must be used to restore minimum breaking strength to similar values to smooth objects.
Please carefully consider the information presented here and make your judgment based on where you operate, the team’s skill level, and whether lighter-weight webbing is the right choice.
This post is only a summary of the results. Check out the testing report below for more in-depth information and analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question
- We also use a rope to make these configurations. Can you do a similar test with an 8mm nylon cord?
Answer
- We have done some testing with an 8mm cord around pins in the Canyon Rescue Rope Testing post.
- We have done some testing for drilled threads using a nylon 8mm cord. The only material that survives around sharp edges is a cord with Dyneema or Kevlar in the sheath. See the post; Rock Thread and V-thread Testing 2021
Disclaimer
SUMMARY: This post is not an instructional guide. Use at your own risk. We assume no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions. Testing was under controlled conditions with a limited set of equipment. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the post are solely those of the author.
For the full disclaimer click HERE
