3 good reasons to use the via ferrata set

Via ferratas attract numerous enthusiasts in all seasons, not only hikers but also mountaineers.
they often travel them in their mountaineering. We know that in mountaineering the maximum fall factor that can be obtained is equal to two.

Unfortunately, this is not true in via ferrata, where the fall factor can be much higher than two. Let's clarify with an example the forces at play in the case of a flight in via ferrata.

Let's imagine a climber using a one-meter long Kevlar or nylon cord to secure himself to the steel cable through a carabiner. Let's also assume that there are about four meters between one anchor and the other and that the wall is vertical.

If the climber falls after having climbed three vertical meters, the fall factor will be well above two. In fact:

A four-meter flight (three meters of cable plus one meter of cord) on a static material cord therefore entails a very high fall factor.

This result leads to some obvious considerations:

1. the human body subjected to such a high fall factor could be irreparably damaged.
2. the carabiner that connects the cord to the steel cable could break because it is stressed in torsion and not in traction. It should be remembered that mountaineering carabiners are approved along the minor and major axis and with an open gate, certainly not in torsion.
3. Even using a piece of dynamic rope rather than a nylon or Kevlar cord, the fall factor would remain unchanged and the kinetic energy would not be properly dissipated.

To avoid these very serious consequences, it is absolutely necessary to go on a via ferrata with the right equipment, that is: harness, via ferrata set, helmet.

Unfortunately, even today we see enthusiasts using self-built via ferrata sets or, even worse, belays with Kevlar or nylon cords, unaware of the fact that a fall could have tragic consequences.

In the past, there were metal heat sinks on the market that could be used for the self-construction of via ferrata sets. This practice is strongly discouraged as even the slightest error during the construction phase would compromise the dissipation.

Nowadays almost all companies offer via ferrata sets that include a kinetic energy dissipation system that makes the stop less abrupt, avoiding dangerous stresses to the body.

In the event of a fall, the dissipation system will come into play, and the via ferrata set will then have to be disposed of.

The best thing to do when purchasing a set is to always read the instruction booklet carefully and seek advice from the dealer, without skimping on the cost of such a fundamentally important tool.