Highlining 101: Section 4 of 7 - Using your highline gear

“Your gear is super safe, if you don’t screw anything up.” Gear Episode 4 of 7 This is a free course shows you how to use a highline that is already set up. Our courses are A-Z content in blog format, glued together with an overarching blog we call a textbook. A blog format is easy to read, easy to update, and easy to translate. Be sure to begin at the TEXTBOOK and at the end of each episode we'll point you to the next. Do you know how long to make your leash, or even what a leash is and how it works? How do you use your line slide and where do you put it when you are not using it? Learn these things plus how NOT to use your harness in this subject. It is important that you are familiar with the gear that you interact with on a highline that is already rigged. Gear Tips: When you are stressed out, you will only be able to use subconscious actions so be sure to understand all your gear really well BEFORE you highline. What kind of harness do you have? Double back or auto locking? If you can see all the way around the buckle (O shaped) it needs to be double backed The visible part of the buckle should be in the shape of a C if it is auto locking Do not tie into the belay loop. It isn’t that strong, it doesn’t offer redundancy, and there is too much movement on the loop and rope when you do that you risk having rope on rope abrasion. Clip carabiners (and line slides) to the belay loop because carabiners get cross loaded if you try to put them in the two points on a harness Install the leash up through your harness when starting your figure 8 so the knot sits nicely when you are sitting in harness Put leash through both points of your harness (waist belt and leg loops), the same two points your belay loop goes through. Leashes that you tie too short won’t allow you to stand up all the way and leashes that are too long risk getting caught around your feet and are more difficult to climb. Find the happy medium for your body size. Tie the figure 8 knot as close as possible to your harness If your lineslide is attached to the belay loop with a sling, you can just clip it to 1 gear loop on the harness. If your lineslide has no sling, you can clip it to 2 gear loops so it doesn’t bounce around. When you clip a lineslide to the highline, be sure your wheels are on properly, the wheels are on the top side of the main line, and the backup is also clipped inside the hangover. You can mount the line without taking off lineslide, then remove it while sitting on the highline. If you have a hat, use a hat leash so you don’t lose it. Run the hat leash through your hair or shirt so it isn’t loosely flopping around. Buffs can keep the sun off you, keep you warm, keep sweat out of your eyes, protect your ears when water lining or be used for blindfold walking. Wear bright colors if you want your photos to look awesome! HowNOT2 Contribute If you have something to share, we'd love to add it. Please be kind by delivering something ready to add, whether that is a video or an image or a written piece, and tell us where you think it best fits. It doesn't have to agree with what we included, but it does have to be respectful and professional. There are a lot of great ideas out there and this is a place they can be shared. ryan@slackline.com What's Next This course is free but not free to make. If it really helped you, please consider SUPPORTING US.