ISC Chipmunk Flex Tether

The ISC Chipmunk flex tether connects the ISC Chipmunk to the rest of an SRS climbing system and holds it in alignment. A worn or damaged tether should be replaced before it affects how the system behaves.

Why the tether matters

In SRS setups, how components connect affects how they tend and how they load. A flexible tether keeps a device positioned without making the system stiff. Over time tethers abrade, get stiff with sap and grit, or get cut, and they need replacing.

Using the correct tether for the device keeps the system configured the way the manufacturer tested it.

Before replacing it, take a close look at what wore the old tether out. Cuts and abrasion usually point to a sharp edge on a connector, a rough bark contact or a routing problem. Fixing the cause means the new tether lasts longer. Keep a spare in the gear bag, since a damaged tether is a reason to stop and fix the setup, not to keep climbing. Keep a record of when it went into service, along with your other soft goods. Small parts like this get overlooked in inspections, so make them part of your routine.

Inspection and setup

Install the tether exactly as ISC's instructions show for the Chipmunk, with approved connectors. Inspect it before every climb for cuts, fuzzing, glazing and stiffness, and retire it at the first sign of damage.

Life-support gear must meet the applicable standard, be used per the manufacturer's instructions and ANSI Z133, and be inspected before every climb. Get trained before using it aloft. Compare other SRS climbing devices for your setup.