Nut (climbing)

The wedge is one of the terminal devices and is a technical aid for climbers to set up a mobile security as a fixed point ( intermediate backup or for use in stand) when climbing. To this end, the wedge is placed or clamped into a crevice. Then a carabiner through which the climbing rope is guided, are hooked into the fixed in the rock wedge.

So the wedge performs a similar task as the pitons. But He exercises - as opposed to the hook - only in the event of a fall pressure on the surrounding rocks. It is usually also again from its moorings, the rock crack, taken out. Therefore, it can be used again during a climbing expedition.

In Standplatzbau with clamping wedges should be noted that they often are down according to the setting position only vertical loads and stand up fuses also need to be resilient to absorb the fall of the pre ascending climber in an intermediate save can. By unclamping in the opposite direction, the handling and pulling of the clamping wedge can be prevented.

Depending on the application, one distinguishes different variants, eg Rocks, Hexentrics, Copperheads, Tricams. The class of removable again belays are also clamping wedges - accurate clamping apparatus - with the active mechanism, such as the Friend or the Camalot.