Vertical caving terminology and methods > Personal SRT gear
Something sharp that can be used to cut hair that has been accidentally abseiled into a descender, or to cut rope that has become tangled, or for various aspects of improvised rescue. The use of a knife must be considered a last resort, since any mistake could result in cutting the rope that is supporting you. All efforts should be made to prevent the issue in the first place, or to use an altenative recovery method, such as a mid-rope changeover. May also be used when exploring caves whose rope requirements are not known beforehand, to cut the rope to the exact length that was used for each pitch, allowing the rest of the rope to be used on the next pitch. Folding types or other enclosed types are suggested, and may be carried on a tether. Knives are most often carried on accessory cord around the neck (thin enough to snap if it gets caught), tucked inside an oversuit so they cannot be accidentally snagged and cause strangulation. It is best for this to be removable from the cord, such as using a carabiner, in case a longer reach is urgently needed. Contrary to some manufacturers instructions, simple folding knives (like the design illustrated) should never be worn attached to a sit harness, as they can swing and impact the rock, and many dedicated knife designs can open if hit into the rock, leaving an exposed blade that could cause injury. Ideally, a knife should have some kind of additional protection (such as a dedicated mechanism, strap, velcro or bicycle inner tube) that holds the knife closed until you very intentionally remove it in order to open the knife. A pointed blade is a liability, and is not needed, since the point of the blade is never used, but is the most likely part to cause injury. A blunt tipped blade is far safer.
<< Bobble, scrunchie, bandana, hair clips | PPE >>
This page is not intended to be viewed this way, please load the entire article. This version exists only to make it easier for search engines to understand the contents.