Cowstail / Lanyard

 Lanyards are often made of synthetic materials, with the inside of the line being colored differently from the outside. This becomes visible with wear. In that case, the line may no longer be used, as with other damage. Such a line is not safe for work where the line can be damaged or cut.

Within the various functions that lanyards have at Canyoning, Caving and Via ferrata, such as anchoring, workplace restriction, work positioning and fall protection, various types of lanyards can be distinguished such as adjustable, synthetic or metal, with shock absorber and with an I or a Y shape.

Static and adjustable lanyards

  • A static lanyard has a fixed length. This is e.g. suitable for attaching to a fixed anchor point, limiting the user's freedom of movement and for wrapping around, e.g. around a tree trunk.
  • An adjustable lanyard allows for precise positioning by operating the handle with one hand while the other hand holds the free end of the rope.

I and Y lines

  • An I-line is just a single lanyard.
  • With a Y-line the line splits so that there are two anchor points. This is useful when you need to move around, such as when climbing. While one end is anchored, the other end can be loosened and attached to a higher point. A Y line can also be used for more stable positioning.