Vertical caving terminology and methods > Knots > Alternatives and enhancements to knots
A curved piece of metal or plastic placed on the inside edge of a loop of wire or rope, to make it keep a gentle curve so that the strength is not reduced by sharp bends, and to avoid damage from rubbing the wire or rope directly on a carabiner or sharp edge. Thimbles are used on the swaged eyelets of ladders, spreaders and wire traces. They could potentially also be used for ropes with an eye splice, sewn eye or loop knot, and these are seen with commercial rope access products and sailing products, such as cows tails. They are sometimes seen with fixed ropes. However, they are never used with ropes or cows-tails for caving, since they add weight and bulk without the small strength benefit being needed.
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