DIY - Ice tool tethers
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Ice tool tethers are pretty standard on longer alpine routes for good reason - a dropped tool from on a long, high route can be a serious problem.
Most major gear companies offer some version of a tool tether. They cost around $50. Here’s a DIY alternative; make your own for about 30 minutes of time and $10 in materials.
One simple way to make tethers is simply with 5 or 6 mm cord. The problem with that is that the cord wants to droop down below your waist, which is a potential tripping hazard. With the bungee cord, when there's slack on the tether, it shortens up.
I'll show you how to do it (as long as you don't make fun of my vintage Petzl Aztars, okay?)
Tools and materials to make an ice tool tether:
12 feet / 4 meters of 1/2 inch tubular webbing
12 feet / 4 meters of 1/8 inch elastic cord
Coat hanger
Athletic tape
Two small carabiners (be sure they fit into the holes at the bottom of your ice tools)
Patience!
Straighten out a wire coat hanger. Tape the elastic cord thoroughly to one end of the coat hanger. Use the coat hanger to wriggle the bungee cord all the way through the webbing. Be patient, this can take some fiddling.
Tie an overhand on a bight in one end with a small loop, and clip it to a carabiner. Don't worry about an exact fit; you can trim off a bit of the extra when you're done if needed.
Adjust the length one “arm” by sliding the webbing along the bungee, scrunching it up as you go. My arms are about 24 inches, with no stretch.
Create a harness attachment loop by tying a loose overhand on a bight in the webbing. This loop can be fairly small because it only needs to fit a carabiner. Do not snug this knot very tight, you're probably gonna need to adjust it later.
From the attachment loop, repeat step three, scrunching up webbing along the second arm until it’s the same length as the first. Tie another overhand on a bight in the second arm.
Give it a test drive. Adjust the length of the arms and the position of the attachment loop as needed until it feels comfortable. You don't want to have your tether impede your normal swing. It might appear to be short, but because it's clipped to your belay loop and attached to your tools with carabiners, you get a bit more length.
When it all feels happy, snug down the knots and trim off any extra webbing and elastic cord.
Give yourself a high five for saving $40. =^)
Do I need a swivel?
What about girth hitching directly to your belay loop?
Can I rest on this tether with my full body weight?
